Nov 15, 2024 Local News
Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - Desloge Mayor Peter Pasternak has been granted a temporary restraining order against the city council as the council's attempt to impeach the mayor moves forward.
The ruling was passed down by the Judge Robert Fulton during a show cause hearing held in Farmington Thursday morning. During arguments, Pasternak represented himself and claimed that the impeachment process was political in nature, and shouldn't be allowed to continue as the council didn't follow procedure dictated by both local and state laws. The council was represented by Kyle Cronin of Curtis, Heinz, Garnett & O’Keefe in St. Louis. Cronin argued that the council's intention was to formalize the special council, and wanted the impeachment to move forward to see if it should proceed.
Fulton dismissed Pasternak's request to have Cronin removed as attorney for the council. However, he agreed with the mayor that the council hadn't followed procedure and will need to pass an ordinance to hire him, granting the restraining order in the process. Following the hearing, Pasternak explained what this decision means for him.
Pasternak discusses representing himself during this process.
Judge Fulton said in his decision that the council will need to restart the impeachment process over, save for the step of rehiring special council.
Only one member of the city council, Debra Kester, was in attendance for Thursday's hearing. Kester has voted no on past votes regarding the impeachment of Pasternak.
Another court hearing is scheduled for September 10th at the St. Francois County Courthouse.
