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Guest Commentary
Countering White Christian Nationalism (Part 3)
--- By Gayle Brauner April 5, 2021
Young NAACP Legal Defense Fund lawyer, Vanita Gupta, her co-attorneys, and team, in 2001, traveled to a small town, population 5000, in the panhandle of Texas to meet with 46 people, 35 of whom had been convicted and imprisoned in 1999. Arrested on bogus drug charges, roused from bed by police, paraded barefoot in their pajamas in embarrassment before TV cameras, and soon tried and put in prison, these innocent people were victims of Texas’s prolonged history of racial injustice. Most of these Tulia, TX citizens were Black. Their combined sentences added up to 730 years. (1)(2)(3)(4)(27)(33)
Tom Coleman, a racist undercover policeman who ‘busted’ them, provided no evidence. It was his word alone that forced them into incarceration with the aid of a nearly all white jury, a judge and a sheriff. His actions were approved by the Texas Attorney General, John Cornyn, a graduate of the private protestant Trinity University. He awarded Officer Coleman the prestigious “Lawman of the Year” after the trials. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(33)
In 2003, the 35 imprisoned citizens, were pardoned by Gov. Rick Perry, with 45 absolved individuals receiving a combined settlement of $6 million, due to the perseverance of Vanita Gupta’s team. Officer Coleman, in 2005, was convicted of two unrelated perjury counts. He wasn’t charged for the Tulia defendant cases because the statute of limitations had expired. A travesty. (1) (2)(3) (4)
Fast forward nearly 20 years, January 2021. Ms. Gupta is nominated for a position in our U.S. Justice Department by Pres. Biden, after years of committed legal effort for civil rights. Rough on the edges at times, biting back at Republican bigotry, personally wealthy and from a rich corporate family, Ms. Gupta, I believe, will be an extraordinary addition to our justice system. John Cornyn, skunked in the Tulia fiasco by Ms. Gupta, gripping a bitter grudge and prejudice, is trying to undermine her confirmation. (1)(2)(11)(12) (14)
Whether opposing the nominations of women to high level Government positions (such as Hillary Clinton for Sec. of State, Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme court, Debra Haaland for Sec. of Interior) and against women’s equality issues (plurality of male elders in his church – women shall not speak or lead; Violence Against Women Act, access to safe abortion, Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009), John Cornyn’s affiliation with the rigid Restorationist Church of Christ determines his politics. This church perpetuates historical Christian nationalism for our country (see parts 1 & 2 in this series) by simple Biblical threats: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (process of salvation, as in Mark 16:16). His opaque opinions and alliances, and legislative history concerning racial justice lead to an impression of tolerance for White Christian nationalism. (3)(7)(8)(9)(10)(26)(27)(28)
I tell this story because Vanita Gupta is an experienced, successful fighter against attacks on our liberty and freedom. Not possessing a rhetorical, arm-chair pedantic character, she’s rather a weathered, on the ground medic tending to our brutally inflicted partisan wounds. Her focus, her family’s belief in her, enabled her to save 45 individuals and their families, and gave us a champion. She has broad support, even from conservative and Law Enforcement organizations, for her Associate Attorney General confirmation. (11)(13) (33)
In this last of three essays on White Christian nationalism, I focus on remedies to this malady. Rather than make lists of actions to take, I’ll provide some RESOURCE groups that have made these lists already over decades of work. (See RESOURCES list below - #15-25)
What I will provide are some ideas to foster confidence, resilience, and the ability to endure hardships, to be effective, through a few stories, anecdotes, and tools.
Leaders of Christian Churches and organizations are now outspoken, endeavoring to educate and warn their parishioners about white supremacist sophistry in Christian circles. Because this deadly movement uses Christian text, symbols, and faith, the alt-right co-opts these teachings by brandishing false messages in Biblical language. Part of dispelling the hold White Christian nationalism has on parishioners, such as heralding an apocalyptic end date, is to reveal these conniving tactics, and confronting the sticky web of influence and control some really creepy groups, like QAnon, have over people, which suck out people’s humanity and common sense.
