Northglenn censures two councilors

Long, Walker disciplined for Pride proclamation walkout

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNTIYMEDIA.COM

Northglenn City Councilors Tim Long and Nicholas Walker were censured by their dais colleagues on a 7-0 vote at the July 24 city council meeting.

City Attorney Corey Ho mann said Long and Walker were not allowed to vote due to their personal interest at stake with the result of the vote. e Charter doesn’t allow councilors to vote on items with substantive personal interest or on matters cornering their conduct.

“I believe I was bullied by rst amendment non-believers who judged me to have hate lling my silence,” Long said.

He also said he is representing the silent majority in Northglenn.

It comes after both walked out during the Pride Proclamation council made on June 5.

Walker said he was bullied and

Diversity

intimidated by city sta , and received a “hateful” message from a member of the Diversity Inclusion and Social Equity Board.

religiosity, spirituality and we all have our sensitivity as to being fair and honest with everybody in our community which is what we try to live up to and I’m sorry some people took issue,” at the June 12 meeting.

up to the public and everybody else watching that act guess what exactly is going on in your mind,” said City Councilor Rich Kondo.

And

“Yes, Northglenn’s group that claims to value inclusivity and diversity and stopping hate. I will never stop ghting so all residents have their voices heard and represented,” he said.

Walker, who previously said he did it for “personal reasons” and declined interview requests, said “We’ll address some comments, opinions, last week from not only inside this chamber but also outside from some keyboard warriors. My response to those opinions is simply this: lions do not lose sleep over the opinions of sheep,” at the June 12 meeting.

Long also didn’t initially accept interview requests, but later said “We all have our own biases, we have our own feelings, we have our own

But at the July 10 meeting, Long said he walked out because he didn’t approve of the city spending money on the Pride event, and met with the City Manager and City Attorney to cancel the event on May 9. at same meeting, Northglenn’s Diversity, Inclusivity, and Social Equity Board member Christina Cimino called for the censure.

“On behalf of the Northglenn DISE Board, our LGBTQIS+ community and allies, I am calling for the formal censure of Councilor Long and Walker. Censuring Councilor Long and Walker as a sign of formal disapproval of their actions on June 5 is the only answer for their actions,” Cimino said during public comment.

Much of the criticism from the council was due to their lack of explanations on why they walked out.

“If you’re going to act, you need to explain why because if you don’t it’s

City Councilor Becky Brown said her opinion has not changed on the matter.

“I wish there was more we could do for Councilmember Long, but he hasn’t stepped down yet,” she said.

“It’s been three weeks of emotional turmoil, not only for the LGBT Community but for other residents,” she continued.

City Councilor Katherine Go said the censure is not about what the two said or did, but what they didn’t do. She said walking out prior to the proclamation didn’t follow council protocols.

City Councilor Megan Burns asked Long if he asked about the pricing of other events the city puts on. He said no but has looked at other events and wants them reviewed during city budget discussions.

“We have so much money going out the door,” Long said.