Clock Ticking for Grambling Mayor--Could Jail Future

The embattled mayor of Grambling could walk into a Lincoln Parish courtroom in a business suit. She could walk out in new jewelry--hand cuffs. But the decision of a Union Parish judge could change the course of the Citys drama tomorrow morning, putting her behind bars for 60 days. For Mayor Andrus the clock is ticking. "She hides behind the Larson act,” explains Edward Jones, a lifetime Grambling resident. “The Larson Act, the Larson Act. In most cases its the Andrus Act." City officials and residents of Grambling, alike are waiting to see what a 3rd circuit court judge will do. They say they have watched their mayor spend thousands of the citys money and disobey judge’s orders before. This time they say enough is enough. "It is unfortunate that the Mayor has been so, for lack of a better word, so obstinate, so cantankerous,” continued Jones. Just willful." Earlier this year Grambling officials say the mayor tried to fire the City’s accountant after he blew the whistle about more than 20 thousand dollars missing from Grambling bank accounts. Most recently, they say more than 15 thousand vanished from accounts--all on pay-outs and checks to one city employee. Jones says 3 judges have told the mayor she is wrong, yet she has continued to do what she wants. "When she is asked about it she says ‘I understand what the judges have said, but I disagree.’ She doesnt have the latitude to disagree," continued Jones. According to Grambling officials, the mayor was in city hall working in her office today. In what might very well be her last day of freedom she issued a statement. In it she referred to the special meeting called by the city council. She said concerns discussed deteriorated into a knock-down, drag-out battle royal of the discussion of controversial issues that should be formally investigated. A controversy that has her sitting at the center of it. But, the question is how have citizens allowed their claims to go own for so long and whats changed their minds? "It is probably with the advent of more people coming to the meetings and hearing how she contradicts herself,” according to Jones. “She constantly contradicts herself, even in the course of a meeting."