SATERFIEL: Name your bias

I attended the Hayden City Council meeting Tuesday, April 12 and was surprised when in the discussion of how to select an interim mayor, council representative Saterfiel claimed that he could not get selected as mayor because of bias on the council.

Having studied law, I immediately wondered what protected class he claimed. Certainly not race. Discrimination based on sex was normally the allegation of women, especially here with a male majority. Could it have been age discrimination?

Perhaps, if council representatives voted against him because he was old and there was evidence that might be justified, but “grumpy old white guys” is not a protected class. Council representative DePriest agreed with Saterfiel, so maybe there is a conspiracy against old guys.

Hearing the description for mayor in the application did not seem to fit — someone who got along with others and was inclusive. I will follow with interest to see what protected class Mr. Saterfiel claims.

Some people like vanilla and some people like strawberry and that reflects a bias, but that is neither illegal nor a protected class by law.

PAUL MAHLOW

Hayden