Why & How Loomis Wanted David Andrews Removed As Oro Valley Town Manager - Part 1

I would like to share most of what I know with our readers as it pertains to David Andrews, our dedicated Town Manager being forced out after 18 years of outstanding service to the people of Oro Valley.

Please bare with me as I will give you first hand information and information I have gleaned over time. It is long, but hopefully not tedious. I hope ALL our residents get a chance to read it.

Allow me to work backwards. Subsequent to the infamous Sept 23 Special Session that may well have violated the open meeting laws of Arizona, Loomis was asked by the reporter at KVOA why he(Loomis)told David earlier that day that he wanted David's resignation at the meeting.

If you listen to the audio of the meeting you'll hear Bill Garner challenge Loomis as to "who gave you the God given right to walk into the manager's office demanding his resignation." Loomis mumbled some lame excuse because he had no excuse other than to say --- I know I have the four votes to fire David because we (Loomis, Carter, Kunisch & Abbott) violated the open meeting law, and previously discussed it.

Click on the video to see the KVOA report. Watch Loomis mumble: "There were certain issues that uh needed uh that weren't able to be resolved." The reporter presses on and ask "Issues, what issues?" Loomis mumbles, "Just issues."
Loomis is a disgrace to our community.



OK. So, now we all know "there were issues." So What were these so called "issues," and how did we get to the point that these "issues" could cause David Andrews his job?"

I'll get to that later on.In the meantime, a little history and insight as to what I know. I was a good friend of KC Carter, and he would call me regularly to talk about "town goings on." I will readily acknowledge I initially met KC after he announced his candidacy to run for council in 2004. I was impressed with him, supported him, and helped get him elected. I supported him in his reelection bid in 2006 and was pleased that he got his second term.

What happened since then? Everything was good. KC Carter was still a friend of the people and a council member we could count on----at least until one council meeting; a Special Session held on April 27.

For months prior to that meeting, KC called me many times, maybe twenty times or more and each and every time he would say,' "Art Segal" (it was never "Art" or "Segal")----"Art Segal, we gotta take that SOB Loomis out. If no one else will step up, I'll run for mayor and take that SOB out."

If I was the only one that had this said to him, you might doubt me, but, who knows how many others Carter said the same thing to? We know he has a BIG mouth.

Back to the Special Session on April 27, 2009.

The issue---"Discussion and possible action regarding the Use of Take-Home Vehicles by Oro Valley Police Department Personnel." Carter was so "anti-cop" that he made a motion "to abandon the program"(ALL police take home vehicles, including the Chief of Police) by May 1, 2009. The motion failed due to lack of second.

That failed motion was the impetus for David's removal from office. If you think that's crazy, think again. It was either that night or the next day, that Carter called me and said----not verbatim, but close enough--- "I'll never vote for another motion from any of those three." "Those three" are Bill Garner, Barry Gillaspie, and Salette Latas. Why? Because, in his warped mind, Carter believed that Bill said he'd second that motion. Bill told me otherwise. I believed Bill, and I told Carter that he was mistaken and it was ludicrous to think Bill or anyone else would have agreed to take ALL the cars away, including the Chief's. Carter in his irrationality believed Bill, Barry and Salette were a "single entity."

As an aside, I can't tell you how many times in a few months time-frame starting after the April meeting, that Carter called and said: "Art Segal, you've got to start a petition to recall Gillaspie. He's so stupid and he's killing me." It never got to that point with Bill and Salette, but he certainly had turned on them as well.

I haven't really mentioned Paula Abbott, and I will get to her later, but Carter was not too nice in his words about her. I would constantly tell him, "Paula has her shortcomings, but she is someone you can usually count on." (That was then-this is now.) Carter's descriptive choice of words for Paula would be what you would call a female dog. He would say, "G-d damn it Art Segal," you can never count on that f**king "b*tch." She doesn't answer her emails, her answering machine is full, when I go to her house she won't answer the damn doorbell and she's never prepared." (There's more, but that's enough for now.)

Back to the point.The next time Carter had a chance to prove he meant business, he grasped it, and regardless of who he hurt---David, the citizens or whomever, it was inconsequential to Carter.

The night of May 27,2009 was the night that the council voted 4-3 to raid the contingency fund to save some police jobs that the chief had suggested they could afford to lose in order to help with the town's budget shortfall. Carter, Loomis, Kunisch & Abbott voted "yes."

It is worth noting that was the night Loomis made a motion which he hardly ever did. His motion was PRIOR to allowing any other council person to speak, (That vote may well have violated the open meeting laws, as Loomis is savvy and shrewd enough not to make motions unless he knows he has four votes.) He knew!

I will tell you this---and it's a fact: Just prior to that meeting, Carter told David that he would not support any motion that would go against his (David's) recommendation. The 4-3 vote did exactly that. It took away David's authority to do what was best for the people of Oro Valley, Was David looking to "fire cops?" Hell no! David asked ALL his staff to recommend in every department, including the OVERSTAFFED police department to help the town & the citizens out of the same financial dilemma every municipality in the country was facing and determine where they could cut back.

So,why would Carter turn on David like that? Believe me when I tell you the answer is nothing more, or nothing less than VINDICTIVENESS. In his warped mind, Carter would do anything to "get even" with Bill, Barry & Salette----even turn on David who had done so much for him and treated him as a dad. Yes! David & Carter had (past tense) that kind of personal relationship.

Things really deteriorated. David, being as astute as he is, knew Carter had turned on him. Then an incident took place and David found that he (Carter) had been "snooping around" in his house. David had forgotten that he had given Carter a key---(they had that kind of close relationship) and realized, he didn't want Carter coming in at any time and David also knew at this point that Carter could not be trusted. David proceeded to change his locks, and that infuriated Carter.

