SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - One week after state auditors issued Southaven Mayor Greg Davis a new and final payment demand, they still haven't heard from him.
A $62,000 check is due now, but as long as Davis is at an undisclosed health care facility, they're waiting on him just like everyone else.
"We have not heard from him," said spokesