City of Fort Smith Admits Mayor’s Illegal Use Of Funds….Judge Signs Order
Feb 25, 2025
As many of you know, I fight corruption in Government across our State. Often times Fort Smith attorneys, Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano, partner with me in those battles.
In early December of last year, I brought you the story of one of those partnerships where we investigated and built a case against Fort Smith Mayor George McGill….Here’s the Link.
In 2024, McGill was making donations to his handpicked charities with City funds which violates Article 12 Section 5 and Article 16 Section 13 of the State Constitution.
McGill was receiving personal benefits such as lavish dinners, entertainment and golf outings. He was even so brazen that he donated $15,000.00 of City funds to a non-profit he himself created in 2006 called “The Fort Smith Roundtable”.
On November 22nd last year I filed a lawsuit, through Joey and Stephen, against the City of Fort Smith for McGill’s unlawful actions.
Last week, no doubt in order to avoid a very public trial, the City agreed to admit McGill violated the laws in the Constitution.
Today Sebastian County Circuit Judge Gunner Delay issued a signed Order to that effect further stating the City will cease from violating these provisions again.
The Order affirms what Stephen said when we filed the lawsuit – “While charitable organizations serve important roles in communities, it is not the role of government officials to decide which private organizations should receive taxpayer money. Public funds are collected to serve public purposes—such as infrastructure, public safety, and essential services—not to subsidize private charities or nonprofit initiatives. Taxpayers should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether to support certain charitable organizations, rather than having government officials make those decisions on their behalf using taxpayer money.”
What should concern every citizen of Fort Smith is that two City Board members, Andre Good and Jarred Rego, seem to be just fine with Mayor McGill violating the Constitution.
At last Friday’s meeting of the Board of Directors a vote was taken to approve the agreed Order to avoid trial. It passed 5 to 2 with Good and Rego both voting No, leaving Joey to state –
“It is unfathomable that two board of directors, Rego and Good, would condone the acknowledged illegal and unconstitutional spending of Mayor George McGill and not agree that similar spending will not be repeated. No matter how noble the purpose of the spending is, our State Constitution bans this type of spending on the Mayor’s pet projects.”….Well said Joey.
Our investigation only focused on 2024 , however I believe if past years were also investigated, we would see a pattern of McGill violating the law.
While we won this case and have the Order, that doesn’t mean this issue is over….You can look for more to come from it.
Let me leave Mayor McGill with this final thought.
McGill, you wanna donate to a charity ?…Great !….Do it with your own Damn money….Not the Taxpayers’.
#FactsNotFiction
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
Thank you so much for your effort to shine a light on this malicious corrupt act. unfortunately, the slap on the wrist will be the only reprimand.
Thank You !
Come to Greenwood!
Thanks for caring.
Thank You !
No. CR 12–554.
2013-05-23
Joseph Anthony SCAMARDO, Jr., Appellant v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee.
My Baby was taken from me and adopted out in revenge of Detective Deason who handled the above case because of my last name Scamardo. Joe (y) is my cousin. I carry around a briefcase hoping one day someone will look. in this City’s own black and white shows how corrupt this town is and the destruction they cause. And they do it because they can. just like the mayor can steal and break the law and keep his job no jail time …..NOTHING……Any authority in this town can do as they please and life goes on. But bet if you break the law you will be punished to the max. Ron Fields proved that with Rolf Caistel. This place is sickening and evil and corrupt to its core when I sought help in fighting for my child everyone was happy to take my case until they asked me what City and then all of a sudden some lame excuse as to why they couldn’t help me. Since no one will even look at what I have I carry that briefcase because it holds the truth so one day if/when my baby ever comes looking for me I need him to know whatever he’s been told that we Loved him very much we fought long and hard for him it took being set up by the police so a judge who also has a problem with my last name has a reason to take my child. she said it in her owns words in court. That it took mommy and daddy being set up to take him away from us. We are not the terrible abusive parents the records say we are.
Thank you for having the interest and knowledge to take this corruption and deceitful practices out of our offices. Fort Smith cannot afford to have this kind of antics going on!!!!
Thank You !
I find this right in line with what’s going on all over our Country. Democrats use “Taxpayer” money for what ever the heck they want. Thanks for bringing this to light.
I had heard he was not doing right, TY now get him out of there!
He broke the law. why is he still mayor.
Interesting
Arkansas need more people like you to boldly take action against corrupt people in positions of office. Thank you!