Rally turns Duluth City Council meeting combative

By Nick LaFave & photojournalist Adam Jagunich, FOX 21 News

DULUTH - There was confrontation at Monday night's city council meeting, a direct result of a protest on the city hall steps prior to the meeting.  It called for the resignation of two councilors for incidents other councilors say are dead issues.

Local boxing promoter Chuck Horton continues to call for the resignations of city councilors Sharla Gardner and Tony Cuneo.

Gardner over allegations of receiving improper gifts from the sister cities program - for which she was cleared.  And Cuneo for delinquency on thousands of dollars in property taxes - which he has since paid.

"They need to get down and step out of office and make room for people that can lead this city in a new direction," says Horton.

Horton's group walked briefly through a council committee meeting.  After which Cuneo defended himself - specifically his appointment to the city's economic development authority.

"Part of a team that's brought in one and a half million dollars to create new construction jobs, new energy jobs," says Cuneo.

Gardner spoke once the regular meeting began.

"I absolutely honor people right to protest, but I want to let people know that I have no intention of resigning from the city council."

But, then supporters of gardner took the opportunity to attack councilor Todd Fedora, whom they blame for originally questioning gardner's sister city's trip to Japan.

Joel Siperss said Fedora should quote "be man enough to apologize."

"Councilor Fedora unleashed this ugliness and there are now people out in our community screaming for people's resignations," says Siperss.

"I will not apologize," said Fedora.  "Because I felt what I did was right for the City of Duluth."

Fedora says the issue has been settled between he and Gardner for two months... And the people attacking him should take it up with Horton's group.
Siperss doesn't seem inclined to do so.

"We aren't here to get into a shouting match," he says.  "Chuck Horton was very agitated."