September 18, 2019, the Ely City Council made news statewide. In a very bad way.
In a special meeting that afternoon, Ed Spear was appointed to the Ely City Council to replace Tony DeFelice. And in doing so, the council made themselves look like 19th-century backwoods misogynistic hicks.
Spear was presented as a candidate along with Michelle Beecher. In the prior City Council election Beecher finished second to Jim Alworth by a margin on 397 to 362. Three councilmen, Kurt Carson, Jim Alworth, and Ernie Flangas criticized Beecher in tones that were all but saying “Get back in that kitchen and make us a sammich, woman!” Never mind that Beecher’s role with the Rural Nevada Development Corporation has been stellar., because she was not only a woman, but a woman with a family, she was looked down on by a council that had already made their mind up before the meeting! Not surprisingly, Spear was appointed. And the tenor expressed by the council gained the city of Ely another black mark in the eyes of the state and those who might look at Ely as a place to bring their business. Newspapers around the region criticized the actions of the councilmen and specifically their misogynistic tone. They deserved the vitriol.
People wonder why so few people seek office in White Pine County. Yes, the work load for these offices is immense. But when some of the council and commissions fiercest critics won’t run, something’s wrong. Ask yourself why George Chachas has the guts to run, while another of local government’s fiercest critics won’t, it say two things. One, potential candidates know that they have to deal with unreasonable cretins, both in and outside of government, and two, as the old saying goes, they can dish it out, but can’t take it.
Wyatt Cox
