Who is the bully?
Vice Mayor Hellman and the Town of Fairfax are bullies
In any healthy democracy, residents should be able to express their views, sign petitions, and participate in local government without fear. But in our town, Vice Mayor Hellman has created a culture of bullying and intimidation that targets anyone who dares to disagree with her. The public comment below summarizes the town’s retaliatory actions.
Mayor Blash, Vice Mayor Hellman and Council Member Coler:
I would like to notify the Council, and submit for public record, that local businesses have been harassed by the Town of Fairfax.
Fairfax Lumber & Hardware and Nave’s Bar reported that they were visited by the fire department for inspections after announcing their support of the recall of Mayor Lisel Blash and Vice Mayor Stephanie Hellman. Newly elected council member, Mike Ghiringhelli, also reported a visit from police at Deer Park Villa soon after he announced his decision to run for Fairfax Town Council. The owners of the Coffee Roastery have experienced unending harassment and citations for their strong support of the recall effort. These appearances and inspections do not appear to be random.
Healthy democracies view their citizens and local businesses as foundational to the community. Business owners have every right to display signage and allow signature gatherers in the vicinity of their business. Opinions on issues may differ, but any effort to interfere is a violation of our right to free speech.
Why then, are local businesses being targeted and boycotted?
Vice Mayor Hellman has a documented history of using the power of her position to intimidate residents and those who disagree with her. She has written threatening letters to recall organizers and engaged in punitive actions against Fairfax residents. She was filmed rifling through and photographing the signatures of those who signed the recall petitions in front of Fairfax Lumber & Hardware. During this incident the police were called and a report filed. After the police left, Vice Mayor Hellman was seen rudely “flipping the bird” at volunteers collecting signatures. These actions have been perceived by many as election interference through intimidation.
It is clear that many actions initiated by recent Fairfax Town Councils have not been supported by the voters. A large portion of your constituency just demonstrated how deeply unhappy they actually are with your leadership by submitting 3,589 recall petition signatures (1783 for Blash and 1806 for Hellman), well over the required number to qualify for a recall election. On Monday signatures were verified as sufficient by the Marin County Elections Office.
In November 2024, two former council members were ousted, and two seriously unpopular rent control ordinances were voted out of existence by a majority vote. After the election, the people asked for a voice in selecting our temporary town treasurer and clerk, both elected positions. The three of you voted against the will of the people who took time to express an opinion.
We, the people, observe as three of you systematically hobble the votes of our two recently elected Town Council members, Frank Egger and Mike Ghiringhelli, and limit their ability to put items on the agenda without your approval. I would like to remind you, there is no “royalty” in a democracy. You were not elected to replace the will of the people with your personal ideologies.
During their election campaigns, many who now support the recall initially were some of the strongest supporters of those being recalled. The realization that we invested hope in a vision crafted not to serve us, but to use us, was painful. A quiet rage began growing within our community—awakening a kind of sacred defiance in refusing to be divided any longer by fear, manipulation, or power.
No amount of political “spin” or council propaganda can erase the pain of permitting six storied buildings in residential neighborhoods that will forever change the face of our town, or the pollution of our parks by illegal campers at the expense of families, or wasteful spending on costly consultants and pet projects at the expense of town maintenance, and now the apparent abuse of our local businesses.
Public trust has been exploited, but within this erosion of truth and trust was an awakening. Mayor Blash and Vice Mayor Hellman have been dealt the contemporary equivalent of a tar and feathering by the people of Fairfax. They have been shown the exit door. Retaliatory actions against the people and local businesses will only sink them further into the tar pit. To quote Fairfax author Annie Lamont, “When you find yourself in a pit, don’t start to furnish it.”
Sincerely,
Teliha Draheim
7/15/25
During the 2024 recall attempt, Vice Mayor Hellman crossed a serious ethical and legal line. She personally texted residents who signed the Intent to Recall petition—sending them images of their own signatures and confronting them about their choice. This isn’t civic engagement. It’s voter intimidation, and it’s illegal.
If you were contacted in this way, you can report her to the Secretary of State here:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-voter-complaint-form
Unfortunately, things have only gotten worse. As the 2025 recall effort has gained momentum, so has the Vice Mayor’s campaign of harassment. The bullying has escalated, and residents have reported the following:
Unfounded accusations: Vice Mayor Hellman has repeatedly sent baseless emails accusing recall volunteers of illegal conduct—without offering a shred of evidence. She escalates these attacks by copying attorneys and other elected officials in an obvious attempt to intimidate and silence her critics.
Physical aggression: She physically confronted and assaulted a volunteer at a peaceful signature-gathering event. A police report was filed and is being investigated. A cease and desist against the Vice Mayor has been filed.
Obscene gestures: She flipped off town residents in public.
Retaliation against businesses: Her supporters have urged boycotts of local businesses that support the recall.
Online harassment: Anonymous accounts have flooded small business pages with fake, disparaging reviews.
It’s important to remember: our town thrives when residents feel safe to participate, and when local businesses are supported—not targeted. We already face too many empty storefronts. No public official should be encouraging division, fear, or economic harm
Vice Mayor Hellman has weaponized her position to silence dissent, intimidate residents, and retaliate against anyone who challenges her authority. This is not leadership—it is a blatant and repeated abuse of power. Her pattern of harassment became so severe that the recall team was forced to issue a formal cease and desist letter, demanding that she stop her efforts to interfere with the legal and democratic recall process. These are not isolated incidents—they are part of a sustained campaign to bully the community into silence. If we allow this behavior to go unchecked, we send the dangerous message that fear and intimidation are acceptable in public office. They are not. It's time to stand up, speak out, and hold Vice Mayor Hellman accountable. Our town deserves better.
If you believe bullying has no place in our town government, then VOTE YES to recall Hellman and Blash!
