Bangor committee debates repeal of racial equity advisory panel after surge of public emails

Chair Michael Beck opened a lengthy debate after a draft ordinance was introduced that would repeal Article 6 of Chapter 23 — the section of Bangor’s code that established the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights.

Katie Bridal, the advisory committee’s chair, presented the committee’s 2025 annual report and described work on leadership, attendance tracking, community outreach and recommendations the group had developed. “My name is Katie Bridal, and I am the current chair of our advisory committee on racial inclusion, racial equity … inclusion and human rights,” Bridal said while outlining the committee’s participation in events such as Bangor Pride and its efforts to gather community feedback.

Several councilors said they learned of the repeal proposal only when they saw the council packet or began receiving constituent emails. One councilor said she felt “totally blindsided” when she first read the ordinance and said the item would have benefited from a prior workshop or broader notice to the public. Multiple members said they had received dozens of emails opposed to disbanding the panel.

Other councilors criticized the advisory committee’s behavior, saying its public positions had at times felt divisive. Councilor Fish said some members of the public—and, he said, committee attendees—had engaged in personal attacks: “they called me a white Christian Nazi,” he said, describing remarks directed at him. Supporters of the committee pushed back, saying the group represents multiple vulnerable populations and raises issues—such as hate-crime history and access for special-needs students—that would be left unaddressed if the panel were disbanded.

City staff told the committee any councilor can ask staff to draft an order and place it on the agenda; staff said the repeal was drafted after concerns were raised by constituents and was presented so the committee could discuss options, including revamping the ordinance rather than immediately disbanding the panel.

The committee ultimately voted to table the repeal to allow wider public input and additional discussion. Later, a separate motion to send the repeal ordinance to the full council failed on a 2–3 vote, so the repeal did not advance from the Government Operations Committee at this meeting.

The committee did not take final action to remove or replace the advisory body; members and staff signaled they will return to the matter after further outreach and possible revisions to the ordinance.