Superior City Councilor Refuses To Resign

A Superior City Councilor who is charged with a felony after pointing a loaded weapon at his fiancée during a domestic dispute is refusing calls for him to step down.

Councilor Graham Garfield attended his first Superior City Council meeting on Tuesday since the April 20 incident. The following is from a statement issued by Garfield on Tuesday in response to Superior Mayor Jim Paine’s call for him to resign or be removed from office:

In response to ongoing legal matters and the mayor’s request that I resign my position, I have decided it will be best for my district and the council that I continue to serve in my existing capacity. Just as the election process is sacred, so too is the American justice system; a system that maintains that I am entitled to a fair legal process before judgment is passed against me. It was unfortunate that the mayor sought to inappropriately pass that judgment. Regardless, I continue to support his agenda and believe in the principles on which I was elected. I would also like it noted that I am now living a sober life and have begun to attend AA meetings. I appreciate the public’s support and understanding as I continue on the path of recovery.

Garfield is set to appear in Douglas County Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing on four charges Wednesday morning. Garfield is charged with a felony for recklessly endangering safety. He’s also charged with three misdemeanors for operating a firearm while intoxicated, intentionally pointing a firearm at his fiancée and disorderly conduct.