A former Caledonia marshal wants at least $1 million in damages from a defamation lawsuit he’s filed against an alderman and the town.
The lawsuit also complicates the political climate between the incumbent mayor and his challenger in the June 6 general election.
In a lawsuit filed in Lowndes County Circuit Court, Richard Hayes said Caledonia alderman and mayoral candidate Mitch Wiggins accused him in February 2016 of having an “adulterous affair” with a female town employee. The suit alleges Wiggins made the accusation while “acting as an alderman for the town of Caledonia” and seeks a jury trial.
Columbus attorney Chuck Easley, who contacted The Dispatch last week about the suit, is representing Hayes.
Mayor Bill Lawrence said the incident didn’t occur in a public meeting, yet Easley said Wiggins possibly leveled the adultery accusation against Hayes at least once at Town Hall.
Fallout from the accusation led Lawrence to mediate a private meeting with the two men to “work out their differences.”
“Wiggins told the marshal he would continue to see what was going on because it was his duty as an alderman,” Lawrence said. “All Hayes wanted was an apology.”
Hayes resigned as town marshal on July 5, 2016, having served in that post for almost three years. Lawrence claims Wiggins’ accusation caused Hayes to resign.
Wiggins, speaking to The Dispatch, disputed Lawrence’s account other than to acknowledge a meeting took place between the three men. He declined, however, to comment further about Lawrence’s accounting of events or Hayes’ accusations in the complaint.
“That’s only one side of the allegation,” Wiggins said. “There’s another side that will come out in court.”
Wiggins told The Dispatch the matter is a last-minute political stunt from Lawrence to muddy the mayoral election.
“It’s an 11th-hour attempt to distract from the real issues in this campaign,” Wiggins said. “I’m talking about real issues in my campaign.”
Lawrence said his statements to media regarding the suit have nothing to do with politics.
“I don’t have any idea what he’s talking about,” Lawrence said. “All I’ve done is put out facts.”
Easley denied Lawrence had anything to do with the suit. Though Lawrence isn’t personally named, his professional capacity as chief executive for the town is lumped in with the defendants.
“I’ve got nothing to do with the mayor,” Easley said. “Let the voters decide who they want for the mayor. I ain’t got no say in that election.”
He did not, however, shy away from sharply criticizing Wiggins, whose actions he called “shameful” and “a disgrace.”
“If I was a registered voter in Caledonia I wouldn’t vote for him, especially if he’s calling the mayor a liar and insulting that nice lady (the female employee),” Easley said.
Lawrence is serving his second, non-consecutive term as mayor. He was first elected to a 4-year term in 2005 and again in 2013.
Wiggins is a first-term alderman.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.