By Rick Harvey
Eureka Springs Times-Echo
Eureka Springs City Council member David Avanzino apologized, while welcoming civil debate, regarding a post he made on social media related to the recent assassination of a right-wing political activist.
Seven residents, including business owners, spoke during public comments at the city council meeting held Monday, Sept. 22, with at least one calling for Avanzino to step down over the post he made on his personal Facebook page regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in Utah on Sept. 10.
“You, like everyone else, certainly has a right to First Amendment free speech, but that free speech does not come without consequence, and you’re seeing tonight the consequences of your reckless free speech,” resident Jay Fusaro said. “I hope you feel a great deal of shame towards your insensitive and intolerant comments, ands as a result, I believe you should resign. Your comments do not reflect the values of this community.”
Avanzino, co-owner of Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar and also a member of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission, made the post on his personal Facebook page, writing, “Right wing nut job Charlie Kirk has been shot in the neck.”
Screen shots of the post, which Avanzino deleted shortly after Kirk’s passing, were shared on social media.
“If offense was taken, I do apologize,” Avanzino said during a six-minute response during council member comments at the end of the Sept. 22 council meeting.
Avanzino said he welcomed the debate over his post, and said he felt the reason behind his words were taken out of context.
“It is no surprise that I was the subject of a lot of conversation tonight, and actually, I welcome those conversations. I always have,” Avanzino said. “I’ve never told anybody that this is an issue that’s not up for discussion. I always want people to come and talk to me. …Hopefully, I can give them the same respect in doing so. It doesn’t always happen that way, but that’s what I do wish for. I also was very impressed … at the people that actually showed up to speak about something that was dear to their heart, that they firmly believed in. I respect that for everyone. It’s our basic First Amendment right. We may not always say things that are kosher or going to be read the way that we intended them, and that is absolutely what happened with my Facebook post on my private page.
“What is unfortunate is that I did make an apology, however. … Maybe I need to make that to somebody personally. I don’t know, because no one’s come to me personally and asked me for that, which I would rightfully give.”
Avanzino also responded to comments made earlier in the meeting by resident Josh Dugan, who claimed the council member reached out to police “to have citizens arrested for their own Facebook posts.”
He did touch base with law enforcement, Avanzino said, but only after getting guidance from the mayor’s office after a series of threats he and his family received.
“There was some talk about me wanting citizen’s arrest. I did no such thing,” Avanzino said. “I contacted the mayor’s office. I said I am receiving threats. My family is receiving threats, my 81-year-old mother has received a threat, my business is receiving threats. What do I need to do? So, I followed the guidance of the mayor’s office in making sure that stuff was taken care of.”
Political discussions are off-limits at his business, Avanzino said.
“… As a private business owner, as much of us are around this [council] table. I have the right to decide who is and is not welcome in my establishment,” he said. “I mean, I’m not going to call any names, but there’s actually a person at this table that I barred from my bar and restaurant. We have since made amends because we had a conversation, and now I consider her a very good friend. But let’s get one thing straight. Not everything is always about politics, and it’s certainly not about politics at my bar. We don’t discuss politics in my bar. I’ve actually thrown people off my porch for speaking politics.
“What I will throw you out of my bar for is making yourself throw up in front of other customers. I will throw you out of my bar when you grope young women that work for me. I will throw you out of my bar when I know you’re cheating on your wife with someone else at my bar. Respect the women. Respect your partner. I will throw you out of my bar for generalizing LGBTQIA people in this community and likening them to terrorists from the Middle East. If you’ve been banned from my bar, you know exactly why you’ve been banned from my bar. There is no secret and anyone who asked me, I will tell them. Again, I will always be open to respectful dialogue and I will also always own my words. Just don’t twist them. If you want to know what I had to say, ask me what I have to say and what I meant by it. I have no problem sharing that information with anyone. …” Avanzino welcomes conversation about his social media post, or anything for that matter, he said.
