Arkansas Mayor Sexist Remark: ‘If It’s Got Tits, You Got Problems’
An Arkansas mayor has been accused of issuing a sexist remark by three city council members and the Chief of Police in the town of Maynard. City officials have asked for Mayor Gary Hart’s resignation, but, according to KAIT, they may be waiting a while.
Mayor Hart was unaware he was being recorded when speaking to Maynard Police Chief Lonnie Cline during an official meeting. AddictingInfo.org noted that Cline is required to wear a clip-on recorder while on duty, which he clearly was at the time of the meeting.
Several minutes into the recording, Hart allegedly dropped this little gem: “If it’s got tits, you got problems.” The remark was in reference to three of the town’s female city council members. “You know what I’m saying?” Hart continued. “At my house, maybe not yours, but at my house, if you got tits, you got problems.”
(No word on who the lucky lady at the Hart residence is, but sorry, girls, he’s taken.)
Of course, when confronted by the contents of the recording, the Arkansas mayor denied making the sexist remark. “No, I said if it’s got tires and wheels it’s got problems,” Hart said.
The three council members and Chief Cline disagree. You can decide for yourself by checking out the video below at around the 16:40 mark, but it’s pretty clear. (“Tits” and “tires” don’t sound that much alike, and Hart is definitely referring to women during the conversation with Cline.)
KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports
The chief’s wife, Connie Cline, was recently fired from her position as the only female officer on Maynard’s police force along with three part-time officers. Connie believed her firing to be gender-related and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Pending the investigation, she continues to work as a reserve officer (or volunteer) with the ability to drive the patrol car and issue tickets.
Chief Cline believes that whatever happens with Hart — thus far, he’s refused to step down — will determine his own future with the Maynard Police Department.
“We don’t need somebody with that attitude and that outlook in any office,” Cline said. “It’s a situation that’s going to just keep growing and snowball if something is not done. I’m sure if the mayor stays in, I won’t be (working as police chief), but I don’t want to work with somebody like that anyway.”
Unfortunately for Arkansas, Hart’s comments don’t come as much of a surprise given the state’s recent history with politicians like Jon Hubbard, who speculated that slavery was a “blessing in disguise” for African-Americans and state rep Nate Bell, who used the Boston Marathon bombings to attack the city’s “cowering liberals” via Twitter.
Do you think this Arkansas mayor should resign for the alleged sexist remark?
[Image via ShutterStock]