(10)(19)(20)(21) (25)(27)(28)(29)(32)
Education is a major key: Knowing the symbols and tactics of hate groups; understanding propaganda and indoctrination techniques and how vulnerable people are targeted; discerning fact from fiction (example - Pres. Biden speaks honestly and cares about our well-being versus Putin stokes disinformation to undermine democracies worldwide and is a cold-blooded murderer); reading many sources on history and current events; attending college and graduating; traveling and learning about other cultures and our planet; and realizing that White Christian nationalism resides as a menace in our communities. (RESOURCES # 15-25)
Self -awareness is an essential undertaking in order to become effective, to truly understand and resolve one’s own issues, biases, questionable motivations, destructive impulses, vulnerable weaknesses. Making excuses or blaming others for one’s bad behavior doesn’t cut it. Each person must do whatever it takes to gain this inner knowledge, to stop destructive drives which cause hideous actions towards society. Seeking help to overcome these ‘demons’ is not weakness. (29)(30)
Our responsibility also includes turning in to Law Enforcement those around us possessed by hateful bigotry, religious and/or political threatening fanaticism, with intentions to commit violent acts. Learn the signs. When a woman turned her ‘Ex’ in to FBI as a Capitol rioter, after he texted her from a vandalized Capitol – calling her a moron for not believing the 2020 election ‘stop the steal’ mantra - I felt almost giddy with appreciation, especially when several other women followed suit. (29)(31) (32)
Christian Piccolini, recruited in a Chicago alley by a neo-nazi skinhead at age 14, was later anointed as leader to “write propaganda, devise infiltration strategies, and broker mergers with other similar extremist organizations”. He said, “People join extremist groups because they’re looking for identity, community and purpose. Ideology becomes the vehicle to be angry and violent.” After a reckless life filled with self-hatred, losing his wife and children, he came to his senses and started the group “Life After Hate” which assists former neo-nazis and other extremists to abandon virulent ideology. “When people are more confident and competitive in the workplace, when they feel more whole,” he explains, “they feel less of a need to blame the other for taking away.” (30)
Tools to improve our confidence, resilience, safety, and endurance, give us strength and courage in all aspects of our lives. We need skills to be effective personally, at work, as a community activist, and so on. These tools / skills include but are not limited to: Communication, such as listening, writing, and speaking; Conflict resolution; Research, including online skills; Self-defense training and safety plans for home and out in the world; Maintenance of physical and mental health; Mentors, heroes, who we admire and emulate; Information which challenges our minds, assumptions and world views; and acquaintance with people of myriad heritage.
Networking leads us to overcome isolation and find groups committed to a multitude of issues in which we may be involved: Being a volunteer, helping with a campaign, joining a civic group, participating in community events and meetings, donating funds. As MLK Jr said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” We may end up doing great things, like Stacy Abrams, leading the ‘Fair Fight’ voting rights organization, ensuring the elections of 2 new US Senators from Georgia in 2020! (23) “When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have courage to stand alone and be counted.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt.
There is so much to learn and do! We have the gumption to ensure our democratic values of, by and for ALL Americans prevail. Let’s live by upholding our Country’s motto: E pluribus Unum – Out of Many, We are One.
Tom Coleman, a racist undercover policeman who ‘busted’ them, provided no evidence. It was his word alone that forced them into incarceration with the aid of a nearly all white jury, a judge and a sheriff. His actions were approved by the Texas Attorney General, John Cornyn, a graduate of the private protestant Trinity University. He awarded Officer Coleman the prestigious “Lawman of the Year” after the trials. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(33)
In 2003, the 35 imprisoned citizens, were pardoned by Gov. Rick Perry, with 45 absolved individuals receiving a combined settlement of $6 million, due to the perseverance of Vanita Gupta’s team. Officer Coleman, in 2005, was convicted of two unrelated perjury counts. He wasn’t charged for the Tulia defendant cases because the statute of limitations had expired. A travesty. (1) (2)(3) (4)
Fast forward nearly 20 years, January 2021. Ms. Gupta is nominated for a position in our U.S. Justice Department by Pres. Biden, after years of committed legal effort for civil rights. Rough on the edges at times, biting back at Republican bigotry, personally wealthy and from a rich corporate family, Ms. Gupta, I believe, will be an extraordinary addition to our justice system. John Cornyn, skunked in the Tulia fiasco by Ms. Gupta, gripping a bitter grudge and prejudice, is trying to undermine her confirmation. (1)(2)(11)(12) (14)
Whether opposing the nominations of women to high level Government positions (such as Hillary Clinton for Sec. of State, Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme court, Debra Haaland for Sec. of Interior) and against women’s equality issues (plurality of male elders in his church – women shall not speak or lead; Violence Against Women Act, access to safe abortion, Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009), John Cornyn’s affiliation with the rigid Restorationist Church of Christ determines his politics. This church perpetuates historical Christian nationalism for our country (see parts 1 & 2 in this series) by simple Biblical threats: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (process of salvation, as in Mark 16:16). His opaque opinions and alliances, and legislative history concerning racial justice lead to an impression of tolerance for White Christian nationalism. (3)(7)(8)(9)(10)(26)(27)(28)
I tell this story because Vanita Gupta is an experienced, successful fighter against attacks on our liberty and freedom. Not possessing a rhetorical, arm-chair pedantic character, she’s rather a weathered, on the ground medic tending to our brutally inflicted partisan wounds. Her focus, her family’s belief in her, enabled her to save 45 individuals and their families, and gave us a champion. She has broad support, even from conservative and Law Enforcement organizations, for her Associate Attorney General confirmation. (11)(13) (33)
In this last of three essays on White Christian nationalism, I focus on remedies to this malady. Rather than make lists of actions to take, I’ll provide some RESOURCE groups that have made these lists already over decades of work. (See RESOURCES list below - #15-25)
What I will provide are some ideas to foster confidence, resilience, and the ability to endure hardships, to be effective, through a few stories, anecdotes, and tools.
