Image Credit: Tennessee Comptroller & Weakley County Detention Center
The Center Square [By Kim Jarrett]-
Mayor Randal Brundige was at work Thursday, just days after he was indicted on felony charges related to an investigation of misuse of city funds in the Tennessee community of Martin.
Brundige told The Center Square he had no comment on the charges that were the result of an investigation by the Comptroller of the Treasury’s office.
Martin has population of about 11,000 in Weakley County, where the University of Tennessee System has one of its five campuses.
Brundige and the Director of Economic and Community Development Bradley “Brad” Thompson are accused of making thousands of dollars in unauthorized credit card purchases for high-end meals and travel expenses, according to a release from Comptroller Jason Mumpower’s office.
The accusations against Thompson include the creation a consulting firm that wrote grants and performed administrative services. Grant writing and administration were already part of his job as director of economic and community development, according to the release.
Thompson also used city funds for travel, including a trip to Italy and a private dinner by a personal chef, the comptroller’s office said. The amount of the misappropriation was nearly $274,000 according to the investigation.
The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment before publication from Thompson.
Brundige is accused of pocketing nearly $11,000 in authorized travel and meal purchases, the comptroller said.
The investigation also flagged $10,391.97 in questionable credit card purchased by Thompson, and $283.54 made by Brundige, the release said.
Brundige is charged with four counts of theft of property over $60,000, one count of accessory after the fact, and one count of theft of property over $10,000, and four counts of official misconduct. Thompson faces one count of theft of property over $60,000, four counts of official misconduct, and one count of theft of property over $10,000.
The mayor’s daughter, Natalie Brundige, is accused of being paid as a full-time employee for the city for six years but only working about two hours of an eight-hour shift. She is charged with one count of theft of property over $60,000 and one count of official misconduct. The amount salary, leave and benefits over charged the city came to at least $174,109, according to the comptroller’s office.
“This case is troubling because it involves a sitting mayor and a senior city official,” Mumpower said. “City officials must ensure strong internal controls are in place to protect public funds including monitoring credit card use, enforcing travel policies, and reviewing employee timesheets.”
The city was a finalist for several Northwest Tennessee Tourism Cornerstone Awards in April, according to a release on the city’s website. The city is home to the Tennessee Soybean Festival, an event held every September.
