A Tennessee vice mayor has doubled down on a caustic email he sent to a resident, confronting the criticism publicly during a city council meeting.
Gallatin Vice Mayor Craig Hayes sent an email to resident Michael Zinser, who had been expressing opposition to new developments in the city. Zinser, a nearly 50-year resident of Gallatin, a city approximately 30 miles northeast of Nashville, stated the vice mayor's response was unprofessional and disrespectful.
During a recent city council meeting, Zinser read part of Hayes' email aloud: "Mike, why don’t you go back into the tree you crawled out of? Please take me off your email list. I don’t want to read your BS. Thanks, Craig."
When confronted, Hayes confirmed he sent the email, responding, "Sure did. I sure did."
Zinser expressed that the vice mayor's reply reflected poorly on his office and undermined civic discourse. He questioned whether citizens are "mere subjects to be ruled by an elite group of elected officials and developers."
Hayes, who has served on the Gallatin City Council for 30 years, stated that Zinser had previously accused him and the council of corruption. Hayes asserted he has "never taken a dime from anybody" during his public service. He reiterated his stance on the email, telling Zinser, "I would do that email again to you. I sure would."
Hayes told WKRN that the email was a reaction to Zinser's accusations of corruption, including a recent claim that he and the council had accepted money from a developer involved in a now-canceled marina project. Zinser denied making such accusations.
Gallatin has experienced significant growth, with its population increasing from approximately 44,000 in the 2020 census to an estimated 52,000 by 2024, a 26% surge over four years, according to World Population Review.