Lawsuit Claims Tontitown Mayor Angela Russell Used City Funds To Pay Personal Attorney Fees….Gotta Be A Rule Against That.
Jan 7, 2025
A small community in Northern Washington County, Tontitown, is well known for its rich Italian heritage, its grapes and its wines….Is corruption about to be added to that list ?
On January 3rd Mick Wagner, through his attorneys Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano, filed the lawsuit in Washington County Circuit Court alleging that the City of Tontitown and its Mayor Angela Russell violated Article 12, Section 5 and Article 16, Section 13 of the State Constitution by –
“Unlawfully appropriating public funds to finance private legal representation for a group of individuals, including Mayor Russell herself, in a lawsuit opposing the Eco-Vista landfill expansion. Plaintiff further alleges that Angela Russell and the City of Tontitown improperly used taxpayer money to advance private interests, including the mayor’s personal interest, as she resides near the landfill and has a vested interest in opposing its expansion.”
Wagner is well known in the area as a Bulldog when it comes to Government oversight, often using the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, (AFOIA), as a tool.
It was through FOI requests Wagner was able to uncover documents, invoices and payments from the city of Tontitown to the Richard Mays Law Firm in Little Rock for services rendered in representing Mayor Russell and her neighbors in their personal opposition to the landfill expansion to the tune of $15,079.95….Enter McCutchen and Napurano.
McCutchen and Napurano are well known for their civic and patriotic acts of taking on Government wrongdoing all over the State by partnering with and representing citizens like Wagner….Throw me on that list as well.
McCutchen and Napurano have represented me in past cases along with two current cases battling wrongdoings in Government.
I asked Napurano for a statement, and he provided the following – “This lawsuit is about holding Mayor Russell and other government officials accountable for how they spend the public’s money. Taxpayer dollars are not a personal bank account for officials like Mayor Russell to fund private agendas or self-serving pet projects. Her actions undermine public trust and violate the Constitution. If this misuse of public funds isn’t stopped now, it risks opening the door to corruption and even greater abuses in the future.”
In a press release dated today, McCutchen stated – “The use of taxpayer dollars to pay for private legal representation is a blatant violation of the Arkansas Constitution.”
I emailed Mayor Russell asking for a statement and have not received a response.
Wagner, McCutchen and Napurano are asking the Court for a – “declaratory judgment that the expenditure
of $15,079.95 in taxpayer funds by the City of Tontitown and Mayor Angela Russell violated
Article 12, Section 5 and Article 16, Section 13 of the Arkansas Constitution. Plaintiff further
requests a permanent injunction prohibiting the City of Tontitown and Mayor Angela Russell from
using public funds for private purposes or authorizing any expenditure of taxpayer money in
violation of the Arkansas Constitution. Additionally, Plaintiff seeks an order requiring Defendants
to reimburse the City of Tontitown’s general fund for the unlawful expenditure of taxpayer money,
an award of attorney’s fees and costs as permitted by law, and such other and further relief as the
Court deems just and proper.”
The facts in this case are compelling and clear. While right now this is in civil litigation, don’t be surprised to see it the subject of a Legislative Audit and prosecution for AR Codes 5-36-103 Theft of Property and 5-52-107 Abuse of Office, both of which are Class C Felonies.
You can find all the case filings at this link.
http://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad/case/72CV-25-26
Should there be accountability ?….Yes….Will there be accountability ?….Time will tell.
#FactsNotFiction
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moc.oohay@nivac.eimmij
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
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