Attorney Asks Judge to Reinstate Ellisville Mayor Before Decision on Council Action

Attorneys for former Ellisville mayor Adam Paul asked a circuit court judge to reinstate Paul pending the judge’s review of a recent city council decision.
“This is so outrageous, there’s no way you’re going to uphold the council’s decision,” said Chet Pleban, attorney for the deposed Ellisville mayor.
Pleban spoke to reporters following a conference with Ellisville attorneys and St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge David Lee Vincent III. He said the judge has authority to restore Paul as mayor before he reaches a decision on the council action.
“That way, you’re not depriving the 44 percent of the people who voted for Adam Paul a voice in their government,” Pleban said.
The Ellisville city council recently voted 3-3 on a motion to rescind the vote to impeach Paul.
Pleban pointed out the mayor normally casts a tie-breaking vote in 3-3 ties, but the city has no mayor now.
“We gave a whole laundry list of reasons he should be reinstated,” Pleban said.
“One standard is whether the decision made was arbitrary and capricious,” Pleban said.
“Mr. Maupin’s reply was that there was evidence submitted. Well, of course there was evidence submitted.” Pleban said, “Any mayor can be impeached for political purposes using the standards they used.”
He said the city council, in impeaching Paul, bypassed the city’s Charter Enforcement Commission, made up of three senior members of the council.
“So, he (Paul) was denied due process,” Pleban said. “One reason they bypassed that step was because they were under a time crunch. They had to impeach him before the April 2 election.”
Pleban said city council members worried the election would alter the makeup of the board and they wouldn’t have enough votes to impeach Paul. Maupin has until Thursday to submit to submit a reply to the denial of due process motion.