by Heather Graf
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Tuesday night, Metro Council will weigh in on a resolution asking the Davidson County Clerk to resign, after a scandal first uncovered by NewsChannel5 Investigates.
As he prepares for that vote, John Arriola appears to be trying to fend off a second resolution sponsored by Councilman Charlie Tygard, aimed at his bank account.
"The resolution I'm sponsoring basically says, for the 3,000 couples who were forced to pay the $40 wedding fee, I'm asking the County Clerk to consider a system to refund that money to anyone who doesn't feel like they should have to pay it, or don't want to pay it," said Tygard.
It was Councilman Robert Duvall who sponsored the resolution asking for Arriola's resignation. Tygard said he plans to vote in favor of that resolution, but he felt so strongly about trying to get those people their money back, he decided to file a resolution of his own.
He then e-mailed John Arriola, to make him aware of his intentions.
His first e-mail said, in part: "It would seem to me that the honorable thing to do would be to contact those couples... offering to refund the $40 fee/gratuity to those who want a refund."
In response, Arriola wrote: "If you had been following the operations of my office, you would have learned that I have returned monies to any couple that so requested... Therefore, I respectfully request that you withdraw your resolution."
Tygard then wrote Arriola a second e-mail that included several follow-up questions.
He said Arriola did not answer those questions. Instead, he again responded, "please withdraw your resolution."
"It's the political way to handle things, but it's very frustrating," said Tygard. "Because I said John, I'm an elected official, I'm doing my job. You were elected to do your job. Let me do my job, and you do yours."
The Davidson County Clerk has been under fire ever since NewsChannel 5's Chief Investigative Reporter Phil Williams exposed him for collecting thousands of dollars for performing weddings on taxpayer time.
Tygard said he has no plans to withdraw his resolution.
"He has become very defensive and not communicative to council members during this period," he said of Arriola.
Tygard expects some heated debate at Tuesday's council meetings, when both his resolution and Duvall's resolution reach the floor.
"There's a lot of distrust with elected officials," he said. "This is just another one of those cases where people are saying enough is enough."
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