Jane DawkinsSOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. -- One resident has vowed he will not allow the South Pittsburg City Commission to rest until the panel, whose members he described as "prude politicians" and "spineless," changes the controversial social media policy it approved in December.
Kenneth McCallie addressed the board at its January meeting and said he has researched the policy thoroughly.
He said the board had "unlawfully trampled the freedom of speech" by enacting the set of guidelines that forbids anyone associated officially with the city from posting negative comments about South Pittsburg on social media. The policy has attracted national attention.
"I won't give you any rest until you make it right," McCallie told the board members. "I'm not budging on this issue."
The problem with the town's policy is that it is too broad, he said, and it needs to be reviewed "with a fine-toothed comb."
McCallie said he didn't have an issue with the town having a social media policy as long as it is "the right policy."
"If you're not willing to make it right, then I will continue my path seeking outside help to make you come up with a correct policy," he said.
Commissioner Jimmy Wigfall said he voted for the policy last month and thinks it's a good thing for the town because he had to agree to similar rules at companies where he worked.
"If there's any legal avenues [to fight the policy], then you need to take them," he said to McCallie. "That's your right. Then you can get this whole policy thrown out if that's the correct thing to do."
"If that's the way the board wants to handle it, then that's fine," McCallie said.
During his statement, McCallie described the board as "prude politicians" and "spineless."
Mayor Jane Dawkins asked McCallie if he "had anything positive to say" to the board.
City Attorney Billy Gouger said he understands some of McCallie's concerns because it can be difficult for people to disassociate themselves from their capacity as an official with the city when posting online.
If an elected official, for example, is posting on Facebook or Twitter, almost everybody in a small town is going to know who he or she is, Gouger said. The policy requires that person to specifically distinguish those statements as his own, not as a representative of the city.
"Candidly, that's probably hard to do all of the time, but that's what the policy asks you to do," he said.
A person's negative comments or criticisms must be seen as his own and not those of the city, according to the new rules.
"That's really what the purpose of the policy is -- to distinguish between your rights as an individual and the city's rights as a separate body," Gouger said. "It's a fine line to walk sometimes."
Dawkins said Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center, described the city's guidelines as "well-drafted" and "specific." Paulson added that he did not see any constitutional red flags in South Pittsburg's policy.
"That's what the president of the First Amendment Center said about our policy, and that's all I have to say about that," Dawkins said.
Ryan Lewis is basedin Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.