“My focus and my desire, and the reason why I do what I do for this city and for the people of this city, is always about keeping Eureka Springs vibrant, keeping it diverse, and above all, keeping it safe for everyone that actually shares those same values,” he said. “And if any of you are still in this room that had something to say at the beginning of this meeting, I welcome a conversation after this meeting. I have no problem with it at all.”
‘WAS IT APPROPRIATE?’
All of the public comments at the beginning of Monday’s meeting were on the topic of Avanzino’s social media post, and all of those who spoke were critical of the words used by the council member.
“We’re a business owner in our community, and I’ve heard several other business owners that are concerned just about some things that have been said in the community and some of the I believe politically charged events that have occurred here lately,” Jeff Griffith said. “I don’t believe that political views serve our community well. I think it steals away from our tourism.
“I also have an opinion that, as an elected official, I think that it’s important for each and every one of you to put your personal views aside and do what’s best for the community.”
Dugan told council members its important to decide whether Avanzino’s Facebook post was in the best interest of the city.
“I ask the council and mayor to address whether council member Avanzino’s Facebook post was appropriate for an elected official and appointed commissioner,” Dugan said. “Please know what I am not asking you is if you think it was his legal right to do so. I m asking you: Was it appropriate?
“Some may attempt to make the case that it was a personal page, but elected officials are, by nature of their accepted roles, held to a higher standard.”
Ignoring the issue will have a “lasting impact,” Dugan told the council.
“This meeting is public record and your words or lack of will have a lasting impact,” Dugan said. “Ignoring this issue may be seen as consent or evasion and could potentially be escalated to the state level if not resolved. Let’s work together to address this and strengthen our community.”
Robert Bruno, owner of Rowdy Beaver Restaurant and Tavern didn’t hold back voicing his opinion of the social media post made by his fellow business owner.
“When we think of people who represent a community such as ours, a few elements of what kinds of folks those would be come to mind — clergymen, families, whether new or present for generations, business owners, and the very fabric of those businesses, which are the people who keep them running day to day without whom we would be very, very lost,” Bruno said. “Every one of these community members is a part of a tapestry of what makes our town a wonderful place to live, a fantastic place to spend a few days, and every single one of these community members makes a difference and is crucial to the machine in which they operate. … They do not harass their neighbors or allow their loved ones to act foolishly towards other business owners and their families.
“They should not set a poor example as a business owner, but also as a human being that is an integral part of this community, which prides itself on human kindness, diversity, and acceptance, especially when using tools such as social media. … These social media impressions that people are getting of Eureka Springs play a key role in the decision-making process of would-be visitors to our beautiful town. What does not make a solid positive impression is a local business owner, sitting city council member, CAPC commissioner, and board of directors president of the Purple Flower, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence. I’m speaking directly to you, David Avanzino. …” Diversity is often talked about in Eureka Springs, and Avanzino’s post about Kirk went against that, resident and business owner Adam Sandoval said.
“David, you sit on the city council, and with that comes an inherent obligation to do duty for our community, and to represent all sides of our community,” Sandoval said. “This is supposed to be a town that I love dearly because it’s all inclusive. But it’s not really when we’ve got council members that are going out and excluding people. Not only from their personal life, but from their personal businesses. There’s a list of people who’ve been exiled from his bar simply for their political beliefs. That is not, I repeat, that is not the due diligence of somebody sitting in the city council. There’s obligations, I believe, there’s a standard code of ethics that y’all are supposed to live by. … I’m just disappointed. I supported you. I stood behind you, even though we have differences. But deflecting what you said and what you did is not admirable. You should be apologizing, taking ownership of it, and working to be a better human being.”
Another city official, planning commission member David Buttecali, didn’t hold back when offering his opinion of Avanzino’s post.
