Councilman Accused of Sexist, Racist Behavior After Throwing Dollar Bills at Councilwoman at Party

Councilman Accused of Sexist, Racist Behavior After Throwing Dollar Bills at Councilwoman at Party

A Pawtucket City Councilwoman is accusing a fellow Council member of "sexist and racist" behavior at a recent holiday party.

Pawtucket City Councilwoman Elena Vasquez said Councilman Mark Wildenhain "threw two $1 bills at my face and told me to 'take a bus back to Colombia'" at the recent City Council holiday party. 

Now, she is calling on Council President David Moran to condemn Wildenhain's behavior. 

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"We were in a social setting where we had been bantering back and forth, just as we do nearly every time we’ve been together," said Wildenhain.

"But that is no excuse. I absolutely stepped over a line and I regretted it almost immediately. In fact, I called Elena the very next morning and left a voicemail apologizing for my actions," he added. "I followed that up with two sincere apologies by e-mails, both of which I copied to all council members."

Letter -- and Apology

Vasquez sent the following to Moran -- copying Mayor Don Grebien and the entire council -- the day following the party. 

"On Monday, December 16th, 2019 at approximately 7:00 pm, the City Council gathered at Arigna Irish Pub and Coal Fire Pizza to celebrate the holiday season after our last meeting of the year. 

At the end of this gathering, approximately at 10:00 pm, Councilman Mark Wildenhain threw two $1 bills at my face and told me to 'take a bus back to Colombia' in front of several council members and their guests. Councilman Wildenhain’s breathtakingly disrespectful and reprehensible behavior - in plain sight of my elected colleagues - is an unfortunate testament to the xenophobic, misogynistic, racist, and sexist views that some Americans still consider acceptable as we prepare to enter the year 2020. This type of behavior towards anyone was not acceptable 20 years ago and is certainly not acceptable today.

Councilman Wildenhain may have a hard time accepting the fact that he lives in an increasingly diverse city and represents an increasingly diverse ward. He may even feel threatened by this fact. That is not my problem and it certainly does not excuse his disrespectful, reprehensible and embarrassing behavior on Monday night.

I am respectfully requesting that you, as President of the Pawtucket City Council, take immediate action to condemn this aggression by Councilman Wildenhain. This behavior is unbecoming of the privilege it is to hold elected office and does not embody the principles of the Pawtucket City Council, where we serve as elected representatives for all of the city's residents regardless of where they or their families may have come from.

For the record, I am very proud of my Guatemalan heritage. I kindly request your prompt response."

Councilman Admits "Mistake"

Wildenhain said he is apologizing for what he said was a "mistake."

"I want to be clear; I respect Councilor Vasquez as a colleague. We had a very friendly relationship until Monday night and I regret I damaged that relationship and that I caused her any embarrassment at all," said Wildenain. "When I read Councilor Vasquez’s letter to President Moran, I realized how badly I had hurt her feelings. I never ever thought I’d be characterized in those words and people know me, know that is not me."

"Lastly, I want to apologize to those that have been affected by my stupidity and say that when you make a mistake in life you find out who your friends really are and let me take one more opportunity to apologize to Councilor Vasquez," he said. 

The incident was first reported in the Valley Breeze.