Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Ald. Shawn Gregory (pictured, left) raised his voice during Tuesday’s city council debate over a $250,000 annual payment to the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.

Gregory has long complained about what he perceives as a lack of respect for the city’s east side in economic development, and Tuesday he erupted at Ald. Brad Carlson, calling him a clown, a “smug-ass,” and a racist, inviting him into the hallway, and saying he is no different from Ward 7 predecessor Joe McMenamin. Mayor Misty Buscher repeatedly ordered Gregory to conduct himself “professionally.”

For his part, Carlson – whose praise of SSGA Gregory interrupted – said Gregory’s display is part of the problem. “It’s this sort of argumentative and (dysfunctional behavior) that I think businesses see, and we need to do better,” said Carlson as Buscher continued to admonish Gregory to stop name-calling.

Toward the end of the meeting, citizen Ken Pacha said the city turning is back on the east side is a far more critical problem than whether someone used a four-letter word or two in the council chamber.

As for that vote, it was 7-3, with Alds. Roy Williams and Jennifer Notariano joining Gregory on the No side.