From the Sheboygan Press:
A Sheboygan alderman said he was threatened and intimidated by an alderwoman and mayoral supporter who asked if he was drunk when he publicly criticized Mayor Juan Perez last week.
On Monday Ald. Bob Ryan said Ald. Vicky Meyer pulled him aside before a Friday night Common Council meeting and told him she and the mayor were "disappointed" in his comments in a story published in the Nov. 8 edition of The Sheboygan Press.
...Ryan said Meyer warned him — in comments he immediately wrote down — that he better "be careful with what you say because there are all kinds of rumors out there about you." According to Ryan, Meyer then detailed several such rumors, including that Ryan drinks excessively; spent a week in a local hotel at the request of his wife; and ran for alderman against the wishes of his family, some of whom were concerned about whether he would have time for the family business if he were elected to the council.
Ryan said the conversation lasted two to three minutes and took place in the third-floor hallway at City Hall.
Meyer, chairwoman of the council's Committee of the Whole, said she did not speak on behalf of or at the prodding of Perez.
I believe Ryan's account.
Why would he make up remarks about "rumors" about him?
Why would he open up that can of worms if Meyer hadn't dangled it in front of his face?
..."There's no threats, there's nothing been implied," Meyer said Monday. "I don't know why he's running around telling people about it. … I was questioning some things that he said, and I felt the things he is saying he shouldn't be saying seeing that there are rumors going around about him also."
But Ryan said there was more to it.
"It was definitely threatening, to say the least," he said. "I believe that's an attempt at intimidation is what that is. It's an attempt to have me toe their line, which I've never done and I don't intend to just because someone says my private life might not be perfect."
Ryan said he decided to talk publicly about Meyer's comments to put to rest the rumors she mentioned.
"My private life should be my private business, however, if I have people out there spreading rumors about me, I'd like to address those rumors," Ryan said.
Ryan said he has "overindulged" in the past, but does not drink regularly now, and was not drunk when he made the comments about Perez and the cease-and-desist letter. Ryan said he did spend a week at a hotel a few years ago after a disagreement with his wife — an acknowledgement made now with his wife's support. Ryan said some members of his family did initially disagree with his decision to seek public office.
Ryan said he believes the main reason Meyer confronted him was because of "their fear that I may run against the mayor in 2009." Ryan said he did not get into city politics with the goal of running for mayor, but is considering doing so in light of recent events.
Meyer laughed loudly when told of Ryan's belief that the confrontation was related to a possible mayoral run.
"That's hilarious," she said. "Out of our five-minute conversation he has dreamed up all kinds of things. Well, I'll tell you, all that stuff is in his little head.
"Can we say conspiracy theory here? No, I'll tell you, the man apparently has some mental issues if this is where he is going with this little conversation we had."
Meyer certainly seems defensive when addressing the allegations of her intimidation of Ryan.
She's condescending. She belittles Ryan, talking about "stuff is in his little head."
This practice of threatening critics of Perez is pervasive. It's extremely troubling that elected officials and others in positions of authority resort to such tactics.
Bottom line: Sheboygan residents should note that their city government is not running effectively under Mayor Juan Perez.
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