Guest Opinion - Elk Grove Republican Kevin Spease Silent on Issues of Equity



Kevin Spease is a Republican running for City Council and he expects us all to forget that he refused to oppose an all-white Elk Grove Planning Commission. With ballots arriving in our homes soon, this is an opportunity to remind voters of recent history.

On December 7, 2019, Democrats published an opinion piece describing serious issues plaguing Spease, including his unabashed refusal to address the fact that he helped lead an all-white Planning Commission with only one woman serving alongside him. He was repeatedly invited to state his opinion and to support diversity but refused to comment on the fact that many diverse and qualified candidates had applied for the Commission but had been denied by the City Council. Two weeks later, Spease resigned from the Elk Grove Planning Commission.

On February 12, 2020, Spease appeared before Council one last time and made no reference to the issue of diversity. Of course, it is his right to be silent on important issues, however, we expect more of anyone seeking office in Elk Grove. It is simply unacceptable for a candidate for City Council to resign rather than address a problem squarely in front of him.


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Spease is a Republican and while there are many Republicans across the country that have spoken out courageously regarding bigotry, particularly in the Trump era, Spease has been silent. He claims to support diverse communities but his silence in the face of oppression is a decision to side with the oppressor. In the three years since Trump was elected, Spease hasn’t condemned or even mildly criticized Trump for his amoral acts. Even after the recent presidential debate, when Trump refused to denounce white supremacists, Spease was silent. Elk Grove expects better leadership than that.

The Mayor and Councilmembers in Elk Grove regularly deal with thorny issues of race, diversity, and equality. When faced with a tough issue, Spease resigned rather than talk about it; that’s not leadership. If Kevin Spease can’t find the courage to state that there shouldn’t be an all-white planning commission in a majority people-of-color city, then he isn’t ready for the City Council. Elk Grove should elect someone that is.

Amar Shergill

Elk Grove resident

Chair of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party

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Copyright by Elk Grove News © 2020. All right reserved.











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5 comments

D.J. Blutarsky said...

Mr. Shergill must have rattled Spease's cage, because a little birdie has told me that Spease posted something this morning about racism on his Facebook page!

Captain Benjamin Willard may quote Robert Duvall's "I love the smell of napalm in the morning". I love the smell of damage control in the morning!

Randy Bekker said...

If life is not wrapped around Mr. Shergill’s ideas you must be a racist. Where is Mr. Shergill demanding Maureen Craft, Ali Moua an Amandeep Singh denounce Steve Ly’s abusive behavior or Ly’s associates behavior. Why hasn’t Shergill demanded the denouement. It is simple if Ly is re-elected an in District 1 if Moua is successful an Craft or Singh is successful in District 3 Shergill will be in the drivers seat to change Elk Grove into a progressive government. Defund the police, make smaller Districts so activists can now be council members. His stock in the California Democratic Party will set him on a path of real power within his political party. He is trying to weaken, embarrass Mr.Spease. We see what is going on here. We see what you are trying to do. Mr. Spease will represent District 3 if elected as he will represent everyone fairly. By reading this manifesto it is full of hate as I see it. When you can’t get your way spread hate. I would suggest you campaign without mud slinging. White is a color, a person skin color doesn’t make what’s in their heart. I would suggest you get to know Kevin as a person, as a community member, as someone who gives back to their community no matter a persons skin color. Get to know Kevin’s heart an you would be embarrassed by the letter you wrote. Shameful behavior Mr. Shergill as a human you should be better than this.

White Hat said...

Mr Shergill, please tell us what you personally have done for the people of Elk Grove. Did you ever run a food drive? A toy drive? Help at the Food Closet? Help make repairs to a veteran's home? Did you serve in the military? Get out and talk to the people about their concerns? Are you with any service organizations such as the Kiwanis or Rotary? Help any senior groups? Raise money for children or seniors? Come on man. Anything? All I have ever seen you do is cause trouble and run your mouth. I took a look at your FB page and all I see is hate this, hate that, hate, hate. Before you call someone else racist or bigot, maybe you should take a good look at yourself first. Until we see YOU do something for the people for Elk Grove, maybe you should heed Biden's words, "shut up".

CptWifey said...

The town joke and trouble maker at it again. What exactly has Shegrill done for the citizens of EG other then complain and accuse the city and everyone in it is a racist. He throws that word around like a baseball at a T-ball game. Where was he for weeks, months denouncing the bullying of his “friend” Moreno. Real quiet for the me too guy. Kevin has done more for this town then he has EVER. This article smells like a dirty rag.

D.J. Blutarsky said...

Apparently Mr. Shergill Esq. is causing quite a commotion in Bakersfield too. And I quote:

"For the past several days, the District Attorney’s Office has received emails, faxes and phone calls from Amar Shergill, a Sacramento-based personal injury attorney who claims to represent the family of Robert Forbes, a man who was tragically struck by a vehicle and killed on California Avenue near a protest march. Shergill urgently requested an audience to have a “discussion that might decrease the likelihood of acrimony” related to whether criminal charges will be brought against the driver in the incident.

As many are aware, this investigation is still being pursued by the Bakersfield Police Department, which has had to post video of the collision to dispel inaccurate rumors floating through social media about the collision. As the investigation has not concluded, it has not yet been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review of potential criminal charges. Nonetheless, Shergill made sure to point out his role as an elected official within the California Democratic Party, and further asserted that failing to file criminal charges against the driver in the next two days would result in his “people” causing acrimony in our community. Shergill specifically sought criminal charges regardless of whether the police department had finished its investigation, and asserted that failing to immediately file criminal charges would lead to his airing of grievances and assured community unrest.

In short, Shergill attempted to weaponize protests to compel a criminal filing without the complete investigation required to substantiate and justify the charge".

Bakersfield.com
June 13, 2020

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