SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Sioux Falls City Councilor Theresa Stehly explains her recent outburst at Council by saying it was just time to let the public know the pressure she is under to keep her mouth shut.
"I was very disheartened when I was told that the city is your boss, you don't criticize the city in public," Stehly told KELO Radio's Greg Belfrage Show on Wednesday. She claimed that the pressure was applied by other city councilors and by the city attorney.
"You're not a citizen advocate anymore, Theresa, you're an elected official, and I'm thinking, what, what is this about!", said Stehly. The freshman councilor pointed out that elected officials go to Pierre and advocate for all sorts of things, but in Sioux Falls its "don't do anything, and don't say anything."
At Tuesday's informational session, Stehly exploded in outrage and railed on with her charges, even though she was repeatedly gaveled to keep quiet. Stehly was a community activist before being elected to Council, and she has been anything but a wallflower since. She has been especially outspoken in her opposition to a new $22 million city administration building.