Many Flower Mound residents talked passionately about Council Member Stephani Spruill—both positively and negatively—at Monday’s town council meeting.

Spruill, who is running for mayor, has been in the headlines for receiving deferred adjudication after she pleaded guilty to taking about $5,000 in rent money from an Arlington apartment complex where she worked in 1987, when she was 23. Also, she reportedly owes child support and filed for bankruptcy in Nebraska in 1991.

Among the speakers was a woman who used to work at the apartment complex.

Spruill addressed criticism about her past by saying, “I have never been convicted of any crime.” Also, she said, “I have never hidden my past.”

In addition, Spruill said that she and her ex-husband had a disagreement about child support but that that has been “completely resolved.”

Spruill also provided her telephone number and email address and invited anyone to ask her questions, and she encouraged residents to drive through town to see the town’s accomplishments.

Marilyn Sizemore, who used to work at the apartment complex where Spruill worked, said that she was disturbed when she read in a local newspaper that Spruill couldn’t recall what happened at the complex.

Sizemore described the complex as blue-collar-type property that was under renovation. “There was a lot of chaos” because of the renovation, she said.

Sizemore said Spruill would accept money orders from tenants, many whom didn’t speak English very well, and fill out the money orders later. “Shame on you,” Sizemore said.

On the other hand, Peter Turla, who served on a committee with Spruill, said he has been impressed by Spruill’s dedication to the town. “She’s very hardworking,” he said.

He said he plans to vote for her, too. “Judge Stephani by the outstanding job she’s doing for the town,” he said.

Flower Mound resident Sylvia Inboden said, “Spruill is not the victim here.” She said the victims are the tenants in the apartment complex where Spruill has left a trail of victims in her path. “Let it end,” she said.

Michael McCurdy said he was shocked upon hearing about Spruill’s deferred adjudication, and he said he wished Spruill would go away. He also held up from time to time an object that looked like a paper fan, which read, “Shame on you.”

He wondered out loud how Spruill could have forgotten details of the incident, and he said he was appalled to read that Mayor Lori DeLuca said she already knew about the incident.

Tanya Bauman, however, spoke favorably about Spruill.

Bauman, who has lived in Flower Mound for about 15 years and is one of Spruill’s neighbors, said she walks with Spruill in the mornings sometimes, and she said she always feels better after walking with her. “She’s just a loving, caring” person, Bauman said.

Also, Bauman said of Spruill, “She loves this town. This is her baby. I know she’s right for the job.”

Marsha Casteen, a founding member of Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound who has since left the group, said that when she returned from a recent vacation, she had messages from residents who wanted to know if she had known about Spruill’s previous incidents and who asked her why she had supported Spruill.

She said that she didn’t know about Spruill’s past, and she said, “I’m very uncomfortable with it.”

Spruill replied by saying, “I am not a convicted felon,” and Casteen said her family supported “all of you,” apparently referring to Voters United-backed council members.

Charles Barrett said he believes Spruill has good ethics and has earned his respect.

“Stephani is one of the most decent people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing,” he said, adding that she redeemed herself a long time ago.

Marsha Gavitt, president of Voters United, said Voters United is confident that it has endorsed the best candidates for the election. She said the group has endorsed Spruill because she lives by the mantra, “It is not about self. It is about service.”

Judy Cornelius, who goes to church with Spruill, said, “She’s a wonderful lady.”

Dianne Lasch said that when Spruill lived in the same neighborhood where she lives, Spruill started a neighborhood newsletter. Spruill has since moved to another neighborhood, but the newsletter remains. Also, Lasch described Spruill as a wonderful Christian lady. “Who are we to judge her?” she asked.

In other election news… Michael Walker, who is running for Town Council Place 2, encouraged residents to vote on the Denton County bond election that relates to the road system. If elected, he said, he would work to improve roads and to enhance the SMARTGrowth policies.

Paul Stone, Walker’s opponent, said he also encouraged residents to vote on the Denton County bond election. Also, he said he thinks candidates should refrain from cluttering the Town Hall area with campaign signs. He also said he is asking the traffic engineer to look into which areas are not permitted for placing campaign signs because they are considered state right-of-ways.

Also, Laurie Long, who is running for Town Council Place 4 against Mayor Lori DeLuca, criticized DeLuca and Spruill for having “questionable” ethics. She said they denied the public important information, referring to Spruill’s past.

Bill Carr, who also is running for Place 4, said, “You cannot tell how upset I am.”

He also said, “Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions” and “C’mon, take responsibility.”

Spruill responded by saying that she has never been convicted of a crime, and town attorney Terry Welch backed her up by saying, “Deferred adjudication simply is not a conviction.”