The Pinal County Board of Supervisors (BOS) recently engaged in a heated debate over the future of public comment periods at their meetings. The discussion was prompted by two recent incidents in Arizona that have raised questions about free speech in local government forums.
Mother Arrested at City Council Meeting
On August 20th, 2024, Rebekah Massie, an Arizona mother, was arrested at the Surprise, Arizona City Council meeting after speaking out against a city official. The incident, which occurred in front of Massie’s 10-year-old daughter, began when Mayor Skip Hall cut off Massie’s comments and ordered police to escort her out of the meeting.
[Watch the police camera and City Council room camera view of the incident]
(Surprise TV)
Broadcast Interruption at School Board Meeting
On September 9th, 2024, controversy erupted at a Casa Grande Union High School District meeting. Board members Boots Hawk and Stephen Hunt wore caps bearing the slogan “Make Education Great Again” to the meeting. Superintendent Jeff Lavender responded by turning off the broadcast cameras before the meeting began, citing concerns that the hats constituted a political statement. Both board members maintained that their intent was to promote education reform rather than endorse a political position.
Board of Supervisor’s Response
In light of these and other events, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors held a special session on September 12th, 2024, to discuss potential modifications to their procedures and use of call to the public at Board of Supervisors public meetings. The board engaged in a thorough discussion, considering various aspects of public comment periods and their impact on meeting efficiency and free speech.
Key outcomes of the meeting include:
- Continuation of Call to the Public: The board expressed a general consensus to continue allowing call to the public, recognizing its importance for citizen engagement.
- Potential Timing Change: Supervisors discussed moving the call to the public to after the consent agenda, public health board, and flood district items. This change aims to allow county staff to return to work after addressing their agenda items while still providing a dedicated time for public comments.
- No Immediate Decision: The board decided not to make any immediate changes, opting instead to gather more public input and consider the matter further.
- Future Agenda Item: The board plans to revisit the topic in a future meeting, potentially addressing more specific issues such as content restrictions, time limits, and the process for adding items to the agenda.
- Public Input: The board encouraged citizens to submit written comments to the clerk of the board for distribution to all supervisors.
Throughout the discussion, board members emphasized the importance of balancing free speech rights with the need for efficient meetings. They also acknowledged the chair’s discretion in managing public comment periods and the potential need for clearer guidelines on responding to non-agendized items mentioned during public comments.
The board’s deliberations highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining open and accessible government meetings while ensuring productive conduct of county business. As the discussion continues, Pinal County residents are encouraged to provide their input on this important issue of local governance.
