Hynek Walks Out of Council Meeting After Accusing Mayor of Slander

The first Sumner city council meeting of the year ended dramatically when councilmember Randy Hynek left the courtroom before dismissal, after accusing Mayor Dave Enslow of slander during council comments. 

Just the week before, Patch broke the story about with councilmember Hynek named as the person of interest. According to the police report, Hynek admitted to cutting down cottonwoods, firs and cedars to clear way for a walnut grove he planted in the area four years prior. City officials told police Hynek admitted to using city equipment to cut down the trees and that he didn’t go through the proper permitting process for permission.

In an interview with Patch, Hynek vehemently denied cutting down the trees and asserted that his interest has been in protecting Sumner’s local resources, like the community garden. He told Patch he thought it was a character attack, done at the bidding of Enslow.

During public comment, some members of the community approached the podium and stated their support for the two-term councilmember.

“Randy is an honest, hardworking, good person,” said resident Bob Jordan. “He’s good for the town, and good for the community. You should all have the interests of the community at heart and not put personal feelings or positions of influence over other members.”

Resident Kathy Hammond also voiced her support of Hynek during public comment.

“He’s spent thousands of hours on his own time with the community garden… I think it’s an amazing thing that you don’t see very often. I don’t think Randy gets enough support for that.”

During council comment at the end of the meeting, Hynek had some choice words for the audience members and city officials on the dais.

“This has been a criminal conviction since day one,” said Hynek. “This action was nothing more than a political attack on me. It was directed by the mayor. He’s the one who made the ultimate decision, he’s the chief of the city and he did a low down, dirty rotten deed, and I’m not done with the situation yet.”

Hynek then addressed the citizens present, noting that this was “the second time you’ve had an elected official attempted to be removed by your mayor.” He hinted at a double standard when it came to meeting attendance, comparing Leroy Goff’s yearly trips to Mexico to Matt Richardson’s unexcused absence that .

“You guys better get ready. If you think you can do this to me, and charge me with these false crimes and smear my name with false allegations, that’s slander, folks,” said Hynek. “You haven’t heard the last of this one.”

Immediately after his statement, Enslow jumped in.

“For the record, this is one version of the story, but this is not the place for it."

“This is exactly the place for it,” Hynek replied. He stood up and quickly left the courtroom, his exit supported with applause from the audience.

Steve Allsop was the only councilmember who addressed Hynek’s statement.

“The situation Randy alluded to is complicated and difficult,” said Allsop. “People are trying to do the right thing.”