OGDEN — The move not to reappoint Kevin Lundell to a full term on the Ogden Diversity Commission — a determination that rests with Mayor Mike Caldwell — is generating backlash from some of his supporters.

Lundell lamented the decision while addressing the Ogden City Council on Tuesday. He pointed to a critical opinion piece he wrote targeting Utah Sen. John Johnson, the North Ogden lawmaker who proposed doing away with diversity, equity and inclusion offices at state universities as the possible reason.

“I unapologetically used language comparing Johnson to some of the most notorious politicians in our past who stood in the way of racial progress,” he said. Among other things, the opinion piece, published March 4 in the Standard-Examiner, likened the language of Johnson’s proposal, Senate Bill 283, to the rhetoric of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, a segregationist.

“So from my perspective,” Lundell went on, “I was expelled from the Diversity Commission for defending diversity.” He has been serving as vice chairperson of the committee.

Caldwell, responsible for making picks for advisory bodies like the Diversity Commission, did not say in a March 30 letter informing Lundell of the decision why he opted not to reappoint him. Caldwell did not immediately respond to a query seeking comment on the matter on Wednesday.

However, after the City Council tabled action on appointing new Diversity Commission members — presumably owing to the brouhaha caused by the Lundell decision — several spoke in Lundell’s defense. The tabled proposal called for reappointing Kari Harbath and Shardae Jones to the commission and two new appointments, Juliana Woodbury and C. Fernando Morales, who would replace Lundell.

“I think it’s egregious that Kevin Lundell was not reappointed,” Angel Castillo, an Ogden mayoral candidate, said during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Furthermore, she cautioned against taking “punitive” action “when it comes to someone who is kicking the tires on an idea. Challenging and opposition yields a better product.”

Stacy Bernal, a member of the Ogden school board and former member of the Ogden Diversity Commission, took aim at H.B. 283 and Johnson, as Lundell did, and defended Lundell. Diversity, equity and inclusion offices aim, broadly speaking, to help students of color transition to university life. Johnson, though, worries they can stifle the academic environment, and his proposal, while it didn’t pass, will be the focus of study by a summer interim committee.

Johnson “somehow thinks this bill will increase diversity and inclusion and teach our students to learn critically when it does the exact opposite because it’s taking access and resources from the groups of people who need it the most,” Bernal said. “So to have someone use his privilege and power to speak up for our underrepresented, historically underestimated demographics — we need more of Kevin Lundell in this community.”

Jones, chair of the Diversity Commission, also spoke out, touting the importance of free speech. “We want to make sure everyone has the chance to speak without being stifled. We want to make sure we all have the chance to work together without the fear of being ostracized or ousted in any way,” she said.

City Council members Angela Choberka and Luis Lopez also offered words of support for Lundell. Caldwell, for his part, said the comments from Tuesday’s meeting would be taken into consideration.

“We’ve listened intently to you tonight,” he said at the meeting.

Lundell said Wednesday that reinstating him to the commission is “the right thing to do.” But he hopes the Caldwell administration can “find a path forward with the diversity commission and diversity efforts” in Ogden, even if he is not involved.

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