Leaders of Christian Churches and organizations are now outspoken, endeavoring to educate and warn their parishioners about white supremacist sophistry in Christian circles. Because this deadly movement uses Christian text, symbols, and faith, the alt-right co-opts these teachings by brandishing false messages in Biblical language. Part of dispelling the hold White Christian nationalism has on parishioners, such as heralding an apocalyptic end date, is to reveal these conniving tactics, and confronting the sticky web of influence and control some really creepy groups, like QAnon, have over people, which suck out people’s humanity and common sense.
(10)(19)(20)(21) (25)(27)(28)(29)(32)
Education is a major key: Knowing the symbols and tactics of hate groups; understanding propaganda and indoctrination techniques and how vulnerable people are targeted; discerning fact from fiction (example - Pres. Biden speaks honestly and cares about our well-being versus Putin stokes disinformation to undermine democracies worldwide and is a cold-blooded murderer); reading many sources on history and current events; attending college and graduating; traveling and learning about other cultures and our planet; and realizing that White Christian nationalism resides as a menace in our communities. (RESOURCES # 15-25)
Self -awareness is an essential undertaking in order to become effective, to truly understand and resolve one’s own issues, biases, questionable motivations, destructive impulses, vulnerable weaknesses. Making excuses or blaming others for one’s bad behavior doesn’t cut it. Each person must do whatever it takes to gain this inner knowledge, to stop destructive drives which cause hideous actions towards society. Seeking help to overcome these ‘demons’ is not weakness. (29)(30)
Our responsibility also includes turning in to Law Enforcement those around us possessed by hateful bigotry, religious and/or political threatening fanaticism, with intentions to commit violent acts. Learn the signs. When a woman turned her ‘Ex’ in to FBI as a Capitol rioter, after he texted her from a vandalized Capitol – calling her a moron for not believing the 2020 election ‘stop the steal’ mantra - I felt almost giddy with appreciation, especially when several other women followed suit. (29)(31) (32)
Christian Piccolini, recruited in a Chicago alley by a neo-nazi skinhead at age 14, was later anointed as leader to “write propaganda, devise infiltration strategies, and broker mergers with other similar extremist organizations”. He said, “People join extremist groups because they’re looking for identity, community and purpose. Ideology becomes the vehicle to be angry and violent.” After a reckless life filled with self-hatred, losing his wife and children, he came to his senses and started the group “Life After Hate” which assists former neo-nazis and other extremists to abandon virulent ideology. “When people are more confident and competitive in the workplace, when they feel more whole,” he explains, “they feel less of a need to blame the other for taking away.” (30)
Tools to improve our confidence, resilience, safety, and endurance, give us strength and courage in all aspects of our lives. We need skills to be effective personally, at work, as a community activist, and so on. These tools / skills include but are not limited to: Communication, such as listening, writing, and speaking; Conflict resolution; Research, including online skills; Self-defense training and safety plans for home and out in the world; Maintenance of physical and mental health; Mentors, heroes, who we admire and emulate; Information which challenges our minds, assumptions and world views; and acquaintance with people of myriad heritage.
Networking leads us to overcome isolation and find groups committed to a multitude of issues in which we may be involved: Being a volunteer, helping with a campaign, joining a civic group, participating in community events and meetings, donating funds. As MLK Jr said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” We may end up doing great things, like Stacy Abrams, leading the ‘Fair Fight’ voting rights organization, ensuring the elections of 2 new US Senators from Georgia in 2020! (23) “When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have courage to stand alone and be counted.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt.
There is so much to learn and do! We have the gumption to ensure our democratic values of, by and for ALL Americans prevail. Let’s live by upholding our Country’s motto: E pluribus Unum – Out of Many, We are One.
- The New York University School of Law; “Turning the Tables in Tulia”; 2004 (Please note, there are discrepancies in nearly all the articles I’ve read about how many people were charged, how many imprisoned and the collective number of years of imprisonment). https://blogs.law.nyu.edu/magazine/2004/turning-the-tables-in-tulia/
- The Hill; Rachel Maddow Calls into Question Cornyn Connection to Gupta; By Joseph Choi; 3/25/21 thehill.com/homenews/media/544884-rachel-maddow-calls-into-question-cornyns-connection-to-biden-nominee-vanita
- The Texas Signal; “The Complicity of Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Michael McCaul in the Mass Arrest of Black People in Tulia, Texas; By Chris Chu de Leon; 7/9/2020 https://texassignal.com/the-complicity-of-sen-john-cornyn-and-rep-michael-mccaul-in-the-mass-arrests-of-black-people-in-tulia-texas/
- NBC News/Associated Press; “Texas Undercover Cop Convicted of Perjury”, by Jim Watkins; 1/14/2005; https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6827494 TEXAS MONTHLY; “Bust Town”, by Nate Blakeslee; Nov. 2005 https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/bust-town/
- Trinity University where John Cornyn was graduated. Historically, it didn’t allow professors of differing religious beliefs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_University_(Texas)
- Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas - state historical association https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/trinity-university
- Christianity. Org; “Church of Christ – 10 things to know about their history and beliefs”,by Bannon Diebert https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/churches-of-christ-10-things-to-know-about-their-history-and-beliefs.html
