When ROT acolytes elected candidate Allen Skillicorn, they got a councilmember who aligns with the brand. Let’s be clear: As a self-anointed “chaos agent,” Skillicorn disseminates his characteristic hostility and reputations are defamed, groups are targeted and stigmatized and communities suffer. Enabling him exacerbates the “chaos.”
As an ASU professor was harassed and physically assaulted by Turning Point USA, the employer of Hannah Toth, Skillicorn through social media labeled him a “pedophile.” Skillicorn recently sought to harm another reputation — that of a highly regarded Fountain Hills teacher — recirculating a post from Gays Against Groomers with his own poisonous language, marking the teacher a “weirdo pervert.”
Skillicorn sought to disgrace our community’s public library, referring to the library’s commitment to inclusion and representation of Pride Month through suggested readings as “woke porn,” partnering with a far-right fake-news outlet.
After ROT-endorsed Skillicorn was elected to his council position by 20 votes he jumped at the chance to remove the town’s key governmental consultant, effectively removing guardrails to Skillicorn’s own lobbying at the Arizona statehouse that was not in the best interests of Fountain Hills. ROT-supported Gerry Friedel championed that harmful action.
Friedel has defended and enabled Skillicorn. When Skillicorn bullied town staff, and when Skillicorn confronted an MCSO deputy, Friedel supported the bully. When a resident brought Skillicorn’s social media disparagement against her and the LGBTQ+ community to a council meeting, Friedel defended Skillicorn. We have experienced Friedel’s bullying, uncouth temperament.
When Friedel uses the tagline “Fountain Hills First,” be sure to read the small print. Our charming small-town community deserves respected, respectable, selfless, collaborative leaders, not prejudiced bullies defending prejudiced bullies whose “first” agenda means isolationism, exclusion and vilification.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
