The City Council meeting on April 21 saw an unusual Citizen Participation. Two different citizens appeared and called for impeachment of Alderwoman Joyce Hartzell.
Dan Eidson was first. You may remember the Cuba Free Press recently reported the alderwoman failed to obtain an order of protection against Dan in Crawford County Court. She accused him of threatening her and claimed she was in great fear of him.
Her case was so weak, the judge ruled against her without Dan having to call even one of the many witnesses who were ready, willing, and eager to testify on his behalf. Embarrassingly, the judge rebuked the alderwoman by telling her an order of protection required that a reasonable person would be fearful. This is about as close as most judges will come to telling a litigant they don’t believe her.
Dan appeared before the City Council armed with copies of police reports on which he claimed Hartzell lied and a copy of the trial transcript in which he claimed the testimony of the witnesses differed in substantial ways. He invited the aldermen, except Hartzell, and the Mayor to meet with him and review the documents.
Cyndi Mercer then addressed the council in support of impeachment. She said we can’t have elected officials lying about citizens.
Impeachment is possible. Cuba Ordinance 115.030 provides for the aldermen to impeach by a two-thirds vote of all members. They must show cause for impeachment and the accused must have an opportunity to defend herself.
I can find no evidence that Cuba has ever impeached an alderman. Such impeachments are rare, but not unheard of. In 2013, Dellwood, Missouri Alderman James Lovings was impeached for engaging “in conduct that compromises the best interest of the city,” according to an article in the St. Louis American.
Impeachment of Hartzell, if it happens, will not come soon. At least one alderman must be willing to bring the matter before the City Council. That is unlikely. Elected officials tend to be unwilling to wet their toes in unchartered waters. Impeachment of a small-town alderwoman is about as unchartered as it gets.
Jackie Hunt
Cuba
