Sherry Bridgeman has removed her name from the list of candidates running for 911 Board in Daviess County.
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Sherry Bridgeman has removed her name from the list of candidates running for 911 Board in Daviess County and, as a result, misdemeanor charges of littering and trespass against her have been dismissed. Mrs. Bridgeman requested the county clerk’s office to remove her name from the ballot on Jan. 20.
Charges were filed last Halloween against Sherry Bridgeman for the infraction of trespass in the second degree and for the Class A misdemeanor of littering Gallatin City Hall. The infraction carries a penalty of a fine of up to $200; the misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail.
Misdemeanor charges are usually noteworthy and published in this newspaper only upon a conviction. Public interest in this incident, however, was widespread since Mrs. Bridgeman, as chairperson on the Daviess County 911 Emergency Response board, had been vocal in criticizing Gallatin’s aldermen over personnel decisions in the city’s police department.
Mrs. Bridgeman allegedly was observed littering the city hall building with toilet tissue and was confronted by individuals on patrol as she attempted to leave on foot using a nearby alley. Eggs were found nearby but without any proof concerning ownership. Charges filed by the prosecutor on alleged violation of state statutes followed.
The agreement struck this week between Mrs. Bridgeman and Prosecutor Julia Roselle may also resolve a more serious legal issue also involving Mrs. Bridgeman but unrelated to the trespass and littering charges. Prosecutor Roselle filed a Petition Quo Warranto on June 23, 1999, to remove Mrs. Bridgeman from the 911 board. At issue is whether a person can serve as a 911 board member and simultaneously be employed as a radio dispatcher for that same board.
The deferred prosecution agreement is expected to bring closure to this issue as well.
Election laws for general non-partisan elections allow a candidate’s name to be removed from the ballot by court order only. Thus, a copy of the agreement between Mrs. Bridgeman and Daviess County Prosecutor Julia Roselle accompanied Mrs. Bridgeman’s letter to the county clerk’s office requesting removal from the 911 ballot. It is dated Jan. 20, 2000. It reads as follows:
“That the accused will agree to withdraw her name from the filing for the position of President of the 911 Board, a position that would be effective in April 2000 and consist of a 4-year term. This will be accomplished prior to the State withdrawing its Petition Quo Warranto and prior to the State dismissing the pending charges against the accused.”
Mrs. Bridgeman’s decision is expected to avert the legal battle over her employment as a 911 dispatcher while serving as a board member. There remains state law which may still apply concerning her immediate employment as a 911 dispatcher.
The law, MoRS 190.339 (9), states that individual board members shall not be eligible for employment by the board within 12 months of termination of service as a member of the board. Mrs. Bridgeman’s current term on the 911 board concludes with the upcoming April election.