RFP Staff
♦ Questions regarding inappropriate political maneuvers by one or more City of Salisbury employees and Mayor Woodson arise from emails and information obtained through a request by the RFP for public information via North Carolina General Statute 132. December 1st of 2013, a group of individuals considered influential in Salisbury, NC placed an advertisement in the local newspaper detailing a stance against the purchase of the West End Plaza. However, it appears Mayor Woodson was involved in the construction of the advertisement and that some employees of the City and the entire Council had access to the advertisement days before it appeared.
On November 14, a meeting in Mayor Woodson’s office was held. Invited were the mayor, Lee Wallace, Mona Wallace, John Sofley (current Interim Salisbury City Manager), Rivers Lawther (an attorney for the City of Salisbury), and now “mutually terminated” ex-City Manager Doug Paris.
On November 26th, Mona Wallace wrote Mayor Paul Woodson, informing him that his suggestions for the advertisement had been changed and his name had been removed from the letter because it may be seen as “more political”. Names remaining on the ad “paid for by these citizens” were Ralph Ketner, Mona Lisa Wallace, Fred Stanback, Gordon Hurley, Dyke Messinger, David Setzer, Bill Stanback, Bill Graham, and Margaret Kluttz. As per Ms. Wallace’s email, Lee Wallace’s name was also removed.
Woodson forwarded Ms. Wallace’s email and the letter from Ms. Wallace to all members of City Council and now “mutually terminated” Paris, who then forwarded the same to former Information Officer Elaney Hasselmann.
Did any City employees participate in composing the advertisement slanted against Rowan County Board of Commissioners’ plans? Why was Mayor Woodson involved with the advertisement? Why did the mayor share the email and advertisement document with the entire Council if it was “political” for him to be involved? Why did “mutually terminated” Paris circulate the email and advertisement document to the person who disseminated City information?
The Email Chain:
From: Doug Paris <dpari@salisburync.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 4:42 PM
To: Elaney Hasselmann
Subject: Fwd: Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens
Attachments: Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens.doc; ATT00001.htm
Doug Paris
City Manager
City of Salisbury, NC
http://www.salisburync.gov/citymanager
http://www.twitter.com/parisdoug
Begin forwarded message:
From: Paul Woodson <paulwoodson3@gmail.com>
Date: November 27, 2013, 4:40:07 PM EST
To: Maggie Blackwell <mblac@salisburync.gov>, “William R. (Pete) Kennedy” <wpkennedy@fibrant.com>, Brian Miller <bmil@salisburync.gov>, Karen Alexander <kalex@salisburync.gov>
Cc: Doug Paris <dpari@salisburync.gov>, Doug Paris <dparis@salisburync.gov>, Myra Heard <Mhear@salisburync.gov>
Subject: Fwd: FW: Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Paul Woodson
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Subject: FW: Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens
To: Paul Woodson <paulwoodson3@gmail.com>
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Mona Wallace
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Subject: FW: Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens
To: “paulwoodson3@gmail.com” <paulwoodson3@gmail.com>
Paul, this is going to run on Sunday a half a page and on Monday. We are adding names to it. I made changes to your suggestions. I hope it is ok . Ralph felt that it would not be good for you to sign it because it would be viewed as more political. We also took out anything about the Wallaces as the others said Lee should not sign it either.
But, I like the letter and hope it is ok with you. I am swamped and had to get this in by 5 pm today or else it would not run. So forgive me for not getting up with you earlier.
<Dear Fellow Rowan County Citizens.doc>
