It has been two years since Ginny Dickey delivered her State of the Town address. An address that many will recall for her uncharacteristically somber mood.
Our effervescent mayor, generally overflowing with positivity and goodwill, was clearly worried. Those who had been paying attention to the events of the preceding months knew that she had every reason to feel that way.
Like her mood, the title of Mayor Dickey’s January 2024 address, “At a Crossroads,” differed dramatically from the optimism of her presentations from prior years, for example, “Together”; “Engaged”; “Moving Forward”; “Rising Above and Vibrant.”
Optimism was difficult to muster following the election of “conservative” candidates controlled by ROT, intent on advancing a hyper-partisan agenda and their individual Christian nationalist beliefs. Hannah Toth and Allen Skillicorn, both elected in 2022, had joined forces with disgruntled councilmember and wannabee mayor, Gerry Friedel, with the goal of ending the era of nonpartisan local government and beginning the culture wars. Where there was a “left” and there was a “right” and there was nothing in the middle.
Skillicorn, whose Christian nationalist beliefs were readily apparent, fired the opening salvo when, within days of taking office, he falsely accused Mayor Dickey of “banning prayer” as he took credit in right-wing media outlets for bringing prayer back to Town Hall by restoring the pre-meeting invocation that had been suspended during the pandemic.
Skillicorn and Toth (now Larrabee) joined forces to stage repeated social media attacks on members of the LGBTQ+ community, that consistent with the tenets of their shared beliefs, they considered to be both aberrant and sinful.
Early on, the new councilmembers made a show of “undoing” actions of prior administrations they considered to be the product of a liberal left-wing bias. The Town’s Environmental Plan that they referred to as the “Green New Deal” was amended to delete “woke” language. The sign ordinance, the result of a years-long collaboration with local businesses, was repealed.
Fortunately for the town, Councilmember Kalivianakis, one of the candidates included on ROT’s Golden Ticket, determined that continuing the pursuit of ROT’s agenda was not advancing the town’s interests and demonstrated her independence by publicly supporting the proposed multi-use redevelopment of the Four Peaks Plaza. ROT and its supporters vehemently opposed the project and urged Town councilmembers to deny the requested zoning change that would allow for the construction of a four-story luxury apartment complex, whose residents would support the plaza’s restaurants and retail outlets.
The public opposition to the project focused on concerns over traffic and the introduction of high-density housing to a town known
for its high-end, single-family homes and “small town” charm. But on social media and in group newsletters the focus was on the age, net worth, race, and political affiliation of the prospective tenants. Skillicorn promoted the bizarre conspiracy theory that the planned development was part of a conspiracy to “replace the population.”
Despite the opposition, the requested zoning change was approved. ROT pursued a referendum that failed because it used a wrongly coded form to collect signatures, resulting in litigation that was summarily dismissed.
In the months following her vote in favor of the Four Peaks Development, Councilmember Kalivianakis was deemed a traitor to those who had supported her, relentlessly harassed on social media, and falsely accused by Skillicorn and others of engaging in “ex parte” communications with the Developer’s representative and outright corruption.
Skillicorn was sanctioned for the accusations he made against the mayor and council members who supported the Four Peaks Plaza and for his assault of a town employee.
Skillicorn responded to the sanctions by filing his own frivolous lawsuit against the Town and the individual council members who voted in favor of the sanctions.
During this tumultuous period Friedel, intent on maintaining ROT’s support for his mayoral bid, largely stayed out of the fray. Although Friedel was critical of Skillicorn’s “bullying ways,” he voted against sanctioning him purportedly based on the advice of his attorney.
Friedel sided with ROT by voting against the zoning changes necessary for the Four Peaks Development to proceed. Friedel also supported Skillicorn’s resolution, directing the Town Attorney not to defend the Town or the individual defendants in the litigation brought against them by Crystal Cavanaugh and ROT. Fortunately, the resolution failed by a single vote and the Town and individual defendants prevailed in the litigation.
Throughout the chaotic months preceding her January 2024 address, Mayor Dickey continued to do her job with dignity and grace through contentious council meetings where she was personally attacked by members of ROT’s contingent and fractious arguments on the dais. Yet on that day two years ago, she restated her commitment to innovation, effective communication, supporting Town staff, and fostering volunteerism.
Mayor Dickey then stressed the significance of the upcoming election by again invoking the “crossroads” analogy, describing a path forward that would address our economic challenges and enhance our quality of life by relying on professional expertise and guidance, seeking public input, and engaging in reasoned public debate that would allow for balanced, mature decision-making.
She urged residents to reject the alternate path where the continued pursuit of a national, partisan agenda was likely to supersede or undermine the common goals for a local community including civility, unity, and lawful, predictable, fair governance.
In 2024 the majority, misled and misdirected by ROT, Friedel, and outside influences including far-right organizations, voted to take us down the partisan Project 2025 path, a “victory” brazenly celebrated by Skillicorn as the “first step.”
As we continue taking steps down this road, our residents and our Town’s once stellar reputation have suffered. There have been scandals, cringeworthy council meetings, Attorney General investigations, and Notices of Claims that are likely to result in litigation that would cost taxpayers millions of dollars in legal fees and damages.
Under the ROT-controlled majority we have lost our right to file complaints against our elected officials for their ethical violations, have been evicted from our Town Council chambers, have been deprived of our right to speak during the Call to the Public, have been discriminated against, taunted, and maligned by our mayor and Town Council members, and have lost many valued employees and disenfranchised and discouraged many more. Our community cannot take another step down this dead-end road. This year, we have the opportunity to reverse course by rejecting the precepts of Project 2025 and its divisive culture wars by electing leaders who are focused on local issues, who value diversity, prioritize civility and unity; and who will listen and respond to all our voices.
It is time to turn around and begin walking back to the place we were before ROT took control of our town and our future.
