(I will add more documentation as I have time to scan and upload. )
David Hightower’s website lists a pretty detailed and admittedly biased view of the events involving the restraining orders that Woodmen Hills attempted to place against Ron Pace. What follows is additional or clarifying information with documentation (when available).
One reason for the chaos of the Nov. 20 board meeting was due to events on the preceding evening. Here is some supplemental background information:
The night before the November board meeting, Ron Pace called a meeting to be held at the Woodmen Hills Elementary School to discuss the “guys against the girls” issue on the board. He believed that the men on the board — Dave Haehn, Bob Sobota, and Ted Hanchett– frequently voted against whatever ideas Jan Pizzi and Jennifer Barber had. (At that point, I had not been attending board meetings long enough to see that trend. –Falconlady). Upon arrival, the doors to the school were locked so the crowd of about 30-40 gathered outside. Mr. Pace quickly put up a hand-made sign that said “Sobota did this.” What had apparently happened is that when Mr. Sobota got wind of the meeting, he emailed D49 officials alluding to the potential for violence if Mr. Pace were allowed to hold his meeting at the school.The group then moved over to Nawlin’s restaurant to discuss board issues.
So why would school officials agree to cancel Mr. Pace’s access? Maybe because they had had run-in with him themselves. An article in the Ranchland News, Dec. 20, 2007, by Meda Payne (I was not working for the paper at the time.) states: “On Dec. 12 there was a Level 1 lockdown at the Falcon School District. Vice President Dave Martin said that this lockdown was caused by communications received on Dec. 12, which were perceived as threats thereby causing the lockdown.” Later, the article refers to the open forum session at the D49 board meeting: “The second parent addressed the board regarding problems occurring at the school with a child. The parent said that he was responsible for the Level I lockdown and apologized, adding that his phone calls and E-mails were made to express his anger and frustration at the lack of attention the matter was receiving by the school staff and the district.” See the entire article here.
Ron Pace has publicly admitted that he is the parent referred to above. Anyone who has read Mr. Pace’s website before he became a board candidate knows how he expresses his anger and frustration. If he used the same kind of insulting and intimidating language in that email as he did on his website (examples follow), I’m not surprised that D49 took precautions. See this example for “I hate you.” and “You deserve to be humiliated.” And this one for “I hope they fry you.” Then he thinks this blog is worthy of FBI attention here.
This is not to say that Mr. Pace was not justified in calling the meeting. I suspect he was. At that time, I was still learning my way around the workings of the Metro District. Comments I’ve heard from residents since then say he was justified in getting the guys to resign, which they did soon after.
In spite of that, ask yourself if THIS is who you want to represent you on the board? Are these the tactics worthy of a board director?
(to be continued)
