A resident demanded Patterson City Councilman David Smith resign, following a verbal confrontation at the city’s Christmas in the Park event in December.
Laurie Mancuso, reading from prepared remarks, demanded Smith’s immediate resignation at Patterson’s Council Meeting last Thursday night.
“He screamed at me and it was uncalled for. He has constipation of the brain and diarrhea of the mouth and he does not need to be serving on the city council,” Mancuso said. “I will take this as far as I have to.”
Mancuso, a nurse who lives in Patterson, said she was enjoying the Christmas in the Park event with her grandchildren December 13, 2024.
The park event was moved to Eagle Station due to weather conditions. Mancuso said she was with her grandchildren in the bounce house area where other children were present. She said the area was roped off for safety reasons.
Mancuso said Smith drove up on a UTV and drove past the restricted area to the door.
“I told him he couldn’t park there and that’s when he began screaming at me. He told me, ‘Don’t you know who I am? I’m on the city council. I helped organize and decorate for this event’,” Mancuso related.
“I told him I didn’t care who he was, he couldn’t park there and he continued to scream and yell at me,” she said.
Smith did not respond to Mancuso’s demands during the meeting.
Smith said he had explained to Mancuso that he was parking close to the building because he has knee issues. He said he drove back home with his UTV and got someone to come by and pick him up and bring him to the festival and drop him off at the front door.
Smith has not resigned his seat. Mayor Dedi Thomas and city council members did not comment on the matter at the meeting.
