Sumter County chair apologizes publicly to Dr. Alexander Bateman; Bateman urges honest apology and public decorum

The chair of the Sumter County Council publicly apologized to Dr. Alexander Bateman at the council’s Sept. 10 meeting for remarks made at the July 23 meeting, saying he had apologized to her in person and now wanted to apologize in public so the council could move forward.

"I now take this opportunity to apologize to Doctor Bateman publicly," the chair said during opening remarks.

When given time during public comment, Dr. Alexander Bateman said she appreciated the apology but questioned its sincerity. "Mister chairman, thank you for your apology, but but it needs to be honest," she said. "I was not contemptuous or rude. I was very kind and polite to you, but if you took it as contemptuous, I apologize for that."

Bateman also urged the council to address behavior in the meeting room, saying a veteran who spoke at the last meeting had been "verbally attacked for his public comment by a member of his audience" and that the incident had become "very ugly and almost physical." She asked the council to reiterate to the public that attacking someone for making a public comment is unacceptable.

The exchange occurred during the council’s public comment period; the chair opened the meeting with the apology and later recognized Bateman to speak. The council did not take any formal disciplinary action during the meeting.

The meeting record shows the apology and Bateman’s response but includes no follow-up vote or formal direction to staff on enforcing decorum during public comments. The issue is likely to remain a point of public concern unless the council pursues further action or issues clearer guidance for audience conduct.