- The Texas Tribune; “U.S. Senator John Cornyn faces outcry from Democrats after questioning idea of systemic racism”; by Abby Livingston; 6/17/2020. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/17/john-cornyn-systemic-racism/
- The Dallas Morning News; “Cornyn’s 18-year Senate record more nuanced, less warm and fuzzy, than his curated TV Ads”, by Todd J. Gillman; 10/23/2020 https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/23/cornyns-18-year-senate-record-more-nuanced-less-warm-and-fuzzy-than-his-curated-tv-ads/
- Christianity Today; “Kelly Edmiston and Women in Churches of Christ: Who gets to speak into that microphone?” by Kelly Edmiston; 3/04/2020 https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/march/kelly-edmiston-and-women-in-churches-of-christ.html
- Accountable U.S.; press release, 3/19/21; “Watchdog Group Condemns Cornyn’s Baseless Attack Against Justice Nominee Gupta.” https://www.accountable.us/news/watchdog-condemns-cornyns-vitriolic-and-baseless-attack-against-justice-nominee-gupta/
- Economic Times, Indian-American, Vanita Gupta regrets past harsh rhetoric, attacked by Republicans at Senate hearing; 3/10/21 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/indian-american-vanita-gupta-regrets-past-harsh-rhetoric-attacked-by-republicans-at-senate-hearing/articleshow/81425632.cms?fro
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; “Broad Support Grows Ahead of Vanita Gupta’s Hearing for Justice Department”; by Rafael Medina; 3/8/2021. https://civilrights.org/2021/03/08/broad-support-grows-ahead-of-vanita-guptas-hearing-for-justice-department/
- ABC News; “Biden’s Associate Attorney General pick would be the wealthiest member of Administration”; by Soo Rin Kim and Alexander Mallin; 3/7/2021. https://abcnews.go.com/US/bidens-associate-attorney-general-pick-wealthiest-member-administration/story?id=76280582
- RESOURCE: Southern Poverty Law Center. SPLC 10 ways to combat hate groups https://www.splcenter.org/20170814/ten-ways-fight-hate-community-response-guide
- RESOURCE: Anti-Defamation League; https://www.adl.org/hate-symbols
- RESOURCE: Jewish Virtual Library https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/
- RESOURCE: Bloomberg Lab: tracking hate groups https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-16/is-far-right-political-violence-getting-worse
- RESOURCE: CARR (Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right); “All Hail Q! The forging of a right-wing religion and its extreme threat to security”; by James Hardy; 3/21/2021 https://www.radicalrightanalysis.com/2021/03/23/all-hail-q-the-forging-of-a-right-wing-religion-and-its-extreme-threat-to-security/
- RESOURCE: The Atlantic; “The Librarian War Against QAnon”; by Barbara Fister; 2/18/2021 https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2021/02/how-librarians-can-fight-qanon/618047/
- RESOURCE: UK gov. PREVENT extremism https://www.gov.uk/goernment/publications/prevent-duty-guidance/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales
- RESOURCE: Hold Unity Rallies, if this thing happens: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/feb/27/racist-flyers-found-on-ewu-campus/#/0
- RESOURCE: Fair Fight! Stacy Abrams’ voting rights organization in Georgia https://fairfight.com/
- RESOURCE: We beat Trump, now let’s save Democracy: https://indivisible.org/
- RESOURCE: Boston Review; “Can Christian Democracy Save Us? By Udi Greenburg; 10/22/2019 http://bostonreview.net/philosophy-religion/udi-greenberg-christian-democracy (unsecured)
- Texas Observer, “How Cristian Nationalism Moved from Fringe to White House”, by Karl Richter; 3/10/2021 – Book Review of Katherine Stewarts, Power Worshippers https://www.texasobserver.org/power-worshippers-christian-nationalism-katherine-stewart/
- Religion Dispatches; “New study of Christian Nationalism in Texas should be a warning for whole country”, by David Brickman; 4/2/2020 https://religiondispatches.org/new-study-of-christian-nationalism-in-texas-should-be-a-warning -for-the-whole-country/
- National Public Radio; “Disinformation Fuels A White Evangelical Movement. It Led One Pastor to Quit; by Dalia Mortada, Rachel Martin, Bo Hamby; 2/21/2021 https://www.npr.org/2021/02/21/969539514/disinformation-fuels-a-white-evangelical-movement-it-led-1-virginia-pastor-to-qu
- Willamette Week; “The Oregon Brothers Accused of Storming the U.S. Capitol Spent Much of Their Lives as the Children of Baptist Missionaries”; by Tess Riski; 3/31/2021 https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2021/03/31/the-oregon-brothers-accused-of-storming-the-u-s-capitol-spent-much-of-their-lives-as-the-children-of-baptist-missionaries/
- Chicago Tribune; “Fight against extremism for former neo-Nazi after Trump, Charlottesville”;By Manya Brachear Pashman; 8/19/2017 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-life-after-hate-white-supremacist-met-20170818-story.html
- People Magazine; “After Receiving Text Calling Her a ‘Moron’, Woman Reports Capitol Rioter Ex-Boyfriend to FBI”; by Chris Harris; 2/25/2021 https://people.com/crime/after-receiving-text-calling-her-a-moron-woman-turns-in-capitol-rioter-ex-boyfriend/
- ProPublica; “Ranks of Notorious Hate Group Include Active-Duty Military”; by A.C. Thompson, Ali Winston, Jake Hanrahan; 5/03/2018 https://www.propublica.org/article/atomwaffen-division-hate-group-active-duty-military
- Forham Law Review, Vol 73, Issue 5, Article 3; Critical Race Lawyering in Tulia, TX; by Vanita Gupta; 2005 (I found this extensive article after all of my article was completed, but see it’s important relevance to the Tulia, TX Case mentioned here, and to racial justice.) https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=4071&context=flr
Meet City Councilor Mike Pence
--- Lowell Rathbun 4-1-2021
Screen Shot
Executive Summary
This story is not intended to be a repetition of stories about controversy surrounding Mike Pence, his padded resume and calls for him to resign. Those stories are covered elsewhere. The intent here is to provide detailed background material about Mr. Pence's resume and what others have said about it, as well as to provide information on Mr. Pence's voting record on the city council and some of his expressed views about city government.
