Collector Resigns Over Ethics Violation, Files To Run Again

Crawford County Collector Pat Schwent tendered her resignation Feb. 22 for an ethics violation concerning nepotism.

Schwent submitted her resignation to the county commission, effective March 15. She told the Independent News on Tuesday she has filed to run for the position in the August primary.

In a letter addressing Crawford County residents, Schwent admitted to contracting her sister and two other people to assist in preparing 2017 tax statements.

Attorney Mark Wenner went to Schwent’s office on Oct. 18, 2017 and observed Tressa Andrews, Shelly Mullen and Mae Ruble — Schwent’s sister — working with Schwent and her staff. Wenner filed a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Ruble was paid $360 for her work from Oct. 17-20. Andrews was paid $408 and Mullen $216.

Schwent wrote in the past she had tried outsourcing the preparation and mailing of the tax statements, but the results didn’t justify the expense.

“Because I do not employ the same number of staff as my predecessor did in the past, it became a challenge to get the statements ready to mail in a timely manner,” she wrote.

Schwent said she contacted the Missouri State Auditor’s Office for advice and was told other collectors contracted temporarily for the minimal days it took to accomplishing the mailing. Those individuals could be paid through the collector’s Tax Maintenance Fund.

“I should have researched the Missouri Constitution Article 7 Section 6 more thoroughly than I did regarding nepotism,” Schwent wrote in her letter. “I understood nepotism to prohibit HIRING of any relative within the fourth degree, but I should have sought further (advice) regarding CONTRACT SERVICES with a relative within the fourth degree.

“The Missouri Constitution provides than an elected official will forfeit his/her office for nepotism.”

Schwent wrote that she “made a mistake in interpreting the law.” She thanked Wenner for bringing her mistake to the attention of the Missouri Ethics Commission.

“Mae and I would never consciously do anything to undermine the integrity of the County or its citizens,” she wrote.

Since her action was a mistake and not a criminal offense, Schwent said she would file to run for another term.