Candidate Briggs: The Bull(Y) in the China Shop

Some blog readers have asked if there is relevance to my reporting the undisputed facts about Board candidate John Briggs's failed effort to pass his anti-gay California Proposition 6 about 30 years ago. My response has been that the question would be valid, were it not for my relating his "personality" to a number of his actions since arriving on the scene as a part-time resident of Sun City Anthem.

I will now report to you a serious incident that took place immediately after the August 23, 2007 Board meeting. My belief is that this incident sheds more light on his suitability of Mr. Briggs to serve on our Board, a question that YOU, the voting public of Sun City Anthem, will have to answer for yourselves when you decide who should represent our community as we move forward. By this time, my personal opinion should be no secret to you: The Anthem Voice group should be embarrassed to honor Mr. Briggs as their standard bearer. As usual, when reporting on what you will read here, the facts have been well researched and documented, and all parties referred to in this report, -except Mr. Briggs, of course- have given permission to share this information with you.

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At a time prior to the August 23 Board meeting, Mr. Briggs, who had previously submitted numerous complaints and requests to SCA management, sometimes on letterheads bearing the title "State of California" and the California State Seal, had requested copies of the Association's various insurance documents, which he was legally entitled to request and receive.

At the August 23 Board meeting, the Board took a vote to remove Board member Bob Frank from his position as Vice President, after which the meeting was adjourned. As a shouting crowd approached the stage following the adjournment, Community Manager Terry DaSilva, Assistant Community Manager Caren Carrero, and Administrative Assistant Lenora Franco started to leave the building from a back exit door in order to get away from the crowd, which was also filling the aisles. John Briggs approached Carrero to ask about the documents he had requested, but he then saw Terry DaSilva and switched his attention to her.

Briggs came up to DaSilva and asked if he would receive the requested insurance documents by the following day. Terry replied that she could not get them to him the next day because she was committed to a full day of meetings, and she added that she was still within the 14-day deadline to provide the documents.

At this point, according to DaSilva's signed statement, "He then grabbed for my arm and touched my jacket sleeve and said, 'so you are not going to work with me!' He then said, 'You are either working with me or I will rip you to shreds!' I continued to try and explain the all-day budget meetings tomorrow but he would not hear what I said. He then said, 'I will have you removed and you're on your way out!' He kept yelling other statements and Caren, Lenora and I just tried to walk away. He was still yelling as we were walking away. I was extremely upset and shaking all over."

Assistant Community Manager Carrero and Administrative Assistant Franco each submitted signed statements, written in their own words and in support of a complaint by DaSilva against Briggs.

From Caren Carrero's statement: "He attempted to grab her arm and said 'So you're not going to work with me?' Terry told him that we have had budget meetings and workshops all week, and are doing our best. He then said, 'You can either work with me or I will rip you to shreds.' At this time, I walked between them and tried to usher Terry toward the door. Mr. Briggs continued to yell at Terry, saying she was on her way out, he would have her job, she was worthless, and more. Terry tried to respond, but I put my arm around her shoulders and pushed her toward the door as Mr. Briggs followed."

From Lenora Franco's statement: "He then started to raise his voice to Terry. She proceeded to move away from him and Mr. Briggs reached out to grab her and caught her sleeve of her jacket. Mr. Briggs said, 'So you are not going to work with me.' Terry said, 'I have 14 days to provide your documents and there are budget meetings and workshops.'  Mr. Briggs continued to interrupt her, yelling at her he said, 'You can either work with me or I'll rip you to shreds.' Caren stepped in between them and pushed Terry toward the door, while Mr. Briggs continued to yell at Terry. Mr. Briggs said, "You're on your way out, I'll have your job and you're worthless.'"

Assistant Security Patrol Chief Rich Baker, who observed the incident but probably did not hear the words that were spoken, submitted the following signed statement, dated 8/23/07: "This is to confirm that I, Rich Baker, after attending the Board meeting observed Terry DaSilva the RMI CAM leaving Building #2. As she was leaving, I observed a man of 70 years of age (note: actual age 76 or 77) attempting to attack Terry. Luckily Caren Carrero, the RMI Assistant CAM, was able to fend off the person that was intent on going after Terry DaSilva.

Feeling very shaken and intimidated, Terry DaSilva declined the advice of her staff and others to file a complaint with the Henderson Police Department, but the Association's attorney and insurance company were provided with reports on the incident.

This is the man many apparently believe deserves a seat on the Board of Directors, working on a daily basis with the RMI staff.

Clause 5 of the Sun City Anthem Member Code of Conduct says: "Members shall not physically or verbally abuse, harass or accost any resident, guest or staff member." -- What world do YOU live in if you do not consider words such as "I will rip you to shreds" to be verbal abuse, or the actions described not to qualify as accosting or harassment? And if this passes your smell test, how extreme would the circumstance have to be to qualify as abuse in your own mind?  Should we abandon all pretense of civility and the rules to enforce minimum standards of behavior, reverting instead to the law of the jungle here in SCA?

Once again, you can expect that some will seek to try shooting the messenger and will probably ignore the seriousness of the incident described above.