In April of 2020, Mike Pence was appointed to the Sequim City Council to the seat vacated by the sudden death of Ted Miller, by a 5-0 vote in a shortened procedure that aroused some controversy at the time. Mr. Pence, 69, moved to Sequim in 2019 and lives in the Cedar Ridge subdivision. According to his resume, Mr. Pence has a BS in Political Science and spent most of his career serving in city government in the states of Missouri and Oklahoma.
In his one year of experience on the Sequim City Council, Mr. Pence has kept a low profile and has seldom spoken at city council meetings. He tends to vote in almost exact unison with Mayor Armacost, voting with the mayor 38 times out of 40. He broke with the mayor just twice, both times voting against city resolutions providing financial aid to the Sequim Health and Housing Collaborative, which would have used the funds for rent relief and other aid for Covid-19 victims. More details about his voting record are given below.
Controversy erupted in April of 2021, when private citizens Marsha Maguire and Karen Hogan uncovered evidence that Mr. Pence had “padded” his city council resume and demanded that he resign. Mr. Pence was accused of misrepresenting his position title, claiming that he was “Director of Public Works” for the city of Liberty, Missouri from 1988 to 2009. In the ensuing controversy, Mr. Pence admitted that he really was not “Director of Public Works”. Sources contacted in Missouri said that Mr. Pence was “Maintenance Supervisor”. A side-by-side comparison with what Mr. Pence stated in his resume and what other sources allege are given in the table below.
At Mayor Armacost’s prodding in the city council meeting of March 8, Mr. Pence made some remarks about the city council’s priorities list. Mr. Pence remarked that the goal to reduce recyclables and food waste hauled to landfill “made absolutely no sense to him”. He also expressed disdain for the solar panels installed on top of the city hall and did not believe the city could do anything meaningful toward reducing carbon emissions. See below for a transcript of those remarks.
Detailed Story
Brief Bio
Mike Pence was appointed to the Sequim City Council, Position #3 in April of 2020. This seat was vacated by the sudden death of Ted Miller who died suddenly earlier that same month. He was appointed by a unanimous vote of the five-member city council, consisting of Mayor William Armacost, Tom Ferrell, Brandon Janisse, Dennis Smith and Troy Tenneson. There were two vacancies at the time.
Mr. Pence’s biographical data is a little sketchy and the information here has been compiled from his official city biography, his resume, and his public statements. He is now 69 years old, is married and earned a BS Degree in Political Science from Northeast Missouri State University in 1977, which is now called Truman State University. He moved to Sequim in 2019 and lives in the Cedar Ridge Subdivision.
According to his resume, he has held positions with five different cities during his career. Apparently while he was still attending Northeast Missouri State University, he secured an administrative assistant position to the city manager of Kirksville, MO, the city in which the college is located, in September of 1976, a year before he graduated. He left this position in January 1978. In that same month he took a new position as Director of Housing and Community Development in Flat River, MO. There is some dispute between his own description of his job duties there versus what the city clerk of Flat River alleged he did. 2 ½ years later, he left that job and moved on to Oak Grove, MO, where he became the City Administrator, according to his own testimony. His description of his job duties there were “a one-man operation”, where he took care of all responsibilities of administrating the city. Oak Grove is a suburb of Kansas City and had a population of 7800 people at the 2010 census. He left that job in December of 1981.
After a gap of about 6 months, he then took a position as Director of Public Works in Mustang, OK in June of 1982. Mustang is a bedroom community for Oklahoma City. While serving there, according to his resume, he managed the street department, the water and sewer department, the sanitation department, vehicle maintenance and the parks department. He left that position after 5 years.
After a gap of about 1 year, Mr. Pence then reports that he took a job as Director of Public Works in Liberty, MO, a suburb of Kansas City. According to his resume, he managed the water department, the sewer department, the street department, sat on committees and participated in the budgeting process. His actual duties and job title are a matter of dispute, as given below. In 2009, he retired at about the age of 57.
