A city councilmember gets arrested, accused of domestic battery. Days later, the Times reports that the same councilmember had a prior arrest and conviction for a similar charge, along with another alleged, but unreported, domestic incident.
Other than two councilmembers and one public speaker, the community goes silent. No other community leaders are speaking up. No victims advocates are speaking up. Not even those who unsuccessfully stood as potential community leaders to be selected for a vacant council seat are speaking up. I, too, am guilty of not speaking up, although I did speak out in emails to members of the council to express myself.
To be clear, I’m not talking about speaking out publicly to crucify Mr. Carr. I agree with those who say the public shouldn’t be judge and jury, that Mr. Carr deserves his right to due process and his day in court. Yes…for his case.
As a publicly elected official, however, if he willing sought community judgment on his character and integrity when he campaigned in 2016 and accepted the community’s jury vote that gave him the council seat, then I see no reason to dissuade public opinion in judging his character and integrity now.
It would also seem hypocritical, given Mr. Carr’s recent campaign to plead his case in the public forum of his councilmember social media page.
But debating Mr. Carr’s guilt or innocence is irrelevant to me. What I’m questioning is the apparent lack of community involvement and discussion about a topic that currently hangs over our city’s leadership, and is one at the forefront of social discussion on a national level.
I’ve watched Morgan Hill residents unite to walk downtown for pedestrian safety when a child was injured. The community rallied on immigration issues, for the protection of Dreamers. The community has discussed minority rights and promoted diversity in the past. The community has participated in anti-bullying campaigns.
Why does it seem the community is not open to a discussion about violence? And all types of violence—physical and emotional, domestic and otherwise.
While the highly regarded Mr. Carr is unfortunately in the spotlight, his position or social standing shouldn’t be a barrier to public discussion about violence issues, identification of networks and resources for victims, and for making a statement that this community is proactive in tackling difficult, emotional issues openly and without waiting for the judge’s gavel to drop.
Chris Monack
Morgan Hill
