Article Contributed on: 11/30/2007 11:11:26 PM
As readers of my blog know, Councilman Doug Lehnen (District 6 - Crystal Valley/Plum Creek) and I do not often agree on the issues.
This week, Mr. Lehnen served notice that he is concerned about the prospect of a proposal from the Castlewood Ranch Metropolitan District to contribute money to the town for the purpose of building Castlewood Ranch filing no. 2 park. The metro district is interested in assuring that the park be built as soon as feasible and that it include aquatic features. The basis of Councilman Lehnen's concern is a worry that water features would waste water.
Fair enough. I disagree that it's a worry, because most fountain-type water features can be designed to minimize evaporation losses.
If a swimming pool is to be accused of being a waste of water, then we'd have to level that charge against the pool at The Grange in the Meadows, the pool at the Castle Rock recreation center, and the pool owned by Founders Village Homeowners Association. If those pools are consistent with our water policy, why wouldn't one in Castlewood Ranch also be?
At any rate, I have no problem with Councilman Lehnen disagreeing with me, about this or any other issue. What I do object to is receiving threats to my safety and that of my family. And that is exactly what I believe Councilman Lehnen to have done today.
In an e-mail message sent to me at 1:32 pm today, Councilman Lehnen said this:
"You have stated facts about me in particular and that has not been polical [sic] and by the way be careful."
I have never, to the best of my recollection, criticized Councilman Lehnen on a personal basis. I have certainly criticized his political point of view, his governing philosophy, and his stand on a number of issues.
So I don't understand what he means when he says that I have "stated facts" that aren't "political."
Moreover, I cannot imagine any way in which the words "be careful" can be interpreted as warning of political, as opposed to personal, consequences of disagreeing with Mr. Lehnen. I may be wrong that Councilman Lehnen meant those words as a threat to harm me or my family, and I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
But, just in case, I have filed a report with the Castle Rock police and let law enforcement know that I do consider this sentence, which was the entirety of the 1:32 pm message to me, to be a threat.
Earlier in the year Mr. Lehnen told me in another e-mail message, and I'm paraphrasing, that "we'll have issues" if I did not "retract" part of a blog entry to which he objected. I thought that statement was a warning that I'd pay a political cost, and I had no objection to it.
But it seems to me that "be careful" has a much more ominous and much more dangerous and much more personal tone.
I regret this turn of events very much. I believe it is possible for us to keep our political differences political and not personal. I believe Councilman Lehnen to be an honest and dedicated public servant.
In fairness, I have to admit that, honorable as Mr. Lehnen is, I think he is often profoundly wrong on many issues, insufficiently sensitive to the need to expand opportunities for citizen participation at Town Hall, and inexplicably hostile to the notion that members of the Council should feel free to ask as many questions of the town manager as they think necessary to effectively represent their constituents.
However, this threat is inappropriate no matter the frequency or extent of his political differences with me. It shows poor judgment and it sends a message to others that are interested in serving the community and standing up for what they believe and what they think is in the best interest of those they represent that disagreeing with the Mayor Pro-Tem of Castle Rock might come at intolerable personal expense.
I hope and expect that Mr. Lehnen will publicly apologize.
I hope that I am misinterpreting his words, though I do not think I am doing so, and that he will quickly come to accept that a member of the Town Council should not threaten a colleague, or his or her family, with physical harm because of a disagreement on the issues.