Cara Russell
Encyclopedia
Cara Russell was elected mayor of Buena Vista
, Colorado
, in 2006. As of 2009 she was elected as the President of the Collegiate Peaks Republican Women's Forum.
On April 14, 2010 it was reported by a local newspaper that Mayor Russell had announced that she was running for the position of County Clerk of Chaffee County Colorado in 2010.
The column prompted 5 of the 6 town trustees to present her with a letter of dismissal on Nov. 10, 2008. Two weeks later, after the trustees determined that was not the best course of action after they were informed by the Mayor's attorney that the trustees could be in violation of the mayors first amendments rights and subject to criminal charges, they voted to withdraw the letter of dismissal.
On April 16, 2010 mayor Russell filed a Federal lawsuit against the Town of Buena Vista and 5 town trustees for violation of her First Amendment
rights.
On July 9, 2010 The Mountain Mail newspaper reported that the trustee deny allegations and contend they are, under legal doctrines, immune from the lawsuit. They also contend Russell's public statements opposing the annexation were not protected by the First Amendment.
Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,195 at the 2000 census.Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of . The area between Buena Vista and...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, in 2006. As of 2009 she was elected as the President of the Collegiate Peaks Republican Women's Forum.
Mayorship
Mayor Russell was re-elected April 6, 2010 for a second term and resigned on April 20, 2010.On April 14, 2010 it was reported by a local newspaper that Mayor Russell had announced that she was running for the position of County Clerk of Chaffee County Colorado in 2010.
Attempted Removal by Trustees
On October 29, 2008 Mayor Russell wrote a column for the Chaffee County Times entitled: "How big a payoff do you want?" that outlined both the advantages and disadvantages of an annexation ballot question. Several Town Trustees believed the vote to annex the Cottonwood Meadows development lost by a mere 21 votes because of the Mayor's letter giving both the pros and cons of the real estate development.The column prompted 5 of the 6 town trustees to present her with a letter of dismissal on Nov. 10, 2008. Two weeks later, after the trustees determined that was not the best course of action after they were informed by the Mayor's attorney that the trustees could be in violation of the mayors first amendments rights and subject to criminal charges, they voted to withdraw the letter of dismissal.
On April 16, 2010 mayor Russell filed a Federal lawsuit against the Town of Buena Vista and 5 town trustees for violation of her First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
rights.
On July 9, 2010 The Mountain Mail newspaper reported that the trustee deny allegations and contend they are, under legal doctrines, immune from the lawsuit. They also contend Russell's public statements opposing the annexation were not protected by the First Amendment.