Adam Paul

In an effort to block municipalities from using a recently passed “public safety” tax increase on things like potholes and snow removal, the St. Louis County Council passed a resolution Tuesday asking for the money be strictly spent on policing.

Problem is, the resolution doesn’t actually do anything.

Some of St. Louis County’s mayors say money from a recently enacted sales tax increase may not make the region safer — especially because cities with high crime rates aren’t necessarily getting the most money.

The half-cent sales tax, which takes effect later fall and is widely known as Proposition P, was billed as to be used on public safety. The breakdown of the money gives about $46 million a year to the St. Louis County Police Department, with roughly $34 million from the tax will be split among the county’s 89 municipalities.

In the west St. Louis County contest for the open 7th District seat on the St. Louis County Council, Ballwin Alderman Mark Harder has received the endorsements of a number of Republican heavy-hitters, including retiring Councilman Greg Quinn and state Auditor Tom Schweich. 

But his chief rival for the GOP nomination – Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul – believes that support may backfire and help Paul, who embraces his own renegade image after he beat back an impeachment effort in 2013.

Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul, who was at the center of a high-profile effort last year to oust him from office, is now seeking to be elected to a new job on the St. Louis County Council.

Paul filed Monday afternoon for the 7th District seat that’s now open, since longtime incumbent Greg Quinn announced that he wasn’t seeking re-election this fall.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: After a standing ovation from allies and a quick search for the gavel, reinstated Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul was back in charge Tuesday night.

Despite his ear-to-ear grin, even Paul acknowledges that the reunion with fellow city officials – some of whom still want him out -- may be rockier than he’d hoped.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: A St. Louis County circuit judge has temporarily reinstated Adam Paul as mayor of Ellisville, ruling Monday that the City Council followed incorrect procedures in removing Paul from office in April.

“He’s back in the saddle,’’ said Paul’s jubilant lawyer, Chet Pleban. Paul will preside at the next council meeting, Pleban added.

The Ellisville City Council  has voted to remove Mayor Adam Paul from office on the grounds that he overreached the authority given to him by the city’s charter.

But it’s unlikely that the fight between Paul and the city is finished.

After Paul’s attorney, Chet Pleban, ended his closing statement he told the city council that the was going home to watch the NCAA men’s basketball championship game.

He said he already knew the council would find Paul guilty.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: The Ellisville City Council was enmeshed in a long Night Two of its deliberations on the proposed impeachment of Mayor Adam Paul.

Four hours into Tuesday night's proceedings, the council was still listening to witnesses and the back-and-forth between the lawyers representing the council and Paul.