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Profanity laced tirade casts doubts on Shanks’ fitness for office
Golden Valley Mayor Tommy Shanks found himself in a fresh pot of political hot water after launching into a bizarre tirade during a TV interview.
Appearing on “Hey Everybody”, the popular morning show on Channel 6, the mayor seemed somewhat subdued as he spoke with host Audrey Chong.
The fireworks began when Ms. Chong brought up the recent newspaper ad campaign sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce for Golden Valley, Arizona. The obviously tongue-in-cheek ads suggest that residents of California’s Golden Valley should visit the “real” Golden Valley.
Here is the mayor’s response, as transcribed from a transcript:
“I don’t want to hear about those opportunists! Arizona, Arizona, I tell you, I spit on Arizona. Bunch of (expletive) cowboys ... where do they get off trying to compare their collection of Third World shacks with our beautiful city. I tell you, Connie, I think of all the work we’ve invested making this city the most modern and advanced ... anywhere ... then these (expletive) hillbillies try to knock us down ... do they even have cars or are they still riding horses down the main drag ... what a (expletive) joke. (Expletive) Arizona.”
With that, the mayor got up and left the set. Ms. Chong ended the segment by asking the hushed studio audience, “So ... who’s Connie?”
Requests for comments from the mayor’s office were not returned.
Rumors suggest Shanks has gone back to the heavy drinking that marked his career as one of the nation’s most successful radio “shock jocks”. Opponents were quick to call for action.
Councilman Richard Fliehr told a press conference that he personally apologized to all the good people of Arizona. He then called for the mayor to do the right thing and resign his office.
“I personally am embarrassed, both as a citizen and as a politician, that Mayor Shank took it upon himself to appear on live TV in a physical state that cast a bad light upon all of us”, said Fliehr. “If he has a problem, he should face up to it. If he denies he’s become a liability to our city, then I say to him, just watch the tape, Mayor. Watch the tape. It’s all over the Internet.”
Tommy Shanks is no stranger to controversy. As “Psycho Shanks”, he hosted a radio show that tested the limits of obscenity laws, culminating in his firing after having sex on air with three porn starlets. A tearful Shanks blamed his behavior on an out of control drinking disorder, and claimed he’d never drink again. Two years later, he shocked the political establishment by winning the mayor’s chair in a three way race. Shanks easily won his bid for reelection last year.
Carl Drube ran against Shanks in that last election. When pressed for comment, he said, “I don’t know what he’s on, but I wouldn’t mind some of that myself. Seriously, what do you want me to say? The people could have chosen a successful businessman as mayor. Instead they picked the guy who praised porn stars and prostitutes. You get the leadership you deserve.”
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