Was it pre-election jitters or was it more?

The Nov. 7 work session of the Union City Council covered a host of issues relating to city business. But in the closing minutes of the meeting things were all but calm. And a maelstrom of emotions followed.

Council member Barbara Bohanon initially said she understood that earlier in the day, at the Thanksgiving luncheon for seniors at the city-owned Etris building, one of the candidates for council attended and made a campaign speech.

“I have one question of the mayor. Why did you find it convenient to stoop to the low of inviting one candidate to speak at the seniors program and not extend (the opportunity) to the other candidates?” she asked.

Moore replied, asking Bohanon what evidence she had of that happening. A brief exchange between the two included Moore’s statement that Bohanon was talking to the wall and Bohanon’s response that she often does so. Bohanon continued, stating that another candidate showed up at the meeting. Bohanon claimed that the candidate, still unnamed, was told by Moore that she was too late. Moore countered, saying that the meeting had already adjourned. During this portion of the exchange both Moore and Bohanon continued to raise their voices steadily higher.

“You told her that she had already lost the election and you told her that (Angelette) Mealing and (Shirley) Jackson had already won the election and that she should wait until (council member) Helen Turner resigns because of her health,” Bohanon asserted.

Moore responded, stating he did not know where Bohanon got her information and adding that if Bohanon wanted to get on a political platform he would not address the issue. Moore extended his comments in response to Bohanon’s assertion that he was not man enough to “sit there and take what I’ve got to say.”

“That’s because you’re lying, as you usually do up here,” Moore said.

The exchanges that accompanied the verbal foray grew even louder, with council member Turner beginning to enter the mix after the allegation concerning her resignation was made. Attempting to interject a calming effect into the escalating combination of words and emotions, City Administrator Terrell Jacobs suggested that the work session was not the place to engage in that type of discussion. Jacobs was quickly defeated, being told by Turner and Bohanon that the issue was a discussion item that needed to be addressed.

No recent phenomenon in terms of difference of opinion, this current exchange between Moore, Turner and Bohanon continued, with Turner insisting that she had received a phone call asking why she had not attended the seniors event, adding that she did not appreciate Moore discussing her medical issues with others.

Moore insisted that he did nothing wrong in Turner’s regard and that he had nothing to do with anyone that was invited to the luncheon, adding that he had simply told his wife where he was going. His comment was followed by Bohanon saying that he was unethical.

“No, you are unethical,” Moore said to Bohanon. “You know what, to make that salacious statement lets me know the class I’m that dealing with up here.”

Bohanon and Turner both responded, emotions in tow, with Moore going back and forth between the two.

“I don’t like you talking about by health and about me resigning,” Turner told Moore. “You are backbiting. You are lowdown, Ralph. You’re a lowdown man. I’ve never seen an election as nasty as this. You do it every time, Ralph.”

At one point during the exchange, Moore requested that council candidate Annette Davis, who was present at the meeting, tell the council what he had said to her at the senior’s luncheon, apparently believing she would vindicate his position. That did not happen. Mild-mannered as she was thrust into the maelstrom, Davis said then and reiterated definitively minutes later after having taken her seat that Moore had previously commented in her presence, though not directly to her, about what the city council election results would be and about a seat on the council coming open due to Turner’s upcoming resignation. As with those at the council table, Davis stated her position and stood her ground in the midst of an example of political turmoil that would have caused many people to falter.