I have lived in Black Diamond my whole life. My parents were from here. My cousin, Vivian Bainton, served as mayor back in the ’80s. I raised a family here. One of my daughters in particular has gotten deeply involved in the area and in Save Black Diamond.

My daughter is really committed to protecting what we all love about Black Diamond. So are the several hundred people who make Save Black Diamond the most effective citizen network we’ve ever had.

Just four months ago the voters elected a new City Council majority who pledged to reform City Hall. They started by reforming the City Council. That’s really reasonable.

As I understand it, the mayor spent a tremendous amount of money in my mind – $5,800 in January – to have the city attorney oppose the new council rules.

Why is the mayor spending taxpayer money against these people? They are working in our best interest – they are not working against her.

Now council member (Janie) Edelman’s husband has filed a lawsuit against our city to try to force the City Council to go back to its old way of doing business. The city will have to pay to defend this frivolous suit.

So far this year, Black Diamond’s Mayor (Carol) Benson and council member Edelman are causing the kind of divide they claim not to like.

My message to the mayor is: “Stop obstructing the council.”

My message to the Council is: Do whatever it takes to reform City Hall and defend our rural town.

Bill Bryant

Black Diamond