Will petition lead to ouster suit?

Powell resident Chuck Bowers and nine other citizens, including Commissioners DeFreese and Pinkston, today presented the attorney general's office with a petition requesting an investigation of malfeasance in the mayor's office. How far it will go from there is anyone's guess, but one could certainly argue that the issues they raised have been right the AG's nose for months. 

IMO, the petition would have been more to the point without including a reference to the sheriff's pension bond issue, simply because there is no apparent illegality in that matter. (A little "voter blackmail" maybe -- tax increase or bond?)

The wheels of justice grind agonizingly slowly these days. It'll be a while before we know when or even if they'll turn out the only just result for the Ragsdale administration -- ouster. 

Comments

[A number less than 10, more than 8]

Check out the Knox County Charter. Ragsdale did not fulfill his fiduciary responsibility under the duties of office when he bonded the Sheriff's Pension. It is a Charter violation and is ousterable.

The ballot question for the Sheriffs’ Pension referenced a property tax increase of 8 cents and the people voted for this.

When the mayor chose to float a bond rather than have what the people voted for, he incurred a debt of $40 million dollars the taxpayers have to pay. He did this so when he ran for Governor he could say he never raised property taxes. Big mistake.

That is a clear violation of the County Charter which states the Mayor is the Chief Financial Officer of the County and if he knowingly and willing does not fulfill his duties he can be removed.

Mr. Bowers has a point. It is a Charter violation.