Domino mayor delivers rebuke at taxpayer’s expense

Some residents of Domino are reeling from a recent newsletter authored by Mayor Al Campbell that was mailed along with the city’s water bills. The newsletter, dated Sept.1, contained language that has residents asking about its legality.

The letter reads in part:

As most of you know, our current president has accepted the nomination for his party. He has done some strange and unusual things over the last four years. He has imprisoned children and other immigrants who were seeking asylum in the U.S. His policies led to the death of some of these people who were only seeking a better life. We did not know who the president was until he revealed himself over the last 4 years, I don’t believe that we can absorb another 4 years of his neglect and abuse. He has abused women, had a couple of different affairs on his current wife and denied them. The bible says that the devil is the father of lies. Our president may not be the devil but he has spawned enough lies to qualify him to be a direct descendant of the aforementioned evil spirit.

The letter was posted to Facebook and several have questioned the mayor’s ability to deliver political rhetoric with city funds.

“He used your tax dollars to produce that several times and pay the postage”, one poster on Facebook said.

Another poster said, “He has no business doing this especially considering the position he holds…”

In support of Campbell, one poster wrote,

“Nothing wrong with the mayor expressing his beliefs to his citizens! You can agree or disagree, but this is supposed to be a “free” country, which means he should be able to speak “freely”. Just my opinion.”

Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton responded to an email about the legality of the letter.

“I will be referring this out for further investigation”, Shelton said.

The Journal-Sun has attempted to reach Campbell several times since June after reporters were met with a locked door to a scheduled city council meeting. He has never returned a phone call.

Thursday, June 11 the Domino City Council was scheduled to discuss multiple items including new procedure for water accounts with frequent disconnections due to late payment.

Two items listed on the agenda pertain to water utility accounts deemed “nuisance accounts”—one of which identifies an account holder by name.

“There are a few people who do not want to pay their bills on time, causing us to constantly cut off their water. We need to come up with a policy that the City can live with that encourages them to pay their bills more faithfully. We spend a lot of time bothering with these people. I propose that if we have to cut off their water 3 times within 10 months, the customer forfeits their old deposit and has to pay $250.00 for a new deposit to have their water turned back on.”

In a separate item, an account holder is named. “Discuss [account holder] situation. We mailed her a letter on or around May 15th and we have received a return receipt. This is a nuisance account.”

The Journal-Sun has been unable to verify if the council convened with that agenda.

In 2014, Campbell was sued for the unlawful termination of two employees. According to the complaint, Campbell allegedly engaged in the unlawful use of city funds, including making payments to himself and fired the employees to conceal the wrongdoing.

In 2013, deputies from the Cass County Sheriff ’s Office secured the city hall in Domino after an altercation took place between Campbell and members of the city’s government, former employees and citizens. Accusations against Campbell included misuse of city funds, bribery and retaliation.