Anti-Trump resolution ‘not appropriate,’ says Anaheim mayor

Debate over Donald Trump is putting an Anaheim City Council member at odds with the mayor, who is planning to abstain from a vote Tuesday on a resolution condemning the presidential candidate’s “divisive rhetoric.”

Mayor Tom Tait said he questions the legality of the motion requested by Councilwoman Kris Murray at the city’s last council meeting on April 12.

“We’ve taken positions on legislation, but never on a candidate,” Tait said. “Certainly, privately, any council member or I could, but as an official government action -- it’s not appropriate.”

However, Murray said the city attorney reviewed the resolution and “it is fully authorized by state law.”

Murray said she proposed the resolution to stand up for “tens of thousands of Anaheim residents who have been the target of Mr. Trump’s campaign trail attacks.”

“The rhetoric and the language he’s using truly go against the grain of the city of Anaheim’s core values as a city of kindness ... and as a city that’s inclusive of our diverse community,” Murray said. “Anaheim’s residents ... can know that their city officials will not passively condone this type of rhetoric, that denigrates their basic humanity, through our silence.”

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Murray said no city resources will be spent in connection with the resolution. It will come up for a vote at a meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.

Since the resolution was placed on the agenda, Tait said he’s received feedback from residents stating that city officials should focus on “public safety and civic upkeep.” A 102-year-old resident, born in Anaheim, Tait said, noted that the city should focus on fixing sidewalks and streets.

“I thought he was right on,” Tait said. “102-year-old wisdom.”

A pro-Trump group, We the People Rising, plans to hold a demonstration before the meeting and is encouraging people to speak out against the measure during public comment.

If Anaheim supports the resolution, it would join officials in other cities who have denounced the billionaire. West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath told The Times that the presidential candidate is not welcome in her city. Mayors from cities including Philadelphia and St. Petersburg, Fla., have also denounced Trump.

But it doesn’t seem that Mayor Tait will follow suit, as he plans to abstain from voting on the resolution.

“I’m in a dilemma. Even though I don’t support the rhetoric or Donald Trump, I also don’t support city government taking a political position,” he said. “My concern is violating the law by taking any vote on it. I don’t be want to be part of that.”

Times staff writer Jason Song contributed to this report.

Follow me on Twitter @brittny_mejia

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

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