At the Dec. 6 Morgan Hill City Council meeting, one of City Councilman Larry Carr’s colleagues publicly expressed his disappointment at the recent allegations of domestic battery against him, and a resident asked him to resign from his elected office.
At the beginning of the meeting, it was Councilman Rene Spring’s turn to give a member’s report. After proclaiming the success of events he attended in recent weeks—the Indian Association of South County’s Diwali celebration and the opening of the city’s new parks—Spring turned directly to Carr and asked him to “make the right call and deal with your personal and legal issues in a more private setting.”
Spring said he is “still trying to wrap my head around” recent reports that Carr was charged last week with domestic battery, and that he was convicted of a similar charge involving the same victim in 2015. “I haven’t slept well the past few days,” Spring admitted. “I find it extremely disappointing. It is really hard for me to find the right words. At times I am sick to my stomach.”
Spring admitted he doesn’t know if the allegations are true, but the reports don’t support the “highest respect” he has always had for Carr as a public servant.
Carr sat silently at the dais while Spring made the remarks, and did not respond.
Carr is accused of misdemeanor battery on a cohabitant in relation to a Nov. 25 incident at the home he shares with his girlfriend, which Morgan Hill Police responded to and investigated. The District Attorney’s Office subsequently filed the misdemeanor charge against him.
In a separate incident in 2015, Carr pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery involving the same victim. The court later dismissed the charge from his record.
Carr told police in 2015 and continues to insist he is innocent of the previous charge, despite the plea of no contest. He has told the Times he is innocent of the charge related to the Nov. 25 incident as well. His arraignment on the recent charge is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2018.
During the public comment portion of the Dec. 6 meeting, Morgan Hill resident Ann Horner addressed the allegations and pointedly told Carr he should resign from office. She referenced a County of San Francisco resolution of inclusiveness, part of which urges respect for women and recognition of women’s rights.
“I would add to that, we need positive male role models for our young boys,” Horner said. She added that even though Carr has not been convicted of the most recent charge of domestic battery, his arrest by Morgan Hill police and the charge by the D.A.’s Office are enough to convince her that he should resign from the council.
“I believe Anita Hill, I believe the police and I believe the district attorney,” Horner said, referencing the woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in 1991.
Horner noted that even though the other four council members don’t have the ability to remove Carr from the elected body, they could revoke his current title of Mayor Pro Tem.
“I cannot imagine myself moving forward seeing you there in between the city’s business,” Horner said to Carr. “I am asking you to step down.”
Carr did not respond to Horner or Spring at the meeting.
While Councilwoman Caitlin Jachimowicz didn’t specifically mention Carr’s case, she used the comment period before the council approved the agenda Dec. 6 to advise women on how to seek help if they feel they are in danger.
“I want to reiterate that if you are in immediate danger or somebody you know is in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to call 911,” Jachimowicz said.
She also advised the audience that anyone who has experienced intimate partner violence can call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line at 1-800-END-SADV (363-7238). Furthermore, victims can seek help anonymously and discreetly online by visiting safechatsv.org.
And anyone who feels threatened can “always walk into” City Hall, the library, community center or other city facilities and “get the help you need,” Jachimowicz said.
