Confidentially of Records & Legal Counsel: Just the Facts

By Dave Freneaux

    In August of 2010 hundreds of pages of legal billing records were given by Mayor Mac Watts to attorney Steven Stockstill for review when considering what records could be released to the public.  How is this different from the confidential records given by Council Member LoBue to private citizens serving as members of the Legal Services Research committee?  The answer is simple.  Mr. Stockstill had offered his legal services in this matter to the Mayor of Central, and he offered to do the work "pro-bono", which means "for the public good", and at no  charge to the City of Central.

    In a Lawrason Act Community such as Central, engaging legal counsel is within the authority of the Mayor so long as it does not call for the expenditure of unappropriated city funds.  Since the work was done free, and since it was done for the Mayor's office by an attorney, the records review was both appropriate and above board.  Further, the entire process was disclosed and discussed at several City Council meetings with large crowds of citizens in attendance.  Any attempt to characterize the generous work done by Mr. Stockstill as either improper or in any way the same as last week's release of records simply does not hold up under honest scrutiny. Just the Facts.