WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. - He defended two of the most controversial cases in recent St. Louis history and now he's the City Attorney for Webster Groves, but a group of more than 400 people are calling the hire of Neil Bruntrager a "potential" conflict of interest.
Bruntrager represented officers Darren Wilson and Jason Stockley in the police shooting cases of Michael Brown and Anthony Lamar Smith, respectively.
"In the charter form of government in Webster Groves, it is the responsibility of a professional City Manager with consent of the City Council to hire a City Attorney who can best represent the City in providing good, sound legal advice in the variety of areas that require knowledgeable guidance and counsel," Webster Groves Mayor Gerry Welch said. "A city attorney must offer accurate, experienced professional information in planning and zoning, sunshine law, board conduct, legislative interpretation, city rights and responsibilities, and more"
"Accurate, expert legal advice is critical to keeping the City whole in areas that could be costly for the City," Welch continued. "Mr. Neil Bruntrager was chosen because he was considered to be a good choice to provide the specialized counsel that a City the size of Webster Groves must have. Mr. Bruntrager is a resident of Webster Groves, a requirement for the City Attorney, and his credentials align with the City’s requirement for a City Attorney."
Mayor Welch said it was "inappropriate" for her to comment on petitions that have been mounted on the internet.
5 On Your Side also spoke with the people who wrote the petition who issued this statement:
"City leadership has largely seemed closed to communication regarding this matter. Many citizens have written letters but have not received any response. Creating an open letter available to be signed by anyone who lives, works, learns or plays in Webster Groves--or cares about someone who lives, works, learns or plays in Webster Groves-- was a way to create an additional line of communication that was transparent and accessible.
The focus of the letter is addressing the system that brought us here and the opportunity we now have to directly and explicitly bring change that could reflect deeper understandings of Webster's role in the region, investment in understanding/incorporating an anti-racist lens to municipal work, and enhancements to communication for city and residents alike.
Prior to making this hiring decision, some leaders reportedly felt discomfort in the conflict this choice might bring, but didn’t heed that feeling with action such as reaching out or striving to cultivate a process to hear multiple perspectives. Only after receiving some letters and calls in protest of the decision did city leaders seek counsel of a small number of clergy. That outreach was a good idea, but it wasn’t broad enough. This letter represents a citizen-led outreach effort that expands the dialogue, broadens communication, and demonstrates public appetite for systemic changes that will bring a stronger lens of anti-racism and anti-bias to municipal mechanisms." - Elyssa Sullivan
To read the full petition click here.
