Politics & Government

Councilman Spicer's Wife Defends Him Against 'Bully' Accusations

The wife of Councilman Larry Spicer defended her husband Tuesday in remarks to the City Council after some of his neighbors publicly accused of him of being a neighborhood bully.

Councilman Larry Spicer's wife took to the podium during Tuesday's City Council Meeting to defend her husband against recent allegations made by neighbors that he is a neighborhood bully, calling the neighbors' comments "an effort to embarrass and humiliate" the councilman.

The neighborhood dispute first reared its head in city council chambers during the May 15 City Council meeting, when Michael Vallejo, one of Spicer's neighbors on East Atara Street, accused Spicer of being a neighborhood bully. Vallejo alleged that Spicer threatened neighbors and made racist remarks about them over the last several years.

Spicer's wife, Delphine Spicer, addressed the City Council Tuesday and said Vallejo's comments were an effort to "try to embarrass an active council member on live television.”

Find out what's happening in Monroviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Vallejo told the council last month that Spicer, , has harassed the neighborhood for years. He read letters from other neighbors accusing the councilman of various transgressions.

"I feel like he plays mind games," one letter stated, as read by Vallejo. "He has yelled, threatened and made racial remarks to our children and their friends."

Find out what's happening in Monroviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In one of the more unusual allegations, Vallejo read a letter stating that Delphine Spicer complained to neighbors that her husband sprayed her with a "high pressure hose." She disputed that allegation Tuesday.

Vallejo again addressed the City Council at the last City Council meeting on June 5, accusing the councilman of harassing and taunting neighbors.

"He is a 55-year-old man who is still a bully at his age," Vallejo said.

Spicer said the bad blood between her husband and Vallejo began because of an overgrown tree on Vallejo's property that extended onto her property, and the grievance escalated from there. She said she was considering taking legal action against Vallejo and other neighbors as a result of the allegations.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here