Councilman gets booted

Councilman removed after misconduct claims

The Tempe City Council voted unanimously to remove Councilman Kolby Granville from office, following accusations of misconduct.

The Tempe City Council voted unanimously to remove Councilman Kolby Granville from office Friday night, following accusations of misconduct.

After more than three hours of public comment, the council determined Granville violated the city’s code-of-conduct policy and was unfit to continue representing the city.

Granville abstained from voting. The two-term councilman has been accused of providing minors with alcohol and making unwanted sexual advances toward two women.

He has denied the allegations and was never charged with a crime. A Phoenix police investigation, initiated at Tempe’s request, was closed in March 2018 because the women would not aid prosecution, police said.

An outside attorney, hired by the city to investigate the allegations, found that Granville appears to have violated the city’s rules of conduct.

Granville, 44, did not address the allegations during Friday’s hearing.

His attorney, Jay Calhoun, said Granville was not afforded due process and that there was a lack of respect for the legal process on the part of the council and public.

Calhoun said members of the public who called for Granville’s removal, many of whom were survivors of sexual assault, “held (Granville) as a scapegoat for all sexual assault.”

“The majority of those who spoke placed an unreasonable burden of a national problem on the shoulder of one man,” she said.

One of the three women who filed complaints against Granville declined to comment Friday night on the council’s actions. The other two did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The council has 30 days to appoint a replacement, who would serve until the next scheduled city election in March 2020. If a replacement is not appointed, a special election must be held within 90 to 120 days.

The council will hold a special meeting Monday to determine the process to appoint his replacement.

Here’s what officials said led to their decision.

Arredondo-Savage: Elected officials are held to a higher standard

Councilwoman Robin Arredondo-Savage said after reviewing the police report and the independent investigation, she found that Granville exhibited a “pattern of behavior that misuses a position of authority as a teacher, lawyer and elected official.”

Arredondo-Savage said elected officials must be held to a higher standard. Granville’s behavior will not be tolerated, she said.

“As a council member, I know it’s my job to ensure the city and the council reflect the very best of Tempe,” she said. “As elected officials, we sign up knowing that we will be held to a higher standard. I believe that Kolby’s actions clearly violated the council code of conduct, the ethics in our workplace handbook and has really discredited our city.”

Kuby says removal not about politics

Vice Mayor Lauren Kuby refuted allegations from some members of the public that Granville’s removal was a political hack job.

Kuby said having to vote a colleague out of office “has been a tortuous process and a horrible time for the council.”

“If this was just about politics, I’d want to keep you on the council,” she said, adding that Granville has sided with her on various city issues.

However, she said removing Granville from the council “is about doing the right thing.”

Kuby called the details in the police report and investigative documents “disturbing,” and she refuted comments made by some residents that the women’s allegations should not be believed because they didn’t aid in prosecution.

“I refuse to judge them for their decision not to testify. That is their right,” she said. “I believe the women.”

Navarro: Allegations are concerning

Councilman Joel Navarro, who had to leave early and phoned into the meeting, said the allegations and information presented in the police report and independent investigation “rises to the level of extreme concern.”

Navarro said though he wished the city didn’t have to go through this difficult process, the allegations have raised questions about the type of conduct elected officials must adhere to.

“We are held to a higher standard in my opinion. We’re in the public eye day in and day out,” he said.

Adams says she believes Granville’s accusers

Councilwoman Jennifer Adams said not only have multiple women accused Granville of misconduct, their stories were consistent throughout the investigative process.

“I believe the victims in this case,” she said.

Keating says ‘healing process’ can begin

Councilman Randy Keating also refuted the idea that this was a political witch hunt.

He said by removing Granville, the city will be able to “begin the healing process and get back to the city’s business.”

Mitchell says council presented with convincing evidence

Mayor Mark Mitchell said he believed the allegations were “more likely to be true than not,” and the council had been presented with clear and convincing evidence.

After more than three hours of public comment, the council determined Granville violated the city’s code-of-conduct policy and was unfit to continue representing the city. Granville abstained from voting.

Council hears from residents

Prior to the council’s decision, officials also heard nearly two hours of public testimony from roughly 50 people, including several sexual-assault survivors, many of whom called on the council to remove Granville from office.

About a dozen residents, including former students at Tempe Preparatory Academy, where he had taught, rallied behind him.

Mariana Peña, who said she is a survivor of sexual assault, said the council was privileged to have a voice on such an important issue. She urged the council to oust Granville.

“Remember who put you in those seats. It is our daughters. It is our sisters. It is our queer family. It is our sexual-assault survivors who put each of you in those seats,” she said. “Tempe deserves better than Kolby Granville. We deserve better than having a sexual assaulter in that seat there.”

Incoming teacher Eric Arellano said a teacher’s most important responsibility is to keep students safe. Elected leaders also have a similar responsibility, he said.

“As a former educator, Mr. Granville was assigned this responsibility. He failed to comply with it, which is why he was removed from his teaching position,” Arellano said. “This expectation we lay on educators, we also lay it on our elected officials.”

He said while the city has benefited from Granville’s leadership, the allegations against him can’t be ignored. Others came to Granville’s defense. Former Tempe Prep student Isabella Warner said her relationship with Granville “has always been professional.” She said while she didn’t want to discredit the women who have accused Granville of misconduct, she had not had a similar experience.

Gwen Multine, the mother of a Tempe Prep student, called Granville “honest” and “hardworking.” Another parent, John Webster, whose daughter Caroline was one of Granville’s students, said Granville “was a very competent, caring and professional person.”