Coady seeks court protection from Hayward
by Jason Stone

CAREFREE – We often hear it asked, “Can’t we all just get along?” But for Carefree Town  Council, the answer is apparently no.

The bad blood that has been brewing between Councilmen Bob Coady and Gary Hayward came to a head Dec. 14 at the Carefree Christmas Concert when Coady accused Hayward of physical threats, two weeks after Hayward called Coady “a jerk” during a council meeting.

Coady took the mater to court  the next day, where he was  granted a protection order against Hayward.

The order of protection prohibits Hayward from contacting Coady by phone,  e‑mail or any written form, and from coming within 25 feet  of Coady. The distance prohibition means the two will have to be separated at opposite ends of the dais during council meetings, held the first Tuesday of every month.

Words between the two were initially exchanged at the Dec. 5 council meeting during a debate over the town’s noise ordinance. According to Coady’s account, Hayward threatened physical violence at the Christmas Concert at Carefree Resort & Villas, then followed Coady after Coady told Hayward to leave him alone.

Hayward was not immediately available for comment.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.