Why Frank Munsch Did Not Run Again

FBI INVESTIGATION DELVES INTO CITY'S FILES, FINANCIAL RECORDS;FOCUS INCLUDES LAND SALE, POLICE PENSION AND PAYROLL FILES;EX-MAYOR'S ACTIONS WILL BE CHECKED
BYLINE: Margaret Gillerman; Of The Post-Dispatch
SECTION: NORTH POST, Pg. 1
LENGTH: 584 words

Some Overland residents had hoped that the political battles, personal attacks and embarrassing headlines would go away with the April municipal election. But it wasn't to be.

Overland now is embroiled in an FBI investigation. The U.S. attorney's office has subpoenaed 22 sets of documents, tapes and financial records from City Hall.

A second subpoena asked for municipal files involving property that former Mayor Frank Munsch or his family owned and later sold. Last week, federal authorities came to collect the information, which will be reviewed by a federal grand jury. No one has yet been charged with anything. Among the records sought in the subpoenas are:

* All municipal records relating to two properties bought by Munsch, as well as any regulations or condemnation proceedings associated with the properties. His political opponents say he acted improperly. Munsch denies it and says he did nothing wrong.

* Investigative police reports concerning irregularities in pension benefits of a former police officer.

* Payroll registers and salary scales and various personnel files.

* Credit-card statements and vouchers relating to Munsch's reimbursements for business travel and other expenses.

* Disbursements to former City Clerk Gail Waggoner and other information about her.

* Invoices and correspondence pertaining to legal fees paid to City Attorney Robert Herman and other lawyers. Herman was out of town and could not be reached.

* An investigative report prepared by lawyer Francis Slay pertaining to sexual-harassment and hostile-work-environment allegations in Overland.

Munsch's political opponents have accused him of using his office to profit on property on Morven Avenue and Lackland Road. Munsch says his opponents are "a bunch of sore losers complaining about things that never did happen."

The subpoenas involved allegations that had been raised by Munsch's critics, including resident Jimmy Smith, who said he had spoken several times to the FBI. "This is big stuff, not rinky dink," Smith said.

Smith said he became involved because Overland had a history of political corruption. He says some people have been "as crooked as a barrel of snakes."

"I don't want to be grandstanding," he said. "I just want to get things done. I haven't given up on hope for improvement."

Smith says he went to several state and county offices with his complaints before going to the FBI. "The only thing I want is the truth to come out," he said. "If I'm wrong, I'll listen."
Smith is a political ally and friend of Councilman Mark Brown, a Munsch opponent who ran for mayor in the last election and lost.

The current mayor, Robert Dody, defends Munsch and says the critics have dealt in "untruths
and innuendos."

"It's just ridiculous," he said. "The critics are trying to make something out of nothing. If there's something wrong, it needs to be taken care of. If not, let's get this over."

Dody says he does not mean that Smith needs to be checked but rather some other Munsch opponents. Dody and Public Works Director Charles Karam received subpoenas for the records. Dody has said that neither he nor Karam were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury conducting the investigation.

Lisa Ridolfi, Overland's accountant, says she believes that the allegations stem from the "same old political game which has been going on in Overland for more than a year. The taxpayers will be the ones who ultimately will pay."

Copyright 1998 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.