Fourth in a series
Re “Defending Invocation, Mehaul Says It Has a Lofty Purpose”
By the time Monday evening’s City Council meeting arrives, Vice Mayor Mehaul O’Leary sounds as if he will be better prepared to go to war than at any other time in his six years on the dais.
He has been fuming for weeks over Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells’s controversial proposal to change the name of City Manager JohnNachbar’s pre-meeting comments. She objects to the religious implications of the traditionally named “Invocation.”
“She is going to have to prove she is a stronger fighter than I am,” said the vice mayor.
Talking about fighting words.
“I am sorry,” said Mr. O’Leary, “but it is going to come down to who is the toughest dog on the dais.
“I am not backing down on this. This is unacceptable.”
The O’Leary fire was building fast.
“I am going to be asking for reasons. I am going to be asking for evidence of damage. I am going to be asking for a lot of things she better come prepared for.
“This can’t be some willy-nilly, ‘Oh, let’s get rid of this one thing that might, that maybe, could offend somebody.’
“I can’t wait to hear what Meghan’s argument will be.”
The vice mayor is not sure whether or how much company he will have in pushing back against Her Honor.
Based on his fiery statements, Mr. O’Leary may be mad enough by himself to compensate for any lack of support. He insists that the term Invocation should be retained because it creates a high-minded environment for the Council before they turn to decision-making.
“If we are going to make this into just a social gathering where we are going to be making decisions, it is no place for me,” Mr. O’Leary said.
How literally did he mean that?
Previously, the vice mayor had told the newspaper, “If God is taken out of my Council meetings, I might as well step down.”
