Our View: Fayetteville City Council shows civility in censuring one of its own
On Monday, the Fayetteville City Council addressed an ugly incident that happened at a committee meeting earlier in November. Necessary awkwardness notwithstanding, the council handled the matter swiftly and professionally.
On Nov. 9, City Councilman Johnny Dawkins blew up at Councilwoman Yvonne Kinston during an appointments committee meeting. During what he himself later called a “tirade,” Dawkins swore at Kinston.
He apologized to her at the council’s regular meeting on Monday.
“I want to apologize to you for losing my cool in the appointments committee meeting,” Dawkins said. “Very respectfully, I ask for your forgiveness.”
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Later, Mayor Mitch Colvin, who was also present at the appointments meeting, issued his own apology to Kinston.
“Although I was not in charge of the meeting, I was in the room and allowed the environment to get to a point that it did,” he said.
He said he supported the right of council members to express themselves, but “we’re not going to tolerate any type of disrespect or profanity.”
Kinston said in an interview a couple of days after the appointments meeting that an apology from Dawkins should have come at the same meeting in which he blew up, or immediately afterward.
At Monday’s meeting, she made a motion that he be censured. It was seconded by Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram.
“I do accept council member Dawkins’ apology, and yes council member Dawkins I have already forgiven you for that,” she said.
But she said she sought the censure on grounds of professionalism and accountability.
We agree with Kinston.
It is important for city leaders to model the concept of respectful debate. Fewer leaders these days are willing to take on that role, but it is as vitally important as ever. We are in an era where civility among political leaders can no longer be taken for granted. Kinston’s actions are important in reminding us that civility and professionalism still matter.
The council voted in favor of the censure at the meeting’s end. Dawkins, who had voted against adding the item to the agenda, did not vote as the issue concerned him.
Just prior to the Nov. 9 blowup, the appointments committee had been discussing the nomination of Carl Manning to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Board. Dawkins inquired whether Manning was African-American; he said in an interview later he asked the question so he could make sure diversity was included in the names sent forward to the full council.
Kinston, who is African-American, appeared to scoff at the question. After the meeting, she wrote in an email to council members that Dawkins, who is white, has made comments before that were racial, biased and disrespectful and said his behavior had “progressively gotten worse.”
After the censure vote, Colvin complimented both Kinston and Dawkins for how the matter was handled.
“This was a tough conversation to have tonight,” the mayor said. “I think both of you handled it like professionals and adults. Appreciate it. I look forward to us working together. Thank you, council member Kinston.”
We agree that it was handled well and brushed up the image of a City Council that is looking somewhat frayed at the edges. The exchange between Dawkins and Kinston happened to occur on the same day that Tisha Waddell, the District 3 representative, chose to resign from council on unrelated matters.
It was important to see those acts of civility at Monday’s meeting.
Also on Monday: The full council voted to approve Manning and William Hedgepeth to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Board.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville City Council shows civility in censuring one of its own
