Aurora mayor threatens to kick alderman out of meeting

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner has never had anyone thrown out of council chambers but Tuesday night, he was ready to make Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence the first.

Lawrence became enraged when his request to ask questions of Aurora Housing Authority appointee Avis Miller was denied by Weisner despite the fact that Lawrence had asked, last Tuesday, for Miller to be present.

Lawrence, a longtime thorn in the side of the authority, questioning their use of tax dollars and the conditions of many of the authority's properties, routinely calls for the dismantling of the board.

"I'd just kinda like to hear her opinion and view of where we're going with the housing authority and what she feels is good and right in its relationship to the community and the school district and things like that," Lawrence said before voting against Miller's appointment. "I'd just like to hear her opinion and what her view is."

Weisner rebuffed his request before ruling Lawrence out of order for the first of several times

"You have her resume in front of you if there's something you find objectionable or obviously you've had the opportunity to call her and ask her any questions you had."

Lawrence suggested city council was the correct forum for his questions and the following dialogue began:

Lawrence: "There is nothing wrong with just asking someone."

Weisner: "You're out of order."

Lawrence: "I'm not out of order."

Weisner: "You are out of order."

Lawrence: "These are people that make decisions."

Weisner: "You would be wise to behave yourself before you get removed."

Lawrence: "By who?"

Weisner: "By the sergeant at arms (Sgt. Dave Hornburg, former president of the Aurora Association of Professional Police Officers that backed Lawrence in the April 2009 election for Fourth Ward Alderman).

Lawrence: "For asking somebody a ..."

Weisner: "I've ruled you out of order. If you want to..."

Lawrence: "You're out of order!"

Weisner: "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to impart a little wisdom on Mr. Lawrence and then give him one more opportunity. You want to continue?"

Lawrence: "I asked a simple question."

Weisner: "Do you want to continue?"

The meeting did continue with several more barbs being throw across the dais but without Lawrence being ejected.

After the meeting, Weisner said that was the first time he's been pushed so far as to threaten to have an alderman removed.

"If things continue like this, we may continue to see a lot more firsts up here," Weisner said as he entered the elevator, leaving the chambers.

Lawrence was in no mood to quit, calling Weisner a "baby who kicks and stomps his feet" when he's challenged on the dais.

After the meeting, Lawrence approached Miller, telling her his questions were not a personal attack against her but rather his due diligence before appointing her and the two agreed to meet for coffee in the coming week.

"If only she could have answered my question, I may have voted yes for her and made her appointment unanimous," Lawrence said.

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<h1>More Coverage</h1>

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<h2>Audio</h2>

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<li><a href="/audio/aurpick.mp3">Hear the exchange </a></li>

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