Small Town Using Public Funds to Finance Private Interests…
“Your tax dollars at work” in big and small towns. We’ve heard it time and time again… but at work for what, exactly?
The purpose of the lawsuit is to prevent Mayor Russell and the city of Tontitown from “continuing public funds for private purposes.”
You can read more about it here.
See the Press Release from January 7, 2025 below:
Press Release
Joey McCutchen
Office: 479-783-0036
Cell: 479-806-4878
Today, trial lawyers Joey McCutchen and Stephen Napurano, representing Mick Wagner, filed a lawsuit in Washington County Circuit Court against the City of Tontitown and Mayor Angela Russell for unlawfully appropriating taxpayer money to pay for private legal representation for a group of citizens, including Mayor Russell herself, in a lawsuit opposing the expansion of the Eco-Vista landfill in Tontitown. Mayor Russell owns property adjacent to the landfill and has openly opposed its expansion. Article 12, Section 5 of the Arkansas Constitution prohibits municipalities from using public funds to finance private interests. Over $15,000 of taxpayer money was used to pay the Richard Mays Law Firm for representing the interests of these private citizens. This unlawful expenditure constitutes an illegal exaction under the Arkansas Constitution.
Plaintiff is seeking a declaratory judgment that the use of taxpayer funds by the City of Tontitown and Mayor Angela Russell was unlawful and violated the Arkansas Constitution. Plaintiff is also requesting a permanent injunction prohibiting the City and Mayor Russell from using public funds for private purposes and seeks an order requiring the Defendants to reimburse the City of Tontitown’s general fund for the unlawful expenditure.
A copy of the Complaint is attached.
McCutchen said, “The use of taxpayer dollars to pay for private legal representation is a blatant violation of the Arkansas Constitution.”
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Joey McCutchen
Trial Lawyer
“Protect the 7th Amendment; it’s the one that protects all the rest.”
McCutchen Napurano – The Law Firm
P.O. Box 1971, 1622 North B Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Office: (479) 783-0036 Fax: (479) 783-5168# # #
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