A day before the Piedmont City Council Ward II election, on Monday a candidate has responded to what he says have been statements made about him during the campaign.
A statement from Ron Cardwell, who faces Mitch Henley in the election Tuesday, April 6, released Monday states that: “On April 2, 2021, the City of Piedmont Ward 2 Councilman Bobby Williamson made statements which suggested that Ward II Candidate Ron Cardwell and Ward IV Candidate Johnathan Hisey are involved in active litigation against the City of Piedmont. “
Ward IV Melissa Ashford made responsive statements to Mr. Williamson’s posts which included inaccurate information. Such suggestions and statements misrepresent the facts.”
The statement from Cardwell continues: “Hisey has never been a party to a lawsuit involving the City of Piedmont. Cardwell was a defendant in case CJ-2012-46, filed by Boevers Homes against multiple members of the Piedmont community arising out of Facebook posts surrounding the 2011 Mayoral Election. Cardwell was targets because of his role as a member of the Piedmont City Planning Commission. That lawsuit has been resolved. Additionally, Cardwell was one of 16 individuals who filed suit against the City of Piedmont in suit CV-2011-210, which sought to enjoin the actions of former Mayor Valerie Thomerson over the appointment of Jeff Davis to fill a vacant seat on the City Council. That suit has been resolved also. The 2011 Mayoral election and the subsequent conduct spawned multiple state and federal court lawsuits primarily related to the manner in which politics in Piedmont is conducted and the development of real estate within city limits. Williamson’s statements about past matters could potentially subject the City to future suit.”
Cardwell states: “Williamson and Ashford as citizens of Piedmont and the United States have a right to exercise free speech and to engage in political speech. However, no one has the right to make false or defamatory statements. Further since Williamson and Ashford are currently serving in an official capacity in city government, their statements on the Piedmont Community Facebook Page and the Piedmont Politics Facebook Page could be construed as an attempt to interfere with the rights of Hisey and Cardwell under the United States and Oklahoma Constitution.
All citizens enjoy the right to free speech, the right to access the court system, and the right to petition and redress the government for grievances. Attempts by government officials to suppress those rights are illegal and expose the City to suit. Neither Hisey nor Cardwell have an active case against the City of Piedmont. However even if they did, the suggestion that the actions of citizens in exercising their constitutional rights should be disqualify them from representing the people in any level of government in the US goes against everything the citizens of this country have fought for since 1776.”
The statement reads: “Hisey and Cardwell have been outspoken advocates for change in the City of Piedmont and the need to improve the roads in the community for many years through compliance with the law and the standards of civil engineering. Cardwell and Hisey have also been outspoken about their concerns that City Council has continuously violated its own rules, policies and procedures, and the standards of civil engineering which has and will damage the community members. This is a significant concern in a community where the road problems are well known and the talk of the town. The City should be following proper standards when approving real property improvements. Naturally, Williamson, Ashford and other Council Members disagree with the assertion that the city has done anything wrong. However, the city has not been sued over these alleged violations.
“Presently the only active lawsuit involving Cardwell and/or Hisey pertaining to the City of Piedmont in any way was filed by Plaintiffs Boevers Homes and Mark and Phil LLC against Natalie Wagner, Cardwell, and Hisey. The case was filed in Canadian County, under number CJ-2020-459. The suit was filed under seal, after Wagner demanded that a sister company of Boevers Homes, compensate her for physical damages to her property due to construction standards approved by the City of Piedmont. The lawsuit is still in its infancy. The Plaintiffs’ assertion of a seal makes it difficult for citizens to see or understand the allegations. However, all defendants have filed counterclaims which are open to the public to view because they have nothing to hide.
On November 20, 2020, the Honorable Judge Paul Hesse ruled that Wagner’s property damage was “likely caused by the construction of a road and concrete culvert next to the Wagners’ property.” The Judge further ruled that “The Wagners’ alleged injury and damage to the property that has been presented today can be fully compensated in money damages.” This ruling and the court transcript have not been sealed. At the hearing Mr. Cardwell testified that the City approved plans which violated acceptable engineering standards and the City of Piedmont policies and procedures. Mr. Cardwell and Hisey are both civil engineers who are knowledgeable, trained experts in the subject matter of proper road construction. While this ruling does not affirmatively resolve whether or not the appropriate standards were utilized, it does establish that Ms. Wagner suffered harm by the conduct due to construction performed by Plaintiffs whose construction standards were approved by the City of Piedmont. The suit is far from over but if any claims are to be made against the City, those claims will be made by Ms. Wagner not Cardwell or Hisey.
Hisey and Cardwell are both running for City Government because they believe in responsible government which includes safe and proper construction of the community roads and protection of those roads from improper runoff due to property development. Their commitment to protecting the city speaks for itself as does the ongoing state of the roads in Piedmont and the failure of the past Councils to construct, repair or maintain them.
Meanwhile, in Ward IV, Hisey faces Jack Jackson in the Tuesday election.
