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Councilman Eugene R. Baten accuses Sumter County Council of systemic racism during meeting on protocol and school funding
Summary
At a July 11 Sumter County Council meeting, Councilman Eugene R. Baten used a discussion of meeting protocol to accuse the council of 'systemic racism,' defend a prior recusal on a school millage vote and press for greater support for school employees; other council members and staff disputed aspects of his account and a procedural dispute arose over notice for a Special Meeting.
Councilman Eugene R. Baten used a routine agenda item on meeting protocol at Sumter County Council’s July 11 regular session to deliver an extended critique of the council’s treatment of the county’s public schools and to accuse fellow members of systemic racism.
“Systemic racism is loud and well in this County,” Councilman Eugene R. Baten said as he recounted his tenure as council chair in 2011–2012, including negotiations that he said helped secure the Continental Tire investment and a later decision to recuse himself from a school millage vote because of pending litigation involving his daughter. He said he was blamed afterward for the School District not receiving requested millage and defended his earlier recusal as following Ethics Commission guidance.
Baten argued the School District has been…
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