We are approaching an important time of decision in the life of our wonderful community, and the path our home-owning voters choose to take will determine if the immediate future of Sun City Anthem is one in which we try to work together constructively to solve our problems and implement solutions in a cooperative environment, or one in which belligerent bullying will become the norm. Many of us have known Terry DaSilva from the first days of our arrival here as long as eight years ago. We celebrate her positive outlook and value her as if she were a member of our families. She has stayed with us through thick and thin, doing the bidding of various Boards and their presidents because she understands that while she can give advice, she still, ultimately, is but a servant of the Association. It is saddening to see a dedicated person like Terry treated in this manner, and I shudder to think of what is in store for us if the community chooses to plunge us into the confrontational mode that looms on the horizon. 

Comments

[David Berman]

I am pleased to note that the first response to this report comes from Briggs's Anthem Voice running mate, Rana Goodman.

Writing on Ron Johnson's blog and addressing her comments to me, Rana states, among other things, "there is no justification whatsoever for this behavior."

Though it is acknowledging the obvious, I am pleased that Rana has stood up and condemned Briggs for his behavior.

As the former president of another HOA, Rana is a viable Board candidate who I hope will realize that being partnered with Briggs may be much more of a liability for her than it will be an asset.

[Charles W Davis]

Why hasn't the Board of Directors pressed an action against Mr. Briggs? Don't they have the right (duty) to enforce the Sun City Anthem Code of Conduct?

I don't understand why those that have previously been fined and sanctioned aren't protesting this apparent double standard.?

Equality?

[David Berman]

You and Chuck ask good questions, Bill. I can only assume that the Board didn't pursue it out of respect for Terry's wishes.

A person named Norman McCullough congratulates me for introducing slime politics to SCA. As I stated in my report, it was almost a given that some folks -always the same ones, it seems - would ignore the seriousness of the incident and go after me instead. We'll probably see more of the same when the leadership of another of their candidates at a prior HOA is put in the spotlight, again as the product of detailed reporting.

[dan m]

Chuck sounds like this should be a question at the Town Hall or Board meeting.

[D. Litttman]

As former president of the Softball Club, I have had many dealings with Terry DiSalva. Terry is one of the finest and most dedicated people serving this community. She is definitely more than qualified to hold her position and does it with great efficiency. If I were at that scene of pushing or grabbing her arm I would have broken his. How dare he. I don't care who he thinks he is or what position he held in his lifetime, he has no right to act this way. It is my opinion that not only should he not be allowed to hold a position of any kind in this community, he should be permanently barred from any position in this community. We don't need the likes of this kind of person.

[Tom Hayden]

If the incident reported here is accurate, I believe Terry DaSilva was wrong by not filing an assualt charge against Mr Briggs. If Mr Briggs is as out of control as it would appear in this report, he should be held accountable, not just for Terry DaSilva's sake, but for the sake of anyone else who might become the focus of his anger. Had that been me, when Mr Briggs put his hand on me, I would have knocked him out.

[David Berman]

D. Littman: One of the things that has challenged Terry's efficiency is dealing with the tremendous volume of complaints and requests for mountains of documents that have come in from some quarters during a period of many months. These things have taken literally hundreds of hours to handle, and they really run her and her staff ragged. The Briggs crowd will probably continue to make an issue of two incidents in which I briefly lost my temper while exchanging words with a couple of residents. I certainly regret that, but I am not running for the Board, so if they want to expend their energies in that manner, it is up to them.

Briggs is in the race and has suggested that he would be bringing in some sort of professional campaign consultant. Those who will be running for the Board on a platform that includes civility and respect for others may not be able to compete in terms of professional campaigning and the torrents of dollars I expect to be spent, though they will try their best. What will be needed most is the leverage that comes from word of mouth, with all who have a shared concern spreading the word as actively as they can.

Meanwhile, Mr. Briggs has told friends of mine that he's not worried about me because he considers me an amateur. So I guess he should have little concern as he sweeps to the victory he suggested to the Board President was sure to come.

[Patti Shock]

I can't understand why anyone would pay money to hire a consultant to help get elected to a demanding, time-consuming position with no pay and lots of hassles, frustrations and headaches. It seems to me that being on THIS board would be no picnic. Can someone enlighten me?

[mike]

I think for some people its the desire to do their best for the community and for some others its an EGO trip and for some its the possibility to put some money away like the old days when their vote could be bought by lobbyest.

[John Briggs]

I have responded to the many false and deceptive statements posted on this blog during the past few months.

Residents interested in the facts can find them at these links:

http://www.anthemvoice.org/21.html
http://www.anthemvoice.org/resources/John+Briggs+Responds.pdf

[David Berman]

Thank you for posting to my blog, John. While I may disagree with your glossing over a good deal of what I wrote, and ignoring much of it, I am pleased to have you contribute your response.

The only immediate questions I would have for you at this time are these:

Are you suggesting that our Community Manager and the three others who provided written witness statements, including our Assistant Security Patrol Chief, were not telling the truth about your accosting of the Community Manager? Since none of them knew you very well if at all at that time, is there some reason why these four would not tell the truth?

Since you assert expertise in NRS 116, would you care to kindly explain the legal basis for your stated campaign goal of enacting a policy that would require majority resident approval of the Association budget, when such a process would appear not to be provided for in statute?

I must tell you that I was very impressed with your campaign flier. As a triumph of form over substance, it is bound to have a very positive effect for you in the campaign.