Charlotte Observer Takes Mayor Foxx and his Aide to Task Over Email Threat? Hardly

The Charlotte Observer's Board goes to press this morning with an editorial titled:

"Email threat deserves stern rebuke"

Which is mainly a rehashing of the Observer's reporting summed up with:

While Montross works for Foxx, she technically reports to City Manager Curt Walton. In an email to the Observer, Walton said he would not discuss an employee’s performance issues in public. He did say, however, that Montross “is an extremely talented employee that I look forward to working with for years to come.”

That seems to indicate that Montross will not be fired over this mistake. Fair enough - a singular error in judgment shouldn’t cost an otherwise valuable employee a job, unless that mistake is a whopper. Montross came close, in our opinion, and we hope the discipline she gets sends that message.

"...a singular error in judgment shouldn’t cost an otherwise valuable employee a job, unless that mistake is a whopper"

Oh come on Charlotte Observer this was hardly a "singular error" rather a pattern abuse that escalated over a period of weeks and this is certainly a "whopper", one that would even make the Burger King proud.

Rather than side with Curt Walton and the elitist clique that runs our City County Government you would think that the Editorial Board would close ranks with the taxpayers of Charlotte and stand, just once on the side of ethics and transparency?

Normally the Observer would be quick to publish the emails, but when it comes to Mayor Foxx nothing but silence. So where are the emails? Where are the copies of correspondence leading up to the "hell to pay" email? Where are the copies of the correspondence after the "hell to pay" email?
And where else has Mayor Foxx crossed the line with the help of his aide Tracy Montross?

In defense of Mayor Foxx, corporate travelers know that a Charlotte to China trip is a tough haul. Riding in coach/economy on such a flight is punishment no one should have to endure on a business trip. But if the rules say you ride coach then ride coach or don't go.

But those of us in the corporate world also know that with salary comes responsibility, the idea of "discipline" for a executive staff member is laughable. Ms. Montross should have resigned weeks ago.

Cedar's Take: The Charlotte City Council and Mayor's "Code of Ethics" (which is here) section 3.a clearly addresses the issue at hand, and the Mayor is clearly guilty of violating the code. The Charlotte City Council must vote to censure the Mayor. Which I would think would be a political road block to higher office.