Huff Resigns from County Commission After Ethics Allegations
By: KOLR10 News
Updated: August 28, 2012
OZARK, Mo. -- Christian County's Eastern District Commissioner resigns, submitting a long letter defending himself against allegations of ethics violations.
Tom Huff has served two terms as commissioners, but did not run for re-election this year. Huff was injured in a fall in April 2010, and has been absent from work for much of the time since the accident.
In his resignation letter, Huff said; "It is great sadness that I have been forced by what I feel to be the political machinations of Presiding Commissioner Lou Lapaglia and Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite to resign my position as Eastern District Christian County Commissioner."
In late June, Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite filed what is called a "Quo Warranto" order against Huff, seeking to remove him from office. In her petitions, Fite claimed Huff, "forfeited his office by only showing up for work one time in 576 days and only showed up that day to vote in favor of protecting funds from which he had received unlawful benefits in the past."
Fite also charged that Huff was making a profit at the expense of taxpayers through his Sparta asphalt business.
Fite's filing contains checks worth thousands of dollars paid to Huff from special road districts in Christian County.
Court documents also allege in 2010 Thomas Huff's wife Andrea filed articles of organization with the state naming herself as 100 percent owner of Tom Huff Asphalt & Sealing Inc.
The Huffs' company then worked on multiple road projects in the county, including Garrison Special Road District and South Sparta Special Road District.
In his resignation letter, Huff says he sought an opinion from the county's attorney about whether his company could be awarded contracts while he served as commissioner. He also talked to the attorney about taking medical leave and working from home to fill out his term.
"...in my two terns as Christian County Commissioner I have always put my county first," Huff wrote.
Huff pleaded not guilty to the accusations during a hearing in mid-July. The election in November will determine his successor. Republican Ray Weter and Democrat Danny Thompson will face each other in that race.
Previous Coverage:
Christian County Commissioner Accused of Profiting From Taxpayers
Attorney Says Christian Co. Commissioner at Center of 'Witch Hunt'
Christian Co. Commissioner Pleads Not Guilty to Profiting From Taxpayers
Tom Huff has served two terms as commissioners, but did not run for re-election this year. Huff was injured in a fall in April 2010, and has been absent from work for much of the time since the accident.
In his resignation letter, Huff said; "It is great sadness that I have been forced by what I feel to be the political machinations of Presiding Commissioner Lou Lapaglia and Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite to resign my position as Eastern District Christian County Commissioner."
In late June, Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite filed what is called a "Quo Warranto" order against Huff, seeking to remove him from office. In her petitions, Fite claimed Huff, "forfeited his office by only showing up for work one time in 576 days and only showed up that day to vote in favor of protecting funds from which he had received unlawful benefits in the past."
Fite also charged that Huff was making a profit at the expense of taxpayers through his Sparta asphalt business.
Fite's filing contains checks worth thousands of dollars paid to Huff from special road districts in Christian County.
Court documents also allege in 2010 Thomas Huff's wife Andrea filed articles of organization with the state naming herself as 100 percent owner of Tom Huff Asphalt & Sealing Inc.
The Huffs' company then worked on multiple road projects in the county, including Garrison Special Road District and South Sparta Special Road District.
In his resignation letter, Huff says he sought an opinion from the county's attorney about whether his company could be awarded contracts while he served as commissioner. He also talked to the attorney about taking medical leave and working from home to fill out his term.
"...in my two terns as Christian County Commissioner I have always put my county first," Huff wrote.
Huff pleaded not guilty to the accusations during a hearing in mid-July. The election in November will determine his successor. Republican Ray Weter and Democrat Danny Thompson will face each other in that race.
Previous Coverage:
Christian County Commissioner Accused of Profiting From Taxpayers
Attorney Says Christian Co. Commissioner at Center of 'Witch Hunt'
Christian Co. Commissioner Pleads Not Guilty to Profiting From Taxpayers
