Councilman threatens to sue Mount Vernon mayor for slander

<p>Mount Vernon City Councilman Andre Wallace is threatening to sue Mayor Richard Thomas again, claiming that Thomas is trying to ruin his reputation.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

May 1, 2017, 9:58 PM

Updated 2,561 days ago

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Councilman threatens to sue Mount Vernon mayor for slander
Mount Vernon City Councilman Andre Wallace is threatening to sue Mayor Richard Thomas again, claiming that Thomas is trying to ruin his reputation.
Thomas and Wallace have long been at odds, but their feud is now reaching a fever pitch over a still uncompleted emergency operation center at the Third Street Firehouse. Wallace worked on the center as a contractor before he was elected, but was never paid for it.
Wallace is suing the city for $234,000 over the job. Thomas has refused to pay because he insists the work wasn’t good and that Wallace violated labor laws by not paying prevailing wages to subcontractors. 
Despite the mayor's allegations, the Department of Labor recently ruled in Wallace's favor and said he didn't break any laws.
The mayor didn't want to go on camera, but he claimed victory in part saying, “It was only after the city of Mount Vernon demanded the workers be paid, did Wallace give them the monies they were due.”
Wallace says those bills were paid years ago and that the Department of Labor document proves that.  He’s now vowing to personally sue the mayor for slander for trying to muddy up his name.
Councilman's Wallace's first lawsuit against the city is still working its way through the courts. He didn't specify when he'll file the slander lawsuit against the mayor.


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