Guess faces censure or removal from City Commission over racially-charged texts

Paducah City Commissioner David Guess faces censure or removal from the Paducah City Commission over racially charged text messages.

The commission met in executive session for nearly two and a half hours Wednesday discussing the matter. 

Before adjourning, Mayor George Bray read a statement condemning the messages, citing diversity and inclusion training that commissioners and city employees must complete. Bray said the messages were over campaign signs removed from city property because they violated the city campaign sign ordinance.

Guess is alleged to have sent messages to a city employee about the signs for commission candidate Dujuan Thomas, asking if the employee had "Dujuan under control?" Another is said to have stated "whitey keeping a black man down."

Guess, a third term commissioner and owner of David Guess Heating and Air, president and co-owner of Hipp Property Group, and owner of the Clearview Contacts website, was present but did not speak to the allegations in open session.

Bray said that kind of language has no place in society. He said the commission is weighing its options as to Guess' fate. Bray said the matter would be taken up at the next scheduled meeting.

Full statement, as read by Mayor George Bray:

"On November 8, 2022, City employees removed political signs from City-owned property that were in violation of the City’s sign ordinance. Some of the removed signs were advertising an African-American candidate for City Commissioner. Subsequent thereto, Commissioner David Guess sent a series of texts messages to a City employee wherein Commissioner Guess made the statements: “You got dujan [sic] under control” and “Whitey keeping a black man down.” See text exchange below.

The Board of Commissioners believes that any sort of language with racial overtones such as this has no place in our society or with this Commission. Minority Inclusion has been a Commission Priority for the past 2 years and all City Commissioners attended Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training. In addition, the City worked with citizens to establish the Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board.

The Board of Commissioners is weighing its options with respect to Commissioner Guess, including removal procedures under KRS 83A.040(9) or some form of public censure. The Board will take up the issue at its next meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 4:00 PM CST."