Fountain Hills suspends public comment; mayor accused of promoting religion

FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ (AZFamily) — An East Valley town council has suspended public comment and member statements after it reviewed a complaint alleging the mayor promoted Christianity during a meeting earlier this year.

The Fountain Hills Town Council has suspended public comments and council members’ personal statements for six months after it was accused of proselytizing.

A Notice of Claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, was submitted by a Fountain Hills resident, accusing the council of pushing religion in violation of the Arizona Constitution during its Sept. 16 meeting.

In filings, the resident said Mayor Gerry Friedel allowed a pastor to eulogize Charlie Kirk after his assassination, promote the Christian religion and “invoke the Christian tenet that only ‘believers’ would be saved”;