In response to our report last week that he skipped a closed-door discussion on the controversial RDU quarry lease to check out a Backstreet Boys concert, Raleigh City Council member David Cox writes: “I have attended every closed session since elected with this one exception. And with this exception, I made arrangements to be available by phone. Others on the council knew this. The story lacks perspective because it doesn’t indicate if my absence is unusual or how it compares with the absences of others. What is unusual about my attendance is that I have been absent only once, which is way below the norm if not unprecedented.”
Irene Rusnak has no problem with Cox dipping out to catch the boy band: “I was at the open city council meeting prior to the private session and watched Mayor Nancy McFarlane tie herself in knots to prevent the city attorney from speaking. Her desire to keep this pet project of handing off our public land to a private quarry out of the public view is a violation of the public trust. David Cox knows this issue well, and if you check his track record, I believe you will find his attendance at council meetings quite high. He was available by phone if needed. It looked like the mayor needed this meeting for her own goals, not for the benefit of the public. The author of this piece is desperately searching for insult pieces, not really trying to shed light on the issue.”
But Larry counters that “if David Cox cared so much about his community and the issue at hand, he wouldn’t have skipped out on such an important meeting to attend a Backstreet Boys concert. Seriously, the Backstreet Boys? It is sad he chose that over voicing his opinion. He displayed a complete lack of leadership and maturity. He needs to be voted out and replaced with someone who actually cares about the community they live in.”
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