‘The joy is gone’: Why is Fowler’s city manager resigning?
FOWLER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fowler’s City Manager Wilma Tucker announced her resignation on Tuesday citing a series of events that she says have pushed her too far.
“I’ve had enough,” Tucker said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Tucker said she is proud of the work done in Fowler, but made the decision to leave due to constant harassment from particular citizens of Fowler.
“In our jobs as public officials, we will never make every one of our constituents happy,” Tucker said. “I appreciate everyone’s First Amendment rights but in my opinion, the line has been blurred with no end in sight.”
Tucker cited a multitude of allegations and incidents that pushed her to resign including:
Nepotism
Conducting a self-serving classification and compensation study
Criminal allegation claims
Assault allegation claims that led to a police investigation
Tucker denies the validity of all claims made against her and says that one particular resident is responsible for attempting to defame her as well as question her and the rest of the city council relentlessly.
“We have had one individual submit over 70 Public Records Act requests – they have resorted to constant inquiries into my integrity and professional attacks.”
The specific resident being referenced was not named.
Tucker’s resignation comes as a surprise to Fowler Mayor Daniel Parra.
“It was unexpected,” Parra said. “She had enough and with an election coming up she didn’t want to be a part of the fodder that was going to come.”
Parra says the harassment has led to many city employees working from home due to fear for their safety at work.
Parra chose not to disclose the identity of the individual for the sake of their privacy, but he says the harassment has reached the point where he is considering resignation.
“If it ends this term, and I don’t make it I have nothing to be ashamed of. We did a good job,” Parra said.