This story is not intended to be a repetition of stories about controversy surrounding Mike Pence, his padded resume and calls for him to resign. Those stories are covered elsewhere. The intent here is to provide detailed background material about Mr. Pence's resume and what others have said about it, as well as to provide information on Mr. Pence's voting record on the city council and some of his expressed views about city government.
In April of 2020, Mike Pence was appointed to the Sequim City Council to the seat vacated by the sudden death of Ted Miller, by a 5-0 vote in a shortened procedure that aroused some controversy at the time. Mr. Pence, 69, moved to Sequim in 2019 and lives in the Cedar Ridge subdivision. According to his resume, Mr. Pence has a BS in Political Science and spent most of his career serving in city government in the states of Missouri and Oklahoma.
In his one year of experience on the Sequim City Council, Mr. Pence has kept a low profile and has seldom spoken at city council meetings. He tends to vote in almost exact unison with Mayor Armacost, voting with the mayor 38 times out of 40. He broke with the mayor just twice, both times voting against city resolutions providing financial aid to the Sequim Health and Housing Collaborative, which would have used the funds for rent relief and other aid for Covid-19 victims. More details about his voting record are given below.
Controversy erupted in April of 2021, when private citizens Marsha Maguire and Karen Hogan uncovered evidence that Mr. Pence had “padded” his city council resume and demanded that he resign. Mr. Pence was accused of misrepresenting his position title, claiming that he was “Director of Public Works” for the city of Liberty, Missouri from 1988 to 2009. In the ensuing controversy, Mr. Pence admitted that he really was not “Director of Public Works”. Sources contacted in Missouri said that Mr. Pence was “Maintenance Supervisor”. A side-by-side comparison with what Mr. Pence stated in his resume and what other sources allege are given in the table below.
At Mayor Armacost’s prodding in the city council meeting of March 8, Mr. Pence made some remarks about the city council’s priorities list. Mr. Pence remarked that the goal to reduce recyclables and food waste hauled to landfill “made absolutely no sense to him”. He also expressed disdain for the solar panels installed on top of the city hall and did not believe the city could do anything meaningful toward reducing carbon emissions. See below for a transcript of those remarks.
Detailed Story
Brief Bio
Mike Pence was appointed to the Sequim City Council, Position #3 in April of 2020. This seat was vacated by the sudden death of Ted Miller who died suddenly earlier that same month. He was appointed by a unanimous vote of the five-member city council, consisting of Mayor William Armacost, Tom Ferrell, Brandon Janisse, Dennis Smith and Troy Tenneson. There were two vacancies at the time.
Mr. Pence’s biographical data is a little sketchy and the information here has been compiled from his official city biography, his resume, and his public statements. He is now 69 years old, is married and earned a BS Degree in Political Science from Northeast Missouri State University in 1977, which is now called Truman State University. He moved to Sequim in 2019 and lives in the Cedar Ridge Subdivision.
According to his resume, he has held positions with five different cities during his career. Apparently while he was still attending Northeast Missouri State University, he secured an administrative assistant position to the city manager of Kirksville, MO, the city in which the college is located, in September of 1976, a year before he graduated. He left this position in January 1978. In that same month he took a new position as Director of Housing and Community Development in Flat River, MO. There is some dispute between his own description of his job duties there versus what the city clerk of Flat River alleged he did. 2 ½ years later, he left that job and moved on to Oak Grove, MO, where he became the City Administrator, according to his own testimony. His description of his job duties there were “a one-man operation”, where he took care of all responsibilities of administrating the city. Oak Grove is a suburb of Kansas City and had a population of 7800 people at the 2010 census. He left that job in December of 1981.
After a gap of about 6 months, he then took a position as Director of Public Works in Mustang, OK in June of 1982. Mustang is a bedroom community for Oklahoma City. While serving there, according to his resume, he managed the street department, the water and sewer department, the sanitation department, vehicle maintenance and the parks department. He left that position after 5 years.
After a gap of about 1 year, Mr. Pence then reports that he took a job as Director of Public Works in Liberty, MO, a suburb of Kansas City. According to his resume, he managed the water department, the sewer department, the street department, sat on committees and participated in the budgeting process. His actual duties and job title are a matter of dispute, as given below. In 2009, he retired at about the age of 57.
Pence Resume Discrepancies
On March 26, 2021, a story broke in the news media on KONP radio, that City Council member Mike Pence was accused by Karen Hogan and Marsha Maguire of lying on his resume presented to the city when he applied for one the vacant city council positions vacated by the death of Ted Miller and the resignation of Jennifer States. The resume itself can be found on the city’s web site. This story has been covered in more detail in the Peninsula Daily News and will not be repeated here.
It is helpful though, to compare what Mr. Pence stated in his resume with what other city officials have said about him. These details are presented in a side-by-side format shown below. What appears to be obvious from the side-by-side comparison is that Mr. Pence “padded” his resume and misrepresented himself, more than once. In the business world, exaggerating one’s resume is considered lying and is usually grounds for immediate dismissal. And in his public statements, Mr. Pence himself admitted that he was “never Director of Public Works” in Liberty, MO. He tried to defend himself by claiming that his accomplishments were the equivalent of being the Director of Public Works.
