For Supporters of Ellisville Mayor, It All Leads Back to Walmart

When the Ellisville City Council voted to suspend Mayor Adam Paul Wednesday night, they did so over the vocal opposition of nearly 20 residents and a building packed with a seeming majority of supporters for the embattled mayor. 

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The city's attorney, Paul Martin, has said the evidence to support the charges listed against Paul will be brought forward during a hearing March 20. However, for the citizens in the room that night, it all lead back to one thing: Walmart. 

Many of those who spoke had previously voiced opposition to the $15 million in public financing that the council has approved for the project. 

At the meeting, they linked the efforts to remove Paul and the current dysfunction of the city's government to the Walmart development while also swearing political revenge at an election on April 2. 

Patch collected comments from some who spoke at the meeting below. All were residents of Ellisville and expressed support for Paul.

Sam Atkinson

"Council members have already proven that they don't listen to the voice of the people, but I'll say it again. We want Adam Paul as a our mayor and we don't want Walmart in our city."

Michael Cahill

"Think about what you are doing to everybody. You are the same people who are going to walk into the same grocery stores as the rest of us. Don't you think that contempt is all around you now? People don't understand why you would do this to a person."

Patti Murphy
"He has never been given the respect that has been given to any of the other elected officials, either by the staff or by the council, simply because he has differing view regarding TIF funding for Walmart."

Mary Ann Dust

"Greed and a mean-spirited, getting-even attitude has flooded our quiet community since the big box store onslaught."

Adi Surti

"I am literally embarrassed. If you are trying to attract business this is not the way. If I was a businessman, I would not want to come to Ellisville. I suggest that we fire all six people and we start again fresh." 

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