MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The State of Tennessee has filed a petition to remove Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert from office.
The document, filed Monday by Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp, cites “willful neglect to perform a duty” and “Inaccurate and Untimely Financial Reporting” as the reasons for removal.
“Ms. Halbert consistently fails to turn the monthly report in to the Trustee in a timely manner … Ms. Halbert’s reports are consistently inaccurate with collected dollar amounts not added properly,” stated the petition by Wamp, who was appointed in June as an independent prosecutor in the investigation into Halbert’s office, in relation to possible removal.
Auditors with the state comptroller’s office stepped in earlier this year to help the Shelby County Clerk’s office manage its finances after county leaders complained they were unable to craft a county budget due to inaccurate revenue reports.
State to step in at Shelby County Clerk’s Office, citing ‘incompetence
“The evidence of incompetence and willful neglect by management in the Shelby County Clerk’s Office is overwhelming,” Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in February . “I have no confidence in the Clerk’s Office to manage its affairs without outside intervention.”