In Federalist 10, James Madison argued that political violence - or at least tyranny of the majority - was most likely occur in smaller governments than larger ones. This was because their size made it easier for a majority to form and act against an unpopular group or individual.
These might be two examples:
There are allegations of dodging open records requests, a toxic City Hall culture, abuse of code enforcement powers, land grabs, money grabs, power grabs, shady business dealings, conflicts of interest, illegal meetings, wrongful terminations, obfuscation, retaliation, mismanagement of taxpayer dollars, flagrant lawbreaking — volleys that have only escalated in recent months with media attention, legal posturing and an effort to recall the mayor.
- “The most hated people in Gunter”: How the government of this North Texas town broke apart.
More than a century after the first locomotive passed through, political acrimony has torn the city apart. And the railroad is to blame.
In the meantime, the mayor is unable to appoint even temporary replacements, because that would require a quorum of council members to show up and approve them. Those members, whose sparring with the mayor influenced their resignations, have refused to do so. And so basic city functions, like platting new homes or funding sewer improvements, are on hold.
The origins of the crisis can be traced back to a warm evening in May, when the council unanimously and without discussion approved a development agreement with BNSF Railway that would clear the way for a 949-acre rail facility, the largest development in the history of Gunter. The city had not told residents this was coming; officials never posted details on the city website, nor sought any public input.
For more:
- Sundown towns.
