A recent column in the O’Colly has sparked enough debate that I thought I would weigh in with a response to the petition and the article written about me.
The reasons the majority of those seeking to remove me from office are as follows: using the office for personal gain, asking a woman to expose herself, interfering with police and city staff and being publicly intoxicated throughout Stillwater.
As correctly pointed out, my fellow council member Darrell Dougherty is responsible for this latest attempt to oust me from office. He has even gone so far as to further smear me with items not listed on the petition through local Stillwater newspapers.
His initial petition, which forced the city to draw up an official petition, received more than 100 signatures. He uses these numbers as proof that everyone in Stillwater agrees with him. He stated publicly that the individuals who signed his petition are so important to him that if they were to have signed against him, he would have simply resigned.
I respect everyone’s ability to sign such a petition. I do not, however, think it fair to assume that if 1/25th of the individuals who voted in the last election sign a petition saying they aren’t happy that anyone should step down.
I will never value 100 “special” people over any other group in Stillwater.
I am not a Political Science major and I have never before been involved in politics until my current term in office.
I do know that it is impossible to please everyone. I campaigned on a very basic platform and have voted in a way to best carry that out. I have been defeated on most major ideas that I have brought to the city and that is OK.
If anyone thinks that I am ineffective as the Mayor then please come and attend a council meeting and find out what is really happening.
As for the noted allegations, sources quote Dougherty as saying there is 100 percent proof for all the allegations.
That is his opinion and he is entitled to it. He has proven nothing.
I say the only “evidence” ever offered was something mentioned at a school board meeting about me having access to the private suite at a high school game.
As a fellow college student, ask yourself, how often you have gone to the local Pioneer High School game, and what motivated you to do so? I was not there to use my office for access to the suite. I attended to show my support for our local team because that is what I felt I should do as the representative of the city.
Everything else mentioned is an evolution of the game where one person says something to someone and then they tell someone, and so forth.
Have the allegations been exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness? Of course.
Before this nonsense ends, I’m sure my opponents will label me as an international arms dealer using the Mayor title as a cover for black market deals.
This brings me to my final point.
Who am I?
I am like you. I am a student.
Yes, I’m probably older. Perhaps I have a little more experience and maybe I know different people, but at the end of the day, we have more in common than not.
I have stated time and again that my age and status as a student has made me more vulnerable to this type of unwarranted attack. Had I been 33 years old and running a business, people would not assume I’m getting drunk all over town.
In fact, Darrell Dougherty responded to similar allegations himself, arguing it is perfectly fine for him to patronize bars.
If I had been 50 and talking to an officer then it would be assumed I am in the right due to my age.
What I have done recently is go to class, try to meet new people, spend money at different food establishments around campus, grab Starbucks on the go while rushing to my morning class, watch a hypnotist in the student union, play Frisbee on the library lawn, leave my books at home, stay up the night before a test trying to study only to instead watch a movie, and pay huge rental costs for a place I don’t really like living in.
I’m not perfect and I have never said otherwise. I will never pretend to be better than anyone else and I certainly regret if anyone may have gotten that impression.
I have tried to help make this community a better place.
I have tried to create a more sustainable city, actively organized volunteers off and on campus to make a difference, and spoken at different student organizations and groups to inform people on how they can get involved.
You may not see it now but I am betting the majority of you visit OSU and Stillwater over the years after you graduate. Maybe it’s just to the occasional football game, but maybe one day you’ll retire here.
In any case get involved, get off campus, register to vote, and make a difference. I believe you deserve more, OSU. Contact me if you have a community project you are working on or if you have an idea you would like some help with promoting.
This is your city also.
Nathan Bates
Mayor, City of Stillwater
22 comments
You are my age. I am not a student. I am married with a child and am employed in Stillwater. You are a student and have served your country. Both continuing your education and serviving your country are things I applaud.
However, yes, there are things that have been addressed that are of issue with citizens. Our previous mayor had issues with using his position to further himself personally as well, albeit, in a sexual manner. He too was ousted from this position. To claim age discrimination (Mr. Dougherty is only a few years your senior and was at one point a loyal supporter of yours) is ridiculous. Furthermore, to assume these attacks are based on your student status are likely not true. It is your lack of supporting the city in issues beyond the long-arm of OSU.
As an OSU alum that continued to stay in Stillwater, I do realize the impact OSU has on our community. I have also been in this community long enough to know that the mayor needs to listen to and represent the voice of the community. If you would like to represent the voice of the students you should participate in OSU's student government on campus.
For anyone who says this isn't how democracy works, think again. This is a perfectly legal action under the city charter and those petitioning against the Mayor are exercising a voting right.
One of the comments below stated that Mr. Bates has failed to take responsibility for any of his actions. That is untrue. He has admitted that he could have handled the police situation differently (the only incident that has any real evidence in my opinion). Would you have him take responsibility for actions he did not commit? Would you have him stay inside his apartment all day long?
I think it's time that we take responsibility for our own tongues and stop spreading rumors that we do not know to be true (that means you saw it with your own eyes or heard it with your own ears). Just because someone tells you it's true doesn't make it true...I think we should have learned that lesson from Junior High.