Newton County, Missouri – The Newton County Commission voted on January 2, 2025, to dismiss two lawsuits filed by former commissioners.
One lawsuit from 2021 challenged the use of the historic courtroom, while the other from November 2024 concerned County Treasurer Gina Rodriguez’s choice of a financial depository.
Presiding Commissioner Daniel Swem agreed, describing it as a step toward eliminating wasteful legal spending.
“We finally have a Commission made up of problem solvers willing to sit at a table and act as adults,” said Presiding Commissioner Daniel Swem.
“Today’s vote achieves something I’ve been working toward for my entire time in office and puts an end to wasteful spending on attorney’s fees.”
Furthermore, District 2 Commissioner Mark Bridges emphasized the value of collaboration, saying, “We all work for our citizens, and the ability to sit down and resolve our problems is the most basic part of the job.”
The Commission has instructed its attorney to file the dismissals.