Keep in mind, these goings on outside the town hall were not known by many. David knew all too well that he not only had to work WITH Carter, but that he also worked FOR Carter, (as well as the six others on council.)

As such, David the commensurate professional continued to do his job and continued to deal with Carter, as he knew he had to do just that.

But, Carter "went off the deep end." He continued with his vindictiveness, and as he had stated to me right after the April 27 meeting, he wouldn't vote for anything that Bill, Barry or Salette wanted.

He proved it---over and over in the coming months. Here are some of Carter's more egregious votes, based on aforementioned vindictiveness.

Council Meeting June 3 A motion was made by Council Member Garner and seconded by Council Member Latas to offer Town wide the opportunity for voluntary layoffs or early retirement and a severance package and do away with the six month review. The offer would remain in effect 45 days.

Carter-Opposed. (Motion passed 5-2. Loomis & Carter)

Council Meeting June 3 A motion was made by Council Member Gillaspie and seconded by Council Member Latas to reduce the amount carry-forward budget for the police department substation at the Oro Valley Marketplace not to exceed $250,000.

Carter -Opposed (Motioned failed 4-3 Carter, Loomis,Kunisch, Abbott)

June 17 Council Meeting A motion was made by Council Member Garner and seconded by Council Member Gillaspie to approve Ordinance (O)09-10, amending Chapter 3 of the Oro Valley Town Code by adding Section 3-6-10, Economic Development Commission with the following change under section 3-6-10A, third sentence to read, "members shall be residents of the Town of Oro Valley.---"

Carter-Opposed (Motion failed 3-4. Carter, Loomis, Kunisch Abbott)

Aug 19- A motion was made by Council Member Gillaspie and seconded by Council Member Latas to direct staff to return by November with a comprehensive assessment and proposal as it relates to the existing Planning Work Plan and the Sign Code

Carter Opposed (Motion passed 5-2. Carter & Kunisch)

Sept 16- A motion was made by Council Member Kunisch and seconded by Vice Mayor Carter to go out to bid on the original design (original bid included the EOC building but not the additional electronics and add alternates).
This concerns the police substation that Carter was against when it was voted on at a previous meeting and he (Carter) was the only "no" vote in spending any money.

Carter, Kunisch, Loomis, Abbott (Motioned passed 4-3)

If nothing else, Carter kept his word.Carter said, the hell with Bill, Barry, Salette and the citizens of Oro Valley. His voting record proves it.

The wheels were turning. Loomis knew he had Kunisch in the bag. Loomis, as we said, is, if nothing else, shrewd. Loomis knew Kunisch couldn't think for himself, and he knew Kunisch was a stooge for the police, so talking him into anything was "a piece of cake."

Two votes don't make a majority. Loomis knew he needed two more votes to regain the control he had for so many years with so many other councils, but not with this one. Especially not with Bill, Barry & Salette. What to do? As we said, Loomis is shrewd. His next "target" was Carter. Forget that Carter couldn't stand Loomis and was prepared to run against him. Loomis knew what was going on with Carter, as it concerned Bill, Barry & Salette.

Carter thinks he's so damn smart, but he's really an old fool. He let the cunning Loomis believe he was now his best pal, and Carter was hooked. Just like the fish that gets in trouble by opening his mouth and is hooked, Carter and his big mouth was hooked by Loomis.

Three down, one to go. The obvious was Paula Abbott, but surely Loomis couldn't get Paula who he treated like garbage all during her time in office, but especially when she was the total outsider with the council of Loomis, Johnson, Rochman & Wolff.

The feeling was mutual. Paula told me on so many occasions that as much as Loomis couldn't stand her, she felt the same about him, (and probably more so.)

So, what to do? As I said, getting Kunisch was like taking candy from a baby. Carter was a little more difficult, but the vindictiveness he felt for Bill, Barry & Salette was what Loomis used to win him over.

But, what about Paula? Hmmm.Well,I can tell you this. When Paula & I still had a very good relationship---- from 2002 until May 27, 2009, she told me how she felt about Salette, and it wasn't complimentary. I should point out, Abbott's negative feeling toward Salette was much greater than Salette's feeling for her.

What was this all about? It goes back to the second meeting the new council had on June 18,2008. Paula was absent, and a motion was made by Council Member Carter and seconded by (newly appointed) Vice Mayor Kunisch to appoint Council Member Latas to the Arroyo Grande Negotiation Support Team. The motion passed 6-0.

This upset Paula tremendously. How do I know? Because she told me on more than a couple occasions. In essence, she said, I've been on the council for six years. They knew I wanted that position. How could they give it to Salette who has been on the council for TWO WEEKS?

Then there was the trip to Washington earlier this year. Once again, Paula thought she should go, although she had taken a trip previously on behalf of the council. This time, Barry & Salette were designated to go in an attempt for Oro Valley to lobby congress for stimulus dollars.

Once again Paula felt slighted, and I expect she also felt unappreciated and kind of left out.

Was this enough to bring Paula over to "the dark side?" Probably not, but I believe it may have been a factor.

Her deciding vote back on May 27, turning her back on David was, as far as I'm concerned, "misguided compassion" in not wanting any cops losing their job.

Her vote on Sept 23 was because I believe she was so gullible that she "bought into" the unsubstantiated innuendos that some unscrupulous person was anonymously putting out about David.

We'll get to that in Part 2 of this despicable saga that resulted in a good man having his reputation besmirched, and his job lost.

Thanks for hearing me out. Your comments are welcome.

Art