Click here for more information. If they get criticism they don't like, they tend to bail out. Taylor criticized a retirement agreement Bates helped negotiate. What Bates was criticized for is not the issue here. The issue is why public officials get so irate when criticized.
Criticism comes with the territory.
Bates was Mayor Woodrow Stanley's top aide. Mayor Stanley, in blaming the city council for Bates' resignation, said that some council members attempt to micromanage city affairs. In doing so, he said, the council makes it difficult to attract and retain professional staff. There are admittedly many factions in city politics, and when these factions clash we get friction. These opposing viewpoints usually work out to some form of compromise.