PRESS RELEASE FROM MARSHAL GREG COUNTRYMAN AND VIVIAN BISHOP

REGARDING CREDIT CARD CHARGES

NOVEMBER 14, 2014
A recent story concerning Marshal Countryman and Vivian Bishops use of credit cards
to pay legal fees was misleading and omitted several critical facts. The reporter who ran this
story did not seek out both sides but only printed that of the mayor and those under her control.
The mayor has admitted publicly that once these officials budgets were set they could
spend them as they pleased. This is consistent with Georgia law and written opinions from the
city attorney and the city manager.
When Marshal Countryman and Ms. Bishop realized that the mayor and others had
violated the city charter and Georgia law regarding their budgets they sought assistance from the
city attorney. They also specifically requested the city attorney advise them if he had a conflict
and if so they would seek independent counsel. The city attorney, in violation of the city charter
and the Georgia bar rules governing attorney conduct improperly refused to recognize this
obvious conflict. Even worse he attempted to mislead Plaintiffs by telling them they had no
legal claim.
The Plaintiffs had the city create a line item in their budget for attorneys fees. This was
consistent with the law. When they requested checks to retain counsel, however, the city
illegally refused to issue them and then illegally deleted the line items from their budgets.
The Plaintiffs repeatedly requested that this be corrected and that the city attorney
properly and ethically perform his job. Presumably with the concurrence of Mayor Tomlinson
the city and the city attorney refused to do so.
As a result the Plaintiffs had no choice but to use their cards to retain counsel. These
actions were made necessary by the continuing illegal actions of the city officials involved and
were done in order to mitigate the damage such actions caused, and continue to cause.
It is unfortunate that at a time when crime is running rampant, the courts and the law
enforcement officials are overwhelmed, and the citizens of Columbus worry daily about their
safety the mayor has decided the best use of her time is to play political games with these vital
components of the citys public safety system.
This type of pettiness and vengeful activity are an embarrassment to the city of Columbus
and are beneath the dignity of the mayors office.