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Politician's YouTubed Comments Create Stir

October 14, 2009
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When 81-year-old Ruth Tatlock spoke before the Herndon Town Council last month, she wanted to confront council members who protested Governor Tim Kaine's recent visit.

But just a few minutes into her remarks, as shown on the video, Tatlock was silenced. "May I continue please?" she asked the council. "No, you may not!" Councilman Dennis Husch replied. In the video that's posted online, Husch says his constituents don't have the right to comment on what he does on his own time.

That, he says, would be the equivalent of slavery. "And while I work for the citizens of this community," he tells the audience, "You don't own me. The 13th amendment [to the U.S. Constitution] made that clear."

Before returning to the Herndon Town Council last night, Ruth Tatlock challenged Husch's assertions. "When somebody chooses to run for office and is elected," she says, "He becomes a representative for all of the residents of this town."

The Herndon Town Attorney did send a memo to the council concerning last month's incident. But the town has decided against releasing it to the public, citing attorney-client privilege.

David Schultz reports...

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