Gilbert council removes Veterans Advisory Board member Dave Rosenfeld 

By Tom Blodgett
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The Gilbert Town Council voted 5-2 this week to remove Veterans Advisory Board member Dave Rosenfeld, citing concerns about his conduct and interactions with town staff and fellow board members. 

The decision followed a presentation from Councilmember Monte Lyons, the council’s liaison to the Veterans Advisory Board, who recommended Rosenfeld’s removal. Lyons said his concerns centered on issues of professionalism, adherence to the town’s code of conduct and the handling of a large public records request Rosenfeld had submitted. 

“I don’t take this action lightly,” Lyons said during Tuesday’s meeting. “If I can’t trust this man’s judgment to handle these types of situations in an adult fashion, then I struggled with being able to accept his advice on matters related to veterans.” 

Councilmember Jim Torgeson, whom Rosenfeld has criticized in the past, also spoke in support of the removal.  

“Your repeated behavior towards fellow board members and volunteers has been inappropriate, rude and condescending,” Torgeson said. “This discussion is not about politics or free speech. It’s about respect, stability and accountability.” 

Rosenfeld, a founding member of the Veterans Advisory Board, was not allowed to speak during the discussion. In an interview with the Gilbert Independent, he called the council’s action “a sheer act of cowardice.” 

“I told you before, if five out of seven thought I needed to go, then I probably need to go,” Rosenfeld said. “And I don’t have a problem with the vote. I have a problem with the fact that it was completely choreographed. … They brought allegations about me and then refused to allow me the opportunity to address them.” 

Rosenfeld said he plans to address the matter publicly at future council meetings.  

“I’m going to make a comment about what happened at the meeting, and then I am going to basically tell them I will be back at every town hall town council meeting until I can read through my entire rebuttal to the charge,” he said. “So if that takes me three meetings or four meetings, I will be at the next three or four meetings.” 

Council rules classify such removals as administrative actions, meaning public comment is not typically permitted unless a majority of councilmembers vote to allow it. No such motion was made before Tuesday’s vote. 

Vice Mayor Bobbi Buchli and Councilmember Yung Koprowski voted against removing Rosenfeld. 

The Veterans Advisory Board, which advises the council on issues affecting local veterans, will continue with six members until a replacement is appointed. 

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Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).