GETTING THE MOST LOCAL ACTIVITY RIGHT NOW...

There has been recent controversy surrounding an email sent by Chaplain/Alderman Northcut. Many "locals" have told us they have not actually read his email or were aware of the full action of the Council towards Mr. Northcut. Our Facebook page has received increased activity since we launched the story weeks ago. Bits and pieces have been circulating online so we are posting the facts that we could gather surrounding the censure of Alderman/Chaplain Northcut. 

You get to decide. You get to comment HERE

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Comments ....Who said what?

Mr. Chaplain insisted to only respond "as a Chaplain" and would not comment "as an alderman". The two biggest rumors or comments circulating online involved the Chaplain/Alderman a) threatening to protest Nick Patel's business if he went back on the planning commission. b) that he was against homosexuals running a business among other things. We asked Chaplain Northcut about his involvement in this:         

"I NEVER SAID, OR EVEN IMPLIED, ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO MR. PATEL OR ANYONE ELSE!  AND, I NEVER SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD WITHDRAW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION FOR RE-APPOINTMENT." 

Other posts say that Patel was "strictly business" or focused on how much money a business could generate over the "morality" factor of a business. The Chaplain disagreed with this decision-making on the commission and made his concerns known.

Chaplain Northcut went on to say "I had one pastor, Brian Heinen, of the Aliance Church and Raul Torres, pastor of Hispanic First Assembly of God Church in Dardanelle to come to the meeting in my support".

WriteForArkansas.com - Whitney Snipes published comments from the Mayor and Alderman speaking at the meeting:

  Alderman Martin Irwin responded to Northcut, and said “the document upon which we swore an oath of office is not the quotes of the President nor the quotes of any other founder — it is the Constitution of the United States.”

“And let me just, let me make this clear. I want everybody to understand why we are here today. It is not about religion; it is not about morality; it is not about righteousness, nor good versus evil; nor is this about free speech. This is about a willful violation of the solemn oath of office taken by a public official.”

Irwin spoke about military veterans, who also swear an oath to uphold the Constitution.

“The important part of that oath was that I will uphold and protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” he said. “Domestic enemies of the Constitution are us sitting right here. Police officers, government officials, those are the people who can take your rights away from you. When you enlist in the military, you give up certain of those rights because you are an arm of the government that can do harm. The same is true of the Russellville City Council and every other body of government that we have, and that is why we are required to take an oath, and that’s why we take a solemn oath to faithfully execute the duties of this office.”

Irwin said all are entitled to their personal beliefs and opinions, but “if my opinion is inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, it may not be brought forward when discussing policy or public business. That’s why you took that oath. So you would not bring personal prejudice, personal bias or personal opinion into the arena of American government at any level when our responsibility is to fairly and equally apply the laws and represent the citizens of this nation, and part of that responsibility in protecting the Constitution is to make sure everyone is fairly and equally represented and that their Constitutional rights are protected.”

“… When you violate the public trust by willfully violating your oath of office, I think that there’s but one conclusion — and I’ve had three or four rather sleepless nights, and after a great deal of consideration, deliberation and with a heavy heart, a heavy heart, I think that the violation of your oath of office, as a matter of honor, integrity and basic human decency demands that Mr. Northcut immediately resign from office.”

Northcut questioned whether he had violated his oath of office.

“When I, as a private citizen, talk to other private citizens and express my convictions and my beliefs, not as alderman, simply as Chaplain Northcut, when I exercise my right to free speech, is that a violation of my oath of office?”

Knost responded and said the email Northcut sent was not private discourse, but was subject to public scrutiny.

After the aldermen finished their comments, members of the public were allowed to speak. Robert McCready, who is coordinator of the Russellville River Valley Tea Party, asked why the council was taking such action when Patel — who wasn’t present Friday — indicated in conversations with McCready he wanted to simply move on, without making a public display.

“You’re absolutely right,” Eaton said. “Mr. Patel did not want the controversy, however, the controversy was put upon him by this information being put in the newspaper. His family is now exposed to all of it, and it’s like closing the barn door after the horse is out. It’s a very unfortunate situation.”

When the resolution to censure Northcut was brought to vote, Northcut was the only alderman to vote against the adoption of the resolution.

Also on Friday, all eight aldermen unanimously passed a resolution affirming nondiscrimination in the city of Russellville, which stated in part, “the City Council, Mayor, Commissions, Boards and Department of the City of Russellville, Arkansas, affirm to the citizens of Russellville, Arkansas, to make no distinction in representation or protection of rights based on race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender identification.”

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