By: Ellie Simmers | Editor-in-Chief
Councilmember Marty Misjuns | Lynchburg City Council
The Lynchburg City Council is a bit like a car crash that you can’t help but look at with morbid curiosity.
I’ve attended a few meetings since coming to the University of Lynchburg, and the thing that stands out in my mind most about them is the amount of yelling and lack of substance.
The chaos is not limited to the council chambers, unfortunately. I am consistently inundated with short-form videos, Facebook posts and local forums regarding the conduct and policies of my local elected officials.
It’s impossible to escape the constant noise surrounding local officials, and no one dominates that noise quite like Councilmember Martin Misjuns.
Misjuns is one of three current at-large council members, meaning he represents the entire city of Lynchburg, rather than just a district. He represents every student at the four universities within the city, every local business owner and every resident, regardless of their background or belief system.
If Misjuns ever understood that responsibility, he has long since abandoned it.
On Aug. 8, sitting councilman Misjuns replied to a post by far-right commentator Jack Posobiec on X, formerly Twitter. Posobiec’s post was mocking a video of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed dancing, claiming he was “jestergooning,” a term originating from the incel community.
While that is strange and disturbing behavior from Posobiec, he is not an elected official.
Misjuns is and he decided to respond to Posobiec by calling El-Sayed a homophobic slur.
The comment sat online for over a month before gaining traction in Lynchburg-centric groups, which is how I discovered it.
It wasn’t shocking to see Misjuns utilize slurs. After all, he is the same man who was terminated from his position as a Lynchburg fire captain after posting transphobic cartoons online in 2021.
Something doesn’t have to be shocking for it to be the catalyst for action. This is not an isolated incident for Misjuns.
He repeatedly shares harmful sentiments, both online and in council, about progressives, the LGBTQ+ community and immigrants. The current culture of the council has not only encouraged but fostered individuals like Misjuns, giving him a platform and a microphone.
Lynchburg is a diverse city that is home to thousands of college students, LGBTQ+ residents and working families that deserve dignity and respectful representation within their community.
Misjuns has proven time and again that he is unable to meet those basic standards. He needs to go.
Fortunately, we do not have to rely on the Lynchburg City Council to step up and remove him or wait for him to resign.
Misjuns is up for reelection on Nov. 3, alongside councilmember at-large Stephanie Reed and mayor at-large Larry Taylor.
Misjuns isn’t afraid to use his voice to share how he feels. Maybe Lynchburg residents should do the same on election day.