Westminster Councilwoman Amy Phan West is again facing a possible censure after her colleagues directed city staff to move forward with drafting a formal condemnation of her behavior.
But now, the possible penalties include more than just a slap on the wrist.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, council members discussed removing her from other governmental boards and not letting the city attorney protect her if she’s sued by her constituents.
This all came after the idea for a censure was introduced on June 12 amidst concerns over Phan West’s behavior, but city leaders decided not to move forward, instead setting a three month timeline for her to show if she could change.
But a censure proposal resurfaced after Phan West posted on her Facebook page and on YouTube decrying the move as politically motivated, saying her opponents were trying to silence her.
Councilmembers Kimberly Ho and Carlos Manzo released a memo with over 20 complaints, saying Phan West violated the council’s code of ethics by fighting with staff, disclosing confidential information, lying, berating public commenters and shouting over council members.
“It was the mayor’s generous efforts to save you, to give you a chance. Rather than take that opportunity to accept your mistakes and begin to change, you did not do that,” Ho said. “We need to protect our city from lawsuits and confine, contain the liability that is Ms. Amy Phan West.”
Phan West also filed a police report against Manzo, claiming he threatened her after a city council meeting by not letting her leave the council dais and physically intimidating her – a charge Manzo and Ho claimed was false.
“It’s ok for council members to have a disagreement up here on the dais,” Manzo said. “It’s not normal for after the meeting to go on social media, go on Youtube, and start bashing her colleagues for not voting her way.”
In a statement on her Facebook page ahead of the meeting, Phan West called the special meeting “reckless and an abuse of power.”
She also called on council members to support her proposal dubbed the “Moving Forward and Reconciliation” resolution that would’ve ended any talk of censure.
She also launched a spirited defense from the dais Thursday night, calling fellow council members liars, chastising residents who complained about her and repeatedly insisting she was not being given the right to speak.
“It comes across as silencing my free speech,” Phan West said. “You guys throw anything up here to see what sticks on the wall to discredit me, make me look bad in front of my voters.”
“You’re putting District 1 on the stand,” she continued. “You are silencing the voice of District 1. I have every right to defend myself.”
Phan West then invited city staff who had a problem with her comments to sue her, before being called out by City Manager Christine Cordon, who Phan West tried to fire last year.
“You can’t antagonize staff about this,” Cordon said. “If it’s on the council, please fight amongst the council.”
[Read: Westminster City Council Chooses to Keep City Manager Following Public Outrage]
Ultimately, Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen joined Ho and Manzo in moving forward with a censure of Phan West. Councilman NamQuan Nguyen, her only council ally, voted against the move.
The council majority also directed city staff to draw up details for removing her from any countywide boards she represents the city on and possibly denying her legal representation if she’s sued for her statements.
“I always try my best to see if we can work together, but just a day after, you came out with a letter condemning us,” Mayor Nguyen said. “If you tell me you’re going to change now, I don’t believe so. I lost my trust in you.”
Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @NBiesiada.
•••
Can you support Voice of OC with a donation?
You obviously care about local news and value good journalism here in Orange County. With your support, we can bring you more stories like these.