Crowley 'disappointed and disturbed' with Mallory

The 40th City Council hasn't been sworn in yet, but there's already a crack in the consensus-building.

Democrat David C. Crowley has evidently been shut out of the coalition that's been meeting over the past few days to reorganize City Council.

The committee he's chaired for two years -- the Community Development and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee -- has been split up, with economic development going to a committee chaired by Charterite Chris Bortz and environmental and transportation issues going to a beefed-up "Vibrant Neighborhoods" committee that will continue to be chaired by Democrat Laketa Cole.

Late Wednesday, he sent this e-mail to supporters:

Friends:

I learned tonight that Mayor-Elect Mark Mallory choose not to give me a chairmanship position on ANY City Council Committee for the term starting tomorrow. In fact, Mallory did not even recommend me for the vice-chair position of the committee I currently chair.

As the current chairperson of the Economic Development Committee and former chairperson of the Education Committee, the 4th top vote getter in this month's election, one of the most senior members on Council and a fellow Democrat, I am very disappointed and disturbed with Mallory's decision.

In fact, Mallory recommended two Charterites and one Republicans for chairmanships over me, a Democrat.

I urge you to contact Mayor-Elect Mallory TONIGHT and let him know that you are angered and frustrated with his decision to completely overlook me. He can be contacted at mark.mallory@cincinnati-oh.gov or 352-3250. The quickest way is to call the office and register a complaint because we are not sure whether or not Mallory is checking his email yet.

Thank you for your continued support,

David Crowley

Since the meetings to organize City Council have all taken place in secret, it's unclear where Crowley and Mallory parted ways. Crowley walked out of a meeting Wednesday night and declined to comment.

But some hints come in a memo Crowley wrote to Mallory earlier in the day, giving a point-by-point critique of rule changes proposed by a tripartisan committee Mallory appointed. Crowley suggested that the newly elected lawmakers should get in at least a couple meetings before proposing major changes in the council's procedures. He urged them to keep environmental issues as part of the mission of the Economic Development Committee and opposed rule changes that he said would restrict debate.

Rocky Merz, Crowley's chief of staff, had this response: "For the record the only thing I can figure is that David had the wherewithal to open his mouth with objections to the proposed rule changes, which were done secretly and many of which will severely inhibit the public from understanding how their elected officials will function. Mark is clearly directing these changes and as a result David lost his chairmanship. I don't know what else it could be. He has been an effective legislative leader on Council and a loyal Democrat."

Read Crowley's memo to Mallory on proposed rule changes (in .pdf format)

Councilman David C. Crowley hugs a supporter at the Hamilton County Board of Elections on Election night. (Photo by Tara Bricking Carvalho/The Cincinnati Enquirer)