Hawkins digs in on televised council meetings

Mayor Eldridge Hawkins: Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins today said he has no intention of backing down from his promise to deliver televised meetings to the people of his city, despite a majority on the city council refusing to participate in live televised meetings.

"They paralyzed the progress of the city, and left the meeting with no quorum last night," said Hawkins, who took office in July to succeed Mims Hackett, who was busted by the FBI last year and convicted of public corruption.

"First, I need no special authority from the council to record the meetings," said Hawkins. "It’s a public right to record those meetings. But second, though I needed no extra authority, I intentionally sought out the council president."

Council President Lisa Perkins suggested the new mayor delay televising the meetings on the city’s public access channel until the fall, mostly to give freshmen council people a chance to get their sea legs. Hawkins said he wanted to get started earlier but respected Perkins’s wishes and delayed.

However, "We can no longer continue to operate behind closed doors," said the mayor. "We’re not going to hide behind what we’re doing."

Asked if he intends to move ahead with trying to televise the next council meeting, Hawkins said, "Absolutely. This is what’s in the best interest of the city, and the citizens of Orange deserve full access to their committee meetings. Nothing will make me waver."