Resident criticizes Chestertons official Facebook post as partisan; council member defends the content

A resident told the Town Council that the Town of Chestertons official Facebook account posted a Juneteenth graphic that included living partisan figures and that replies from the account have been unprofessional.

"The account often comes across as divisive and unprofessional for a municipal government that represents all residents," Laura Schmulder said, citing the graphics use of the phrases "reclaim like Maxine and win like Kamala," which referenced Rep. Maxine Waters and Vice President Kamala Harris. Schmulder said inserting living partisan politicians into a town commemoration turns a neutral observance into political advocacy and risks eroding residents trust.

Schmulder also criticized responses made from the towns account to residents, saying that one reply which she paraphrased as "If you don't like something, just keep scrolling"dismissed legitimate public feedback and discouraged open dialogue. She said an earlier post had used the phrase "Chinese telephone game," which she described as an ethnic slur, and said the public affairs liaison later edited that post after residents complained.

A council member who spoke from the dais and acknowledged having used the Town account defended the comment and read their response verbatim, saying the post recognized historic accomplishments and that their reply addressed derogatory personal comments in the replies. The council member said: "When like Kamala seems accurate to me, she became the first woman and first Black American and first South Asian American elected vice president of the United States... Reducing a woman's achievements to a sexist joke says more about the commenter than it does about her. If you don't like something, just keep scrolling." The council member characterized the original post as a well-written item by the public affairs liaison and said the intent was not to silence commenters.

The exchange drew applause but no formal action. Schmulder urged the town to restrict the official account to factual town business, event notices, and neutral historical notes and to avoid partisan slogans or personal responses by staff or council members. The council did not take a formal vote on social-media policy during the meeting.