An Oklahoma city councilwoman has stepped down following backlash over a Facebook exchange with a supporter of President Donald Trump.
According to KOKH and The Oklahoman, Bree Montoya — who represented Norman’s third ward, about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City — announced her resignation during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
“In various capacities, I have served this community since 2008 and I am ready to pursue other interests. Effective immediately, I am resigning as council member for Ward 3,” Montoya said, per the outlets. “Thank you, Ward 3. It’s been an honor to serve.”
A video of the meeting obtained by KOCO 5 showed attendees clapping after her statement.
Montoya’s departure followed renewed attention to a Facebook post she shared in June.
According to KOKH, Montoya had argued online with Audra Abbott about attendance at a “No Kings” protest. The nationwide demonstrations on June 14 targeted the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, coinciding with a military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary.
Screenshots of the since-deleted exchange, obtained by the Daily Mail, show Abbott sarcastically commenting, “I’m sure you were taking attendance” at the protest. Montoya allegedly responded, “Open a vein” and later added, “Go on, put a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.”
“I saw that she was a city council member within moments of her posting it and I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe an elected official would talk like that online,’” Abbott told KOKH. She added, “No one at city hall, none of the people on city council seemed to be concerned with any of it.”
The remarks gained traction weeks later, drawing calls from conservative activists for Montoya’s removal.
Before making her Facebook account private, Montoya issued a public apology, according to the Daily Mail.
“I want to apologize for comments I made from my personal Facebook account a few months ago,” she wrote. “There are no words to express how awful, inappropriate and unacceptable my comments were.”
She acknowledged that the argument “got way out of hand” and said she was “completely out of line.” Montoya added that she was “immediately disgusted” with herself and had privately apologized to Abbott.
At the council meeting, residents voiced frustration over how the controversy was handled and called for clearer standards for city officials.
“Sir, you were quiet about this entire situation, and I think that just speaks to your integrity,” resident Layne Brown told Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman, per KOKH.
Another resident, Paul Wilson, criticized the lack of a code of conduct for council members. “You guys can present it to council. I’m pretty sure every one of you who has morals will approve it. Stop being the only city in the metro that doesn’t have one,” he said.
Montoya began her term on July 4, 2023, and it was scheduled to run until July 6, 2027. With her resignation, Norman has opened applications for candidates to fill the Ward 3 seat until Oct. 2, per KOKH.
