Can Two Councilmen Under Investigation Still Serve Constituents?
By: Daisy O'Donnell
Updated: June 27, 2010
Two Monroe city councilmen under federal indictment are not resigning on the council, even in light of an FBI probe into bribery and racketeering accusations.
Now some people in the community are questioning whether both councilmen can serve the city of Monroe, despite legal issues of their own.
Monroe city councilmen are always just a phone call away, but ever since Red Stevens and Arthur Gilmore have been at the center of a federal indictment, some neighbors are wondering if their concerns will be addressed.
“If an average guy like me committed that kind of crime, I’d be in prison right now. I think that’s what they deserve—serve time for what they did,” said Albert Lauhoff, who lives in Stevens’ district.
Chronic issues in Monroe, like junky yards littered with garbage and rundown homes, are complaints that Councilmen Red Stevens and Arthur Gilmore have been fighting for years.
“I work at a daycare in Booker T., and across the street there’s been trash and an abandoned house. Two weeks ago, (Gilmore) helped us out,” said Tammie Woods, who approves of both councilmen’s contributions to the community.
Now some neighbors, who are calling for both men to step down, are wondering how both councilmen can balance the call of public service with their legal issues.
“We put them in a trust situation. And now there’s no way to trust them,” said Lauhoff.
But Gilmore’s lawyer, Charles Kincade, says the time both councilmen spent serving the community is what really matters.
“Mr. Gilmore has always been responsive to his constituents. I don’t anticipate that will change,” he said. “He’s been a responsive public servant in the past and will continue to be responsive to the public need.”
Now some people in the community are questioning whether both councilmen can serve the city of Monroe, despite legal issues of their own.
Monroe city councilmen are always just a phone call away, but ever since Red Stevens and Arthur Gilmore have been at the center of a federal indictment, some neighbors are wondering if their concerns will be addressed.
“If an average guy like me committed that kind of crime, I’d be in prison right now. I think that’s what they deserve—serve time for what they did,” said Albert Lauhoff, who lives in Stevens’ district.
Chronic issues in Monroe, like junky yards littered with garbage and rundown homes, are complaints that Councilmen Red Stevens and Arthur Gilmore have been fighting for years.
“I work at a daycare in Booker T., and across the street there’s been trash and an abandoned house. Two weeks ago, (Gilmore) helped us out,” said Tammie Woods, who approves of both councilmen’s contributions to the community.
Now some neighbors, who are calling for both men to step down, are wondering how both councilmen can balance the call of public service with their legal issues.
“We put them in a trust situation. And now there’s no way to trust them,” said Lauhoff.
But Gilmore’s lawyer, Charles Kincade, says the time both councilmen spent serving the community is what really matters.
“Mr. Gilmore has always been responsive to his constituents. I don’t anticipate that will change,” he said. “He’s been a responsive public servant in the past and will continue to be responsive to the public need.”
