Guccione: Mayor Investigation Intended for Election Advantage

Ward 3 Alderman Nick Guccione said a group of aldermen are plotting to get Mayor Paul Lambi to resign so that Ward 1 Alderman, and mayoral candidate, Leon Tow would assume the role of mayor before the April 3 election.

If the mayor resigns, Tow, as president of the city's board of aldermen, would replace him.

Tow said the board was obligated to do what it did.

“There was a and there was an investigation into that complaint,” Tow said. “We almost have to investigate an employee complaint. You can’t sweep that under the rug. Any government or any company would have to investigate something like that.”

Lambi said the report was from "a disgruntled employee who was upset and made allegations. Basically they threw spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick."

But Tow said the investigation turned up information that has not been publicly released and required turning the investigation over to the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Missouri Ethics Commission.

There also were reports involving a possible conflict of interest regarding in 2007. Lambi served on the committee’s board of directors.

“I think they were trying to put (Lambi) in a position to resign," Guccione said. "In my opinion, they were doing that so that one candidate could become interim mayor.”

Lambi said that appears to be true, but he has no conclusive proof. 

Guccione is running against Tow . Bill Schuette and Darrel Lackey are also running.

In the redacted executive session meeting minutes released Thursday, Guccione is quoted as expressing concern that “if the mayor would resign and Alderman Tow, as president of the board, would become mayor pro-tem and this would give him an advantage in the mayor election.”

Tow said he would never consider pursuing an investigation in order to benefit his campaign.

“That’s quite an interesting accusation. It's unsubstantiated,” he said. “Why would you do anything like that? That’s a worst-case scenario for the city."

Tow said he believes Guccione’s accusation is politically motivated.

He said the report uncovered information unrelated to the $15,000 check and the board acted on that information.

“We thought it was necessary to turn that over to two other agencies to investigate thoroughly.”

Lambi said the board declined to investigate itself, despite numerous leaks of things discussed in executive session.

Tow said the aldermen never asked Lambi to resign. He also said he believes a vote to ask the mayor to resign would have to happen in open session, not a closed session.

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas said his office does not perform investigations. He said the matter may have been turned over to an investigative agency such as the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department or another agency.