Tran says she will take ‘actions’ over censure

Brooklyn Park City Councilmember Maria Tran has alluded to “actions” she will be taking following her censure by the council.

Tran referenced her plans in a prepared statement to the council June 10 during public forum. Less than an hour later, the council approved her censure on a 5-0 vote.

“I will have much more to say about this in the coming days, the actions I will be announcing, and the accountability that is to come,” Tran read from the podium. “I will not be bullied, I will not retreat and I will not stop serving the people of my district to the best of my ability.”

An investigator hired by Brooklyn Park recently found that Tran “unfairly criticized” an unnamed employee’s work performance “in a number of ways and in a variety of settings” over the past year and a half. As a result of the investigation, the council had planned to formally reprimand Tran, but upgraded the consequence to a censure when Tran exhibited further inappropriate behavior at the May 28 regular meeting.

“It was made clear that from many of our perspectives, Councilmember Tran did not understand how the behavior that she exhibited was violating our Code of Conduct and our Respectful Workplace Policy, because another attacked was made, in real time, on the employee,” Mayor Hollies Winston said prior to the censure vote.

Tran and an attorney previously confirmed that they had lodged a retaliation complaint against the city. The attorney, John Hayden, revealed the news during an interview conducted for Tran’s investigation.

In her statement, Tran noted that the vote censure her would not “improve our water, expand our parks, generate more equality for our underserved communities, fix our roads or reduce our taxes.”

“Instead, this vote seeks to shift blame for other people’s failures and it will divide us further,” Tran read. “Throughout my time in office, I have worked tirelessly to advocate for the rest of my district and the citizens of Brooklyn Park. The action the City Council is taking tonight is beneath the dignity of this great city.”

Tran concluded that she did not have plans to back down.

“I will not be bullied, I will not retreat, and I will not stop serving the people of my district to the best of my ability,” Tran read.

Legal liabilities

Before casting their votes over the censure, four of the five councilmembers present shared their thoughts on the matter. Tran was not present, as she left the council chambers after she completed her statement. Also absent was Councilmember Boyd Morson.

The mayor said he preferred a reprimand over a censure, but would vote for the latter in light of legal liability.

“That’s not something we can gloss over because in the past Brooklyn Park has had to settle with people because this behavior has occurred,” Winston said.

He mentioned that it also wasn’t a matter of the targeted employee needing “thicker skin.”

“Employees didn’t sign up for that level of criticism from the public. ... When it comes to those who cannot publicly defend themselves the way we [councilmembers] can defend ourselves, there’s repercussions for that,” Winston said.

Councilmember XP Lee reminded those gathered at the meeting that Tran still had a vote on the council and the ability to gather feedback from constituents. He looked forward to modifying her censure when she exhibited better behavior.

Councilmember Christian Eriksen called Tran’s behavior May 28 “embarrassing.” He said elected officials can be reprimanded or censured by their fellow council, or recalled via constituent petition. He said the council opted for reprimand, but after Tran’s actions “on camera” May 28, the council needed to be less lenient.

Councilmember Tony McGarvey echoed Eriksen.

“This is a matter of honor,” McGarvey said.

Councilmember Nichole Klonowski did not comment on the matter, but did second Lee’s motion to approve the censure.