Kevin Coleman Sole Finalist

Palestine City Manager Slot Closing
By Teresa Holloway
Messenger Reporter
PALESTINE – Despite the furor surrounding the finalist selection for Palestine City Manager, only three people spoke on the subject at the Oct. 24 city council meeting which would finalize the decision of the sole candidate.
James Smith spoke to the council during the public address phase of the meeting. “Many of you may not be aware, but in 2012 the City of Palestine and the Department of Justice and other signed a proclamation entitled ‘Together, Everyone Achieves More’.
“Mayor Bob Herrington, (et al), signed the Proclamation … We’ve been trying to work for that and toward that to make it come true.
“Mr. Isaac Wynn and I have been to particularly all the work sessions and council meetings and many others throughout the year. We are well aware of what our city government is about.
“A few minutes ago, you were under the Invocation of Prayer – The Word of God. It’s been said, ‘When the prestige of power fails, a violent episode proceeds’ and it’s a shame that Palestine businesses and property owners cry ‘Foul’ when you don’t honor the slogan, ‘Shop Local,
Shop Palestine’.
“Just recently, in our City Manager campaign, we had a chance for a local … this is a native son who knows our front yard and our back yard better than most people who attend our city in leadership. Not to hold anything against anyone. I want to give a hats-off salute to Mr. Mike Alexander who lives in our city and has become a landmark.
“I appreciate everything you have done to bring us together and I hope you continue,” Smith said.
“Many do not know Mr. Jack Coleman was a city councilman in the years past and I didn’t hear anything about him being a bad guy or any disrespectful conduct.
“He is still a property owner here. I don’t knock any candidate who runs for a city manager or official position. We are all family, but I’d like for us not to pit one side of the track against the other side of the track.
“All our tax dollars are the same color. We all want representation with the taxation,” Smith concluded with the closing of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Linda Ray spoke next. She began by congratulating the heroes honored earlier. “This gathering reminds me somewhat of the Commissioner’s Court meetings I used to preside over when I was the County Judge,” she reminded the audience.
Ray explained she had thought extensively on the subject of the city manager. “I feel it is my duty to speak to you. I’m currently retired after 25 years where the citizens of Anderson County chose me as their justice of the peace and county judge.”
“My experience taught me a great deal about people and politics. Speaking from my experience, my greatest concern in the selection of a city manager is making sure the current employees of the City of Palestine are at the forefront of your decision-making process.
Ray listed several departments of the city. “Those in the trenches who rely on their position to support their families, these employees deserve a workplace free of intimidation or threats,” she said.
“These employees deserve a positive and supportive work environment. They deserve job security and commendation for jobs well done.
“The ability to retain a strong, experienced work force says a great deal about an organization, however, how this workforce is treated is non-negotiable. Thank you for your time,” she said.
The former judge was followed by Tracy Willingham. “I want to share my concerns on the current city manager situation, in particular Jack Coleman. Until just recently and for more than a year I have witnessed on social media avenues where he has berated, called names and belittled and demeaned people in particular consistently over and over again and harassed them when they asked him to stop because they simply disagreed with him.
Willingham did not provide screen shots, hard copies, first-hand accounts or other proof of Coleman’s allegedly abusive or demeaning behavior to the city council.
“Now we can say that’s just social media and it may not pertain to how he would behave in public. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. There’s been examples where in public he behaves the same way.
No examples of such incidents were substantiated by Willingham.
“In my opinion, well, it’s not my opinion, the fact is, the city manager is a position where that person who is the city manager needs to be able to bring people together, respecting differences and working towards a common goal. What I’ve just stated to you, which is a history of Jack Coleman’s behavior, does not agree with what is required for the city manager position.
“In my opinion, he’s not fit, not only personally but professionally to serve as the city manager. I respectfully ask you to decline to vote for Jack Coleman as city manager,” she concluded.
Dana Goolsby addressed the council next. “I’ve lived here for about eight years. I grew up and was born in Grapeland. I’m not from a wealthy family, I didn’t get a lot of money when my dad died, I’ve worked real hard for what I’ve got. I like to help others.”
“I think this is something we can all share in, is helping others. It’s our responsibility to help others, not take it the other way and tear other people down.
“Almost a year ago I stood before you and pleaded for the members of this council to treat all members of this community with respect and take steps to move this community in a positive direction.
“I’m sad to say, not all members of council committed to this. Since then, Palestine has continued to spiral out of control leading us to the moment.
“I’m here today to stand in solidarity with members of the community who desire a better Palestine. Thank you, Councilman Thomas, Councilman Brule and Councilman Presley for your stance in matter of the potential hiring of Jack Coleman from the beginning.
“Over the last week, the community has called upon you to put your own desires and friendships aside and listen to your constituents. One of you heard the outcry of the community and took steps to move in the right direction.
“Mayor Herrington, I am pleased, and grateful, that you have rescinded your support for hiring Jack Coleman as the next city manager.
“After your announcement, Councilman Mitchell Jordan also began telling citizens he’d changed his stance on hiring Jack Coleman.
“As to the remaining members of council, Councilman Smith, Councilwoman Chivers, I ask you also listen to the community to which you have been elected to serve and take steps to bring the community back together,” she concluded.
After concluding other city business, the council went into an almost two hour executive session. Upon their return to open meeting, District 4 Council member Joseph Thompson motioned for Kevin Coleman to be nominated as “sole finalist for city manager pending negotiation of contract details and additional meetings.”
District 1 Council Member Will Brule seconded the motion.
All council members approved the motion except Council member Vickey Chivers, who voted ‘Nay’.
In response, Jack Coleman wished Kevin Coleman every success and complimented the city’s staff. “He’s got a fantastic finance director in Steve Groom,” Coleman said. “I hope the two can work together for the benefit of the community. There must be some structure built beneath these castles in the air … Palestine has great plans and much potential, but the details underpinning the plans are lacking.
“Perhaps, working together, Kevin Coleman and Steve Grooms can develop those detailed plans which would benefit the city.
“The city’s master plan is not underpinned by a capital improvement plan, there is no economic development policy to set out desired results from economic development expenditures, there is no long range financial plan, the city is not budgeting out three, five and ten year plans and there is no tax policy plan. A long-term tax policy plan sets out a goal to maintain parity with the rise in the cost of operations,” Coleman explained.
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