On March 26, 2021, a story broke in the news media on KONP radio, that City Council member Mike Pence was accused by Karen Hogan and Marsha Maguire of lying on his resume presented to the city when he applied for one the vacant city council positions vacated by the death of Ted Miller and the resignation of Jennifer States. The resume itself can be found on the city’s web site. This story has been covered in more detail in the Peninsula Daily News and will not be repeated here.
It is helpful though, to compare what Mr. Pence stated in his resume with what other city officials have said about him. These details are presented in a side-by-side format shown below. What appears to be obvious from the side-by-side comparison is that Mr. Pence “padded” his resume and misrepresented himself, more than once. In the business world, exaggerating one’s resume is considered lying and is usually grounds for immediate dismissal. And in his public statements, Mr. Pence himself admitted that he was “never Director of Public Works” in Liberty, MO. He tried to defend himself by claiming that his accomplishments were the equivalent of being the Director of Public Works.
Pence’s Voting Record on the city council:
Mr. Pence has voted about 40 times after being seated on the city council back in April of 2020. Only the highlights of his voting record are considered here.
He voted for setting aside $80K from the city’s Rainy Day fund to the Sequim Health and Housing Collaborative (SHHC) for emergency Covid-19 relief in a unanimous vote by the city council. On June 22, 2020, he voted for a resolution to set aside HB1406 funds revenue into the bank for 4 years before using the funds, which was passed unanimously by the council. In September of 2020, Pence voted with the mayor, Deputy Mayor Tom Ferrell and Sarah Kincaid to oppose any utility rate increases for 2021: while Brandon Janisse and Dennis Smith voted no. In October of 2020, Pence voted with Armacost and Kincaid to appoint Keith Larkin to a vacant city council seat; Ferrell and Council member Smith voted no and Brandon Janisse abstained. No other names were placed in nomination at Mayor Armacost’s direction. Also, in October of2020, Pence voted with Armacost, Ferrell, Smith and Janisse to approve a committee to form a public engagement strategy concerning racism and discrimination. Kincaid and Larkin abstained from the vote. In November, Pence voted with the majority to impose a property tax levy increase of 1% and to oppose a utility rate increase in 2021.
Pence has voted with the Mayor about 38 times in 40 votes. The only instances where Mr. Pence broke with Mayor Armacost were his two “no” votes, opposing emergency financial aid for SHHC to help Covid-19 victims.
In January of 2021, Pence departed from the majority and voted against a resolution approving emergency funding for the SHHC to go towards emergency rental assistance to Covid-19 victims. Pence was the sole “no” vote on this measure. In another similar measure in that same meeting, he voted against a resolution to grant about $200K of city money to the SHHC for more emergency aid to Covid-19 victims, including rental assistance. In this case, Pence again broke with the mayor, and along with Keith Larkin, voted against this resolution, which passed by a 4-2 vote. In that same meeting, Pence did vote with Mayor Armacost to allow the mayor to execute a severance agreement with Charlie Bush, which effectively fired the city manager. That vote passed 4-2, with Ferrell and Janisse opposing that motion.
On February 16, 2021, in a special city council meeting, a new city council member was selected, following public interviews in the February 8 meeting. There were 2 votes held to select the finalist. In the first vote, Tom Ferrell nominated Ms. Rachel Anderson, Keith Larkin nominated Kathy Downer and Mayor Armacost nominated David Rich, the pastor of the local 4-Square Church. Ferrell, Kincaid & Janisse voted for Ms. Anderson; Larkin and Pence voted for Ms. Downer and the mayor voted for Mr. Rich. In the run-off vote, Armacost, Ferrell, Janisse and Kincaid voted for Ms. Anderson, while Larkin and Pence voted for Ms. Downer. Ms. Anderson was seated on the council at that meeting.
Mr. Pence has voted about 40 times after being seated on the city council back in April of 2020. Only the highlights of his voting record are considered here.
He voted for setting aside $80K from the city’s Rainy Day fund to the Sequim Health and Housing Collaborative (SHHC) for emergency Covid-19 relief in a unanimous vote by the city council. On June 22, 2020, he voted for a resolution to set aside HB1406 funds revenue into the bank for 4 years before using the funds, which was passed unanimously by the council. In September of 2020, Pence voted with the mayor, Deputy Mayor Tom Ferrell and Sarah Kincaid to oppose any utility rate increases for 2021: while Brandon Janisse and Dennis Smith voted no. In October of 2020, Pence voted with Armacost and Kincaid to appoint Keith Larkin to a vacant city council seat; Ferrell and Council member Smith voted no and Brandon Janisse abstained. No other names were placed in nomination at Mayor Armacost’s direction. Also, in October of2020, Pence voted with Armacost, Ferrell, Smith and Janisse to approve a committee to form a public engagement strategy concerning racism and discrimination. Kincaid and Larkin abstained from the vote. In November, Pence voted with the majority to impose a property tax levy increase of 1% and to oppose a utility rate increase in 2021.
Pence has voted with the Mayor about 38 times in 40 votes. The only instances where Mr. Pence broke with Mayor Armacost were his two “no” votes, opposing emergency financial aid for SHHC to help Covid-19 victims.
