A California mayor has sparked controversy after he was caught on camera insulting his constituents.
Eddie Tejeda called the Redlands citizens ‘low people’ during a tense council meeting last week.
The exchange reportedly occurred during a session where he voted to revoke a rotational mayoral system which he has benefited from.
As the clip begin, Tejeda can be seen sarcastically smiling and posing when he notices he is being filmed.
‘Do you want to repeat what you just said?’ a woman asks him before Tejeda shakes his head.
‘I have nothing to say to you, bye,’ he responds while waving his hand.
The woman continues asking him to repeat what he said, but Tejeda refuses.
‘That’s how low you are, you’re low,’ he sneers, prompting shock from the woman recording.
Redlands mayor Eddie Tejeda called members of the public ‘low people’ during a tense council meeting last week
‘I’m low?’ she is heard asking as Tejeda nods and refuses to back down.
‘You’re low people,’ he tells her, prompting the woman to ask what he means, ‘you know what that means,’ he adds.
‘No I’m low so I don’t have that education, you want to tell me what that means?’ She demands,’ but Tejeda refuses to engage.
‘This is how a councilman talks to his constituents who are trying to hold him accountable,’ the caption on the video reads.
It also alleges that Tejeda also threatened to call the police on those filming.
The friction began after Tejeda and others voted to overturn the current Redlands mayoral system which sees each council member get a turn in office.
The system was introduced two years ago and replaced the a nomination-based approach.
The heated exchange took place amid a meeting to discuss changing Redlands’ mayoral election system
Tejeda has been criticized for voting against the rotational mayoral system which he benefitted from which has resulted in the council’s only female member being barred from assuming the position
The council’s only female member, Denise Davis, was slated to take over from Tejeda, but has been blocked from assuming office since the system was changed.
Councilman Mario Saucedo was among those to vote against Davis receiving the role.
He told the meeting the rotation system, ‘lacks the perceived legitimacy, leadership, strength needed to effectively represent the city’, Redlands Community News reports.
‘This can weaken the city’s position in negotiations with developers, litigants or unions, where a strong, consistent voice is essential,’ he said.
The decision prompted backlash from the public gallery, with the politicians accused of scheming against Davis who said the council members had previously pledged to support her.
‘My colleagues have once again failed to listen to the majority of the public who weigh in on these issues, and I suspect it will further erode trust in this council’s leadership, as was stated over and over again tonight,’ she said.
In a video on her Instagram, Davis also expressed disappointment that the council had voted against allowing a woman to hold the role.
‘I really do not want to underestimate the importance of women in government and women in leadership roles,’ she added.
DailyMail.com has contacted Tejeda for comment.
