Things took an uncomfortable turn during a Thursday meeting of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS), when District One Board member and former chairman Ron Snider accused current APLS chairman John Wahl and District Three board member Amy Minton of using their positions on the board to boost their political ambitions "to the detriment" of state libraries.
The APLS Board met on Thursday to discuss the issue that has consumed the board for over two years: the preponderance of sexually explicit books targeted towards minors.
After nearly an hour of public comment, in which members of the public spoke both in favor and in opposition to removing or relocation of sexually explicit children's books, the board voted nearly unanimously in favor of of aligning the state's administrative code with President Donald Trump's executive order, mandating that no federal monies be given to entities that promote gender ideology. Snider was the only one to vote "no."
SEE: State Library board moves to align state's code with Trump executive order on gender identity
Snider has taken a unique posture on the library book issue since the controversy started. He has consistently taken the side of those who claim limiting minors' access to sexually explicit books was "censorship."
Before her firing, Snider consistently backed former APLS director Nancy Pack when the rest of the board, advocacy groups, and members of the public criticized her job performance and perceived alignment with left-leaning groups that advocated for keeping the objected-to books in sections designated for minors.
While Snider was APLS Board chairman, when the board voted against granting Pack a raise, Snider became visibly upset, his hands shaking aggressively.
When the board nearly unanimously voted in favor of terminating Pack in March, Snider was the lone "no" vote, claiming that some of his fellow board members were "extremists," in a less-than-veiled jab at Wahl and Minton.
"This is an awfully dark day for Alabama libraries and the people of Alabama who love libraries," Snider said following Pack's firing in March. "Dr. Pack is being terminated not because of her performance. Because, over her tenure, state aid for local libraries has increased 60%."
"But she's being terminated as a result of unfounded allegations made about her by extremists, including on this board, who believe she is not sufficiently supporting censorship," he added.
At Thursday's meeting, in the middle of Wahl delivering his chairman's report, Snider, who attended the meeting remotely, abruptly cut him off and began monologuing without being recognized to speak. After complaining that he was allegedly not asked if he could attend a rescheduled meeting in May, Snider cried foul at Wahl for sending a letter the day prior, informing library directors in the state that he intended to uphold the provisions in Trump's executive order related to gender identity.
RELATED: APLS chairman Wahl: Conform to Trump executive order or risk grant funding
"I don't understand at all why such a letter was necessary," Snider grumbled. "That subject was on the agenda for this meeting to be discussed. It appears that what we have going on here is grandstanding. This was not necessary."
Snider went on to criticize the ambitions of Wahl and Minton, claiming the pair were using the APLS board detrimentally as a "platform to boost" their political campaigns.
Wahl currently serves as the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and has indicated a possible run in the upcoming race for lieutenant governor. Meanwhile, Minton announced in June that she was challenging incumbent State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) for Alabama's State Senate District 10.
"And the issue we have, and what some of our critics resign, is we have a board now, where we have one board member who has officially announced she's running for political office, and you [Wahll] have indicated that you are considering running for political office," Snider continued. "And I'm afraid that what is happening is APLS is being used as a platform to boost your own positions to the detriment of the libraries of this state."
"While you make an eloquent statement that you're not in favor of censorship, in fact, what you have done, and what the majority of this board has supported, is censorship," he added.
Snider's comments seemed out of place for several reasons. One being that he interjected his remarks in the middle of Wahl's chairman's report, without being recognized. Secondly, because Snider, during his time as chairman, would frequently shut down speakers who similarly singled out individual board members or APLS employees by name, almost exclusively when those speakers opposed employees with whom he agreed.
Wahl responded without addressing the personal attacks, reminding Snider that the APLS Board had previously voted to direct Wahl to send that letter, rejecting Snider's apparent insinuation that Wahl sent the letter unilaterally.
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