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Incident with representative marred parade

The San Ignacio Fiesta Parade was a well-run, enjoyable event. The only damper of the day, surprisingly, was an incident that I witnessed involving the 59th District’s state Rep. Mike McLachlan.

As we were lining up to begin the parade, directly in front of me was a father on a bicycle and his two young sons who were each on dirt bikes. These boys were outfitted top to bottom with safety equipment. Guidelines had been handed out outlining safe distances between entrants safeguarding parade participants. McLachlan was positioned directly in front of them.

I observed McLachlan approach the father pointing his finger at the sons and speaking loudly. I exited my vehicle and listened to McLachlan, who was angry about the boys not being licensed riders and not having the dirt bikes registered. McLachlan was agitated and provoking toward the father.

I approached the father and advised him that there were exemptions during parades and that his sons were fine. The lady organizing the parade approached the father and confirmed that the boys were not violating the law. McLachlan continued with his position until the lady walked away.

At this point, I told McLachlan that I was an off-duty law-enforcement officer and during parades, there can be exemptions. McLachlan told me to cite the law giving the exemption. I told him that I was not going to get into it with him during a parade, but he could come by my office, and I would go over it with him. McLachlan returned to his position in line still angry and his assistants carrying his sign attempted to calm him down. Once the parade entered onto the street, the father and his sons were pulled out of line and positioned away from McLachlan.

The way McLachlan treated that father and his sons is embarrassing. Being a state representative does not give him the right to disrespect a father in front of his sons at such a public event. I commend the father involved in this incident. The way he handled himself with his sons was admirable.

Charles Hamby

Durango



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