Defend Our Right To Public Records
Donation protected
Thank you for joining with me to defend against the law suit brought against me by Tallulah's mayor, Paxton Branch, and its city clerk, Gerald Odom. They are suing me in an effort to stop me from seeing and sharing with you detailed information about how they are spending your sales tax money, water bill revenue and other public funds.
The mayor has sued me and is asking a Judge to tell me that I can’t have access to the records I am seeking: spending records, bank records, travel vouchers, unless I pay $40,000.00.
This is an attack on a citizen exercising her constitutional right to review public spending. I will tell you why I'm not letting this go, and why I need your help: it's because of you all. You deserve better.
I've been told that not even your City Council members can review the bank and credit card statements, or the contracts, or verify where your funds are coming from and going every month. I've watched the mayor cut off council members during meetings when they try to dig in and get specifics about spending or the budget process. That is what spurred me to review these financial records in the first place.
It's not fair for your mayor and city clerk to close the books to us. It also is against the law. I've taken this fight to them as far as I can go at this point. Now is the time for you all to join with me to get this done--to open up the books to you. We can get it done.
I've hired an attorney from out of town who specializes in public records cases to defend me against this unheard of lawsuit. He is based out of New Orleans, and is the general counsel to many newspapers in Louisiana. He, like me, is appalled that a City would sue a citizen for attempting to review basic financial records like these.
You can help too. I want you all to be a part of this, to have a chance to say, "I stood up for my rights!" This is not about dividing the city; it's about demanding that your city leaders respect you!
I have set up a legal defense fund to help us. If you can give any money at all--$5 or $10, or larger--$100 or more, or something in between, you'll be a part of keeping your mayor honest, holding him accountable for every one of your dollars, and making sure you're getting your money's worth.
You can contribute to the legal defense fund that I've set up to:
1. Cover the costs and fees associated with defending against this law suit,
2. Getting your books opened up to you, and
3. Following the money trail.
Every one of your dollars means everything, & you'll be able to say you stood up for yourself, you stood up for your family, and you stood up for your neighbors.
Please contribute now.
The mayor has sued me and is asking a Judge to tell me that I can’t have access to the records I am seeking: spending records, bank records, travel vouchers, unless I pay $40,000.00.
This is an attack on a citizen exercising her constitutional right to review public spending. I will tell you why I'm not letting this go, and why I need your help: it's because of you all. You deserve better.
I've been told that not even your City Council members can review the bank and credit card statements, or the contracts, or verify where your funds are coming from and going every month. I've watched the mayor cut off council members during meetings when they try to dig in and get specifics about spending or the budget process. That is what spurred me to review these financial records in the first place.
It's not fair for your mayor and city clerk to close the books to us. It also is against the law. I've taken this fight to them as far as I can go at this point. Now is the time for you all to join with me to get this done--to open up the books to you. We can get it done.
I've hired an attorney from out of town who specializes in public records cases to defend me against this unheard of lawsuit. He is based out of New Orleans, and is the general counsel to many newspapers in Louisiana. He, like me, is appalled that a City would sue a citizen for attempting to review basic financial records like these.
You can help too. I want you all to be a part of this, to have a chance to say, "I stood up for my rights!" This is not about dividing the city; it's about demanding that your city leaders respect you!
I have set up a legal defense fund to help us. If you can give any money at all--$5 or $10, or larger--$100 or more, or something in between, you'll be a part of keeping your mayor honest, holding him accountable for every one of your dollars, and making sure you're getting your money's worth.
You can contribute to the legal defense fund that I've set up to:
1. Cover the costs and fees associated with defending against this law suit,
2. Getting your books opened up to you, and
3. Following the money trail.
Every one of your dollars means everything, & you'll be able to say you stood up for yourself, you stood up for your family, and you stood up for your neighbors.
Please contribute now.
Organizer
Gwen Payne
Organizer
Vicksburg, MS
