Mayor threatens penalty in wake of councilman’s ‘hippies’ remark aimed at fellow council members

PORT TOWNSEND — Mayor Catherine Robinson on Monday night reprimanded fellow council member Geoff Masci for calling some other council members “godless heathen hippies,” and she threatened punitive action against city leaders who repeat such conduct in the future.

Masci drew fire from his colleagues after his remarks Feb. 24 to the Jefferson County Home Builders Association during a monthly dinner meeting.

The remarks, he said, were aimed at council members Kees Kolff, Michelle Sandoval and Frieda Fenn, whose council positions are up for re-election in the fall.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The veteran councilman said later that he made the remarks because he feels shut out of the council’s decision-making process.

“(Masci) had no right whatsoever to selfishly malign those who serve with him and represent the community to the best of their abilities on this council,” Robinson read from her signed letter to the council Monday night.

“In the future, if any council member takes any such action, I will bring to council a motion to suspend that council member from city representation on any outside committee or board for at least three months.”

The three council members last week responded to Masci’s comments, calling him unprofessional, divisive and acting inappropriately, but none suggested punitive action like Robinson did Monday night.

The mayor’s position is honorary, appointed by the council.

During the meeting intermission, Masci said he had “no rebuttal.”

“It’s over,” Masci said.

More in News

Fred Lundahl, a pilot from Whidbey Island, prepares to fuel up his 1968 Cessna Aerobat, named Scarlett, at the Jefferson County International Airport in Port Townsend. Lundahl was picking up his plane Wednesday from Tailspin Tommy’s Aircraft Repair facility located at the airport. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Fueling up

Fred Lundahl, a pilot from Whidbey Island, prepares to fuel up his… Continue reading

After hours pet clinic set for Peninsula

Opening June 6 at Sequim location

Five to be honored with community service awards

Ceremony set Thursday at Port Angeles Senior Community Center

PASD planning for expanding needs

Special education, homelessness, new facilities under discussion

Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Deputy Ed Bauck
Clallam Sheriff appoints animal control deputy

Position was vacant since end of 2024

Highway 104 road work to start week

Maintenance crews will repair road surfaces on state Highway… Continue reading

Supreme Court says no to recall reconsider

Sequim man found liable for legal fees

Chimacum Ridge seeks board members

Members to write policy, balance values, chair says

Fire destroys shop east of Port Angeles

A fire on Hickory Street east of Port Angeles… Continue reading

Jefferson Transit Authority to expand Kingston Express route

Jefferson Transit Authority has announced expanded service on its… Continue reading

From left to right, Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding students Krystol Pasecznyk and Scott McNair sand a Prothero Sloop with Sean Koomen, the school’s boat building program director. Koomen said the sanding would take one person a few days. He said the plan is to have 12 people sand it together, which will take a few hours. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wooden boatbuilding school building ‘Twin Boats’

Students using traditional and cold-moulding construction techniques