Cotati council considers censure

<p>For more than a decade before his election to the Cotati City Council, George Barich was the council’s chief watchdog and critic, skewering political foes in merciless tongue-lashings from his gadfly’s perch behind a City Hall podium.</p><p>But the in-your-face style that helped Barich get elected in November could soon return to haunt him. On Wednesday, his four council colleagues will consider officially censuring Barich for his high-profile antics, including unauthorized use of city stationery to write a critical letter to President Barack Obama and posting a racially charged picture on his personal Web site.</p><p>The public reprimand would come as rivals in the town of 7,000 start a recall drive against Barich that accuses him of poor judgment and brow-beating people. If successful, Barich could be ousted in November.</p><p>“He’s an extremist, a loose cannon,” said John Moore, a longtime Barich foe who will help efforts to gather the 1,050 signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot. “He’s running rough-shod over the council and anyone who disagrees with him.”</p><p>Barich, a 50-year-old electrical contractor, has been unapologetic since controversy began to swirl shortly after taking office.</p><p>In an e-mail this week, he denied any misbehavior and said it would be irresponsible for the council to pursue censure. A reprimand would have “no force and effect in law” and would just end up costing the city money, he said.</p><p>He continues to blog, meanwhile, about what he sees as government waste and refuses to heed calls to step down.</p><p>“It is my hope and wish that the council has contemplated the seriousness of any attempt to infringe on my civil rights ... and will take this opportunity to thank me for my ongoing service to the community and leave it at that,” Barich said.</p><p>Barich’s problems arose after he wrote to Obama on city letterhead, criticizing the federal stimulus package. He said the letter was in reaction to a letter signed by the mayors of the nine Sonoma County cities requesting the federal aid</p><p>A few weeks later, Barich, who is white, posted on his Web site a picture of himself in black makeup and an Afro wig. The site also contained a music video of rappers at the controls of a purple jetliner under the title “Air Force One takes flight with soul.”</p><p>The posting drew outrage. The local chapter of the NAACP and residents called on Barich to resign. At a meeting in April, Barich was scolded by dozens of people and council members said they would consider a formal reprimand.</p><p>Just what form that will take is unclear. A one-page City Hall report for Wednesday’s meeting suggests a letter from the council to Barich written either by another council member or a two-member committee.</p><p>The report said there could be costs for drafting the letter depending on what action the council takes.</p><p>Mayor John Guardino and Councilwomen Pat Gilardi and Janet Orchard did not return calls Monday seeking comment. Councilman Robert Coleman-Senghor, the council’s only black member, said he wasn’t prepared to repudiate Barich over his blog.</p><p>Barich first ran for office 11 years ago, two years after his 1996 arrest on suspicion of growing 500 marijuana plants in his home and business. He denied the pot plants were his but pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges.</p><p>In his campaign literature that year, Barich attacked the Cotati Police as abusive and called for a citizen review board to handle complaints. He was not elected, but his interest in local politics was piqued.</p><p>In 2000, Barich supported failed recall effort aimed at two council members and also ran for the council that year and in 2004.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@</p><p>pressdemocrat.com.</p>