MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Deputy Mayor Mark Brazaitis said Wednesday that the Democrat Party leadership in Monongalia County needs to be purged, starting with Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom, “and replaced with actual progressives.”
Brazaitis’ comments came moments after a heated exchange with Bloom immediately following Wednesday’s commission meeting.
Brazaitis, attending not in his capacity as deputy mayor but what he described as his “more powerful role” as vice president of Learn to Skate for the Mason-Dixon Figure Skating Club and adviser to the WVU Figure Skating Club, came to ask the commission to consider placement of an $8.5 million levy on the November ballot for the creation of a state-of-the-art, two-sheet, year-round ice rink for Morgantown’s Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners (BOPARC).
Following the meeting, Brazaitis expressed his belief that the commission altered the agenda to move the public comment portion of the meeting — a claim he later walked back. Brazaitis also said he was held to three minutes for his presentation while a subsequent speaker was given additional time.
When asked by Bloom if he was accusing the commission of something specific, Brazaitis responded, “I’m not accusing these two gentlemen of anything,” referring to Commissioners Ed Hawkins and Sean Sikora, whom he later identified as “honest men.”
“So you’re accusing me,” Bloom said. “Very unfortunate. You need to start respecting city council.”
Brazaitis countered by saying Bloom “needs to start respecting the people” he represents.
“Well, I tell the truth. That’s something that you need to learn, and that’s all I’ll say,” Bloom said, ending the exchange.
Brazaitis expounded on his comments about Bloom following the meeting, telling The Dominion Post that he believes Bloom is a right-wing Republican masquerading as a Democrat embracing progressive ideals. He went on to say he believes the commission president is actively working against the city’s best interests to the benefit of wealthy private developers and that a purge is needed of the county’s Democrat Party leadership.
“I think you have public officials who are genuinely working with the public’s interest at heart, and I think you have, unfortunately, a number of others who are in the pocket of the 1 percent,” Brazaitis said.
Bloom said he’s been called a lot of things in his time in the public eye, but never “Republican.”
He explained party affiliation isn’t his primary concern when deciding who to work with. He went on to say the interaction would not affect his consideration of the levy proposal.
“I represent the citizens of Monongalia County and the truth. People know I work extremely hard, am approachable and honest. I don’t know where that’s coming from. The attack that you saw, I still have no idea what was going on there,” Bloom said. “I feel like he has a responsibility to represent the city council, and I think his actions have been disappointing.”
Brazaitis explained that the decision of his colleagues on Morgantown City Council to not “endorse even a conversation about levies” prompted him to present the levy outside his official capacity.
Council voted 3-3 not to consider approaching the commission about a dedicated BOPARC levy for November’s ballot during its July 24 meeting.
Brazaitis said city administration and council were aware of his plan to present the levy to the commission Wednesday, but he’d not received feedback since making his intentions known.
When asked if he came with the blessing of BOPARC, Brazaitis explained that his actions were “pre-approved” by four years of conversation, planning and design consultations regarding a new ice rink.
BOPARC was not represented at the meeting. BOPARC Director Melissa Wiles said the presentation of a levy has not appeared on a BOPARC agenda or been the subject of a vote.
Bloom said Brazaitis’ request would be considered like any other levy presentation from a county resident. He explained that the commission will meet with Brazaitis in a work session to discuss the proposal.
