The first half of Tuesday night’s Chico City council meeting was meant to honor retiring City Council members Mayor Scott Gruendl and Mary Goloff. But after Scott and Mary said their farewell speeches and the new conservative majority on the council elected Marc Sorensen as Mayor and Sean Morgan as Vice Mayor the demeaning insults began. It seems the Tea Party conservatives in the audience, not satisfied with getting the conservative council majority they longed for, had to go and lambast the departing mayor and the 3 remaining liberals left on the council. And as an unfortunate indicator of future behavior, new Mayor Sorenson did nothing to stop the uncivil remarks.

To hear and see failed council candidate Rodney Wills’ and “granny” Stephanie Taber’s comments check out this council meeting link. Their comments are at the very end of the meeting: http://chico-ca.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=522

Supporters and friends of Scott gather at Grana restaurant before his last council meeting to thank him for his years of service to the city.

Mary Goloff’s departing speech.

Vice Mayor Sorenson reads from his notes thanking Scott for his many years as mayor and council member.

Scott gives his farewell speech from the citizens’ podium, not from the middle chair of the council seats.

Scott holds back tears.

Conservatives Andrew Coolidge, Reanette Fillmer and Mark Sorensen sworn in by City Clerk, Deborah Presson.