“I have to tell you, Mr. Avanzino, I was just shocked when I saw [the post],” Buttecali said. “I would say: ‘What was he thinking about?’ ‘Did he think that was a good idea?’ ‘What was going through his mind?’ ‘Surely he knows that would be a divisive comment and how that we’re supposed to be inclusive and everybody’s loving each other and we’re preaching to other people to come here and enjoy the fun.’ It’s completely counter to do that. I just didn’t understand it and I said: ‘Can you imagine if I’d said this,’ right, or if I had posted this or somebody had said this on September the 11th.’ Just think this through. I wouldn’t say it, but just imagine, a 22-year-old left-wing convert in a transgender relationship murders a defenseless husband, Charlie Kirk, father of two, in front of a crowd of thousands, including children, citing hatred for the victim as his motivation.
“Can you imagine what would have happened had I posted that? I would have been an outcast. I’m on the planning commission. I would’ve been immediately gotten rid of. There’s no question about that, and it would’ve been rightful to do that, by the way, because it’s insensitive, it’s divisive, and it’s just downright vile.”
Buttecali called on Avanzino to issue a written statement.
“… You need to issue a written statement, not some half-baked, nonsense apology like you did on Facebook, a written letter delivered to the mayor’s office where you sincerely apologize for your divisive, vile comments and you vow to do a lot better job in the future,” Buttecali said.
‘A MISUNDERSTANDING’
Avanzino made another post on Facebook in the days following the Kirk murder to “clarify” his original post.
“I want to clarify and address a misunderstanding,” Avanzino wrote in a post that has also been screen shotted and shared on multiple pages on Facebook. “A recent comment I made – ‘right wing nut job is shot in the throat’ – was taken out of context.
“To be absolutely clear: I was not celebrating or praising anyone’s death. That is not who I am, nor is it something I would ever condone.”
Instead, his comment was based on Kirk’s stance on things, Avanzino wrote.
“What I was reacting to is Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric and worldview,” the post read. “He has openly attacked gay and trans people, dismissed their humanity, and pushed to roll back rights. He champions gun rights while acknowledging that death is a byproduct — showing empathy isn’t his priority. Those are values I will never align with, and I believe they are dangerous.
“Some people chose to read my comment as if I was endorsing violence. That was never expressed, never implied, and never my belief. If someone took it that way, that says more about their assumptions than about my words.
“And I have to be firm here: these same people were silent when representatives in Minnesota were shot and murdered recently. Where was the outrage then? Was it quieter because those victims were liberal? We cannot cherry-pick when to care about violence based on political alignment. We should be careful about throwing stones when we all live in glass houses.”
Avanzino went on to say in his apology that things “will never change” until there is “meaningful gun control,” and more funding is aimed at mental health services.
“I also want to emphasize that I have the right to express my opinions on my own page,” he wrote. “I appreciate those who respectfully reached out to me for clarity. But to the individuals who responded with threats of violence against me — I’m sorry you thought that way and felt compelled to escalate in that direction. That response says more about where we are as a country than about one poorly worded post.”
‘ENCOURAGED BY … SITUATION’
City council member Rachael Moyer had positive words regarding the comments by Avanzino and concerned citizens.
“First of all I want to say thank you for being here tonight because I imagine that would be very difficult to face the consequences of what’s been said, and I think that shows strength in character,” Moyer said to Avanzino during council member comments. “I want to appreciate those who came to voice their views here tonight in public comment.
“I’m actually, believe it or not, I’m really encouraged by this whole situation. The community came and expressed differing views and they did it in a fairly respectful and peaceful manner.”
Moyer said she teaches American National Government at the University of Arkansas, where hoax claims of an active shooter recently put the campus on lockdown.
“And … after a national event like that with Mr. Kirk, I’ve been involved in some pretty heavy and emotional conversations with people of varying ages. .,” she said. “I think that’s how our society has to move move forward, is to have difficult conversations in a respectful and peaceful manner. I feel like what happened tonight demonstrated that, and I just want to say that I appreciate everybody involved. … I think this is a very critical time in our history, and how we react has really lasting implications for all of us.”
