I have often chronicled here government officials behaving badly. On fewer occasions, I get to report when they do good. This is such an occurrence, mostly.

Today's story is of three mayors, three problems, and three emails from me. Two officials responded like public servants. One responded like a bully not even surpassed by Sorrell Booke's portrayal.

Last month I wrote here about Fayetteville's undiminished enthusiasm for DEI. Recall the vacuous shoe parable, the city's action item calling for a pigment-and-plumbing screening of city personnel to determine "which populations are underrepresented and/or over-represented," so that "modifications to hiring outreach and job postings can create a more equitably-representative government," and the municipality's gleeful wish that its noble prose will serve as "inspiration for future equity research opportunities, such as equity in gender, sexual orientation, religious participation and mobility access." I need some Zofran (not to be confused with the emetic New York mayor).

I highlighted in my column that Act 747 of 2025 provides that: 1. a local government "shall not ... [e]stablish or implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative," 2. any Arkansas citizen may put on notice the offending municipality, and 3. if the violation doesn't cease within 30 days, the citizen may sue for an injunction plus costs and fees. I emailed Fayetteville a copy of my column.

The city acknowledged receipt immediately, and shortly thereafter, Blake Rutherford, able senior adviser to Mayor Molly Rawn, sent a letter that began: "To ensure the City's compliance with Act 747 ... we have reviewed the City website and other materials to determine whether anything could potentially violate Act 747." Kudos! (I know Blake, as well as his father Skip, the former dean of the Clinton School, with whom I enjoy to this day discussing politics. If only the Democratic Party today had more Skip Rutherfords!)

Blake Rutherford's letter continued: "Most........

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