Now those board members are panicking and fighting release of those emails and text messages sought in a Freedom of Information request made by the publisher of this blog. An appeal of denial of rights under the AFOIA is being filed today and the board members will be sued as individuals and in their official capacity. They will be served notice of the action at tonight's agenda meeting.
How many of them will skip the meeting tonight to avoid service?
The matter of the disputed candidacy of Ward 2 candidate Valerie Tatum is what was discussed in the "electronic meetings" of the board. Topic of discussion was whether the city should take legal action to have Tatum disqualified and if a special called board meeting should take place to deal with the matter.
It has been speculated that the matter will be addressed at the agenda meeting tonight, but don't count on it.
This board is filled with tired, worn-out individuals who don't really give a damn what happens in this city.
You can see that by attending board meetings or watching the meetings on public access TV or live-streaming on YouTube.
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Background:
When Valerie Tatum submitted her affidavit of candidacy for the Ward 2 position on the Little Rock Board of Directors, the address she gave as her residence was in Ward 1. A huge problem for the city clerk as she should have taken the time to verify residency in the Ward.
We know Tatum was a Ward 1 resident from her voter registration which clearly indicated she was a resident of Ward 1 and had voted in Ward 1 back in May.
Based on a complaint made to the city attorney Tom Carpenter about Tatum's eligibility, Carpent made a review of the records and determined that Tatum was not a qualified candadte due to residency.
2018.10.18 Letter to Thomas... by on Scribd
This is an email exchange between City Attorney Tom Carpenter and
Tatum's attorney Jess Askew:
Well, the mayor and members of the board did not want the city attorney to file a legal action because Tatum is backed by the Walton Foundation and Dickson Flake as Tatum is neck deep involved in a charter school.
The city had no problems suing mayoral candidates Warwick Sabin and Frank Scott but balked at doing the right thing and taking oin Tatum's illegal candidacy head-on.
H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-C-Y!!!
Tatum has a home in Maumelle and claims a homestead exemption on it.
When an individual from another town can move into a ward in the city and then run for office in another ward, city leadership must take action.
There is a similar case that will be heard in Hot Spring this Friday involving State Representative Laurie Rushing.
All eyes are on the Little Rock Board and last term mayor Mark Stodola.
They need to do the right thing and let the city attorney take the course of action he intended to take from the start.
There are residents of Ward 2 that are prepared to step up and take action if the board wussies out tonight.
That will be a stain on the city and the legacy of its leaders.
And great blogging material too.
