At the Town Council meeting on Oct. 15, I came to the microphone for public comment. Everything was moving along smoothly until my comments turned to Council candidate Clayton Corey. Mayor Dickey interrupted me, asked me to stop and explained why. So, with all due respect to the Council and the mayor, I stopped.

There was a discussion raised by Hannah Toth and her final word was “let him speak.”  But I felt it best to honor the mayor’s admonishment and simply sum up my comment.

Getting back to what I wasn’t allowed to say, since all day today Facebook is buzzing about it. Many of you heard me begin, I’d like to share that I’ve had offline chats with Clayton Corey, someone I had been worried about before but now I’m gravely concerned about. I questioned him publicly on his platform numerous times on Facebook without ever receiving an answer. But I guess I finally got to him one day and I began receiving private messages from him. (I found it odd that he didn’t want to respond publicly).

I’d like to share one of his responses with everyone here. When I questioned him about seeking money for grants, why he would support them and how those grants really need to be fully understood before he publicly says he would have voted for them, his response was “perhaps there’s an opportunity for me to get more specific – I’m new at this whole complaining thing.”

I’m sorry Clayton, and I’m sorry to his supporters, but I’d like my elected to already have a substantial skill set of ideas and answers before seeking public office. No “perhaps” or “I’m new at this…” This job is not to be called, “Council member on training wheels.”

Many people asked to know what they missed so I hope I’ve cleared this up.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.