In January of 2021, Pence departed from the majority and voted against a resolution approving emergency funding for the SHHC to go towards emergency rental assistance to Covid-19 victims. Pence was the sole “no” vote on this measure. In another similar measure in that same meeting, he voted against a resolution to grant about $200K of city money to the SHHC for more emergency aid to Covid-19 victims, including rental assistance. In this case, Pence again broke with the mayor, and along with Keith Larkin, voted against this resolution, which passed by a 4-2 vote. In that same meeting, Pence did vote with Mayor Armacost to allow the mayor to execute a severance agreement with Charlie Bush, which effectively fired the city manager. That vote passed 4-2, with Ferrell and Janisse opposing that motion.
On February 16, 2021, in a special city council meeting, a new city council member was selected, following public interviews in the February 8 meeting. There were 2 votes held to select the finalist. In the first vote, Tom Ferrell nominated Ms. Rachel Anderson, Keith Larkin nominated Kathy Downer and Mayor Armacost nominated David Rich, the pastor of the local 4-Square Church. Ferrell, Kincaid & Janisse voted for Ms. Anderson; Larkin and Pence voted for Ms. Downer and the mayor voted for Mr. Rich. In the run-off vote, Armacost, Ferrell, Janisse and Kincaid voted for Ms. Anderson, while Larkin and Pence voted for Ms. Downer. Ms. Anderson was seated on the council at that meeting.
Public Statements and Inferred Values
Mr. Pence has generally kept a low profile while on the city council and seldom speaks. When nudged by Mayor Armacost to make some public statements about the Sequim City Council’s Priorities List , Mr. Pence shared his unease with reducing recyclables and food waste bound for the landfill. (This) “makes absolutely no sense at all.” Mr. Pence appears to be unconvinced that solar power is useful or that the city could do anything practical about reducing carbon emissions. Judging from his voting record on the city council, Mr. Pence apparently feels that it is not important to provide emergency financial aid, including rental assistance, to victims of the Covdi-19 epidemic. He broke with the Mayor on those two votes. Otherwise, judging from his voting record, he almost entirely supports Mayor Armacost’s agenda for the city and by inference, shares a lot of his values and priorities in managing a city with the Mayor. And, of course, by his own admission, he does not seem to be overly concerned about being scrupulously honest about information he provides to the city.
This is a transcript of Mr. Pence’s remarks made in the Sequim City Council Meeting on March 8.:
(Mike Pence): “I was just about to push that button. Perfect! I've looked back at our existing goals. Some of them make absolutely no sense at all. That (to) reduce recyclables. Really? What are you going to do, quit buying items? But you have to recycle so you can clean up the environment a little bit. The best one that I see here is for the broadband and we've talked about that for almost a year, and we intend… (he's) working on it, but it's a slow process. Yeah, we need to change some of these greatly.
Reduce carbon emission? I don't think we have a whole lot of say on that. (Or) solar power, either one. If it pays for itself, I'm for it. If it doesn’t, I'd be against it. I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars we spent to put those panels on City Hall, and I don't think the payoff is (going) to be within anybody's lifetime; that’s on the council right now. And they probably need to be replaced before that. So, yeah, I think they (the goals) need some work. We need to make it a little broader where staff can when the situation arises that they can tweak it a little bit and make it fit.”
Mr. Pence has generally kept a low profile while on the city council and seldom speaks. When nudged by Mayor Armacost to make some public statements about the Sequim City Council’s Priorities List , Mr. Pence shared his unease with reducing recyclables and food waste bound for the landfill. (This) “makes absolutely no sense at all.” Mr. Pence appears to be unconvinced that solar power is useful or that the city could do anything practical about reducing carbon emissions. Judging from his voting record on the city council, Mr. Pence apparently feels that it is not important to provide emergency financial aid, including rental assistance, to victims of the Covdi-19 epidemic. He broke with the Mayor on those two votes. Otherwise, judging from his voting record, he almost entirely supports Mayor Armacost’s agenda for the city and by inference, shares a lot of his values and priorities in managing a city with the Mayor. And, of course, by his own admission, he does not seem to be overly concerned about being scrupulously honest about information he provides to the city.
This is a transcript of Mr. Pence’s remarks made in the Sequim City Council Meeting on March 8.:
(Mike Pence): “I was just about to push that button. Perfect! I've looked back at our existing goals. Some of them make absolutely no sense at all. That (to) reduce recyclables. Really? What are you going to do, quit buying items? But you have to recycle so you can clean up the environment a little bit. The best one that I see here is for the broadband and we've talked about that for almost a year, and we intend… (he's) working on it, but it's a slow process. Yeah, we need to change some of these greatly.
Reduce carbon emission? I don't think we have a whole lot of say on that. (Or) solar power, either one. If it pays for itself, I'm for it. If it doesn’t, I'd be against it. I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars we spent to put those panels on City Hall, and I don't think the payoff is (going) to be within anybody's lifetime; that’s on the council right now. And they probably need to be replaced before that. So, yeah, I think they (the goals) need some work. We need to make it a little broader where staff can when the situation arises that they can tweak it a little bit and make it fit.”