Poplar Bluff city councilor to resign, denies nepotism charge

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff City Council member accused of nepotism announced his resignation Wednesday morning.

Council member at large Dr. Jack Rushin, with a little less than two years left in his first term, continued to deny wrongdoing in a statement released by his attorney.

"Upon evaluation of litigating the nepotism claim in court, the cost would be fairly expensive," Rushin stated. "Although my attorneys feel that we would prevail, I cannot justify the cost required defending this position."

Rushin hand-delivered his letter Tuesday to city manager Mark Massingham.

The resignation will not be official until it is accepted by the city council, Massingham said. This is expected to occur at the next council meeting Monday.

Mayor Betty Absheer said she believes the council will advertise and accept applications for Rushin's seat.

If the council is unable to appoint someone, a special election likely will have to be held, Massingham said.

Rushin's case was expected to be heard this week by Ripley County Judge Thomas Swindle, but the case was postponed at the request of defense attorneys. Special Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor was not available Wednesday morning to comment on Rushin's resignation.

Proctor had sought Rushin's removal from office, winning a motion in June that barred Rushin from involvement in city business until the matter was resolved.

The charges stem from the appointment of committee members in February to advise the council on a city hall feasibility study. Rushin's first cousin, Greg West, was among the group named by the council.

Rushin said in his statement he wanted it to be noted he did not nominate West for the committee.

"I did vote to approve the committee and the slate of nominees as a whole," he stated. "I do not believe then, nor do I now, that I was doing anything unlawful."

Rushin said he read state statutes before taking office and believes the law covers only the appointment of public officers or those employed by the city.

"Since this was an ad hoc committee and was not empowered to do anything but offer advice to city council, I did not consider anyone appointed to the committee as falling in either of these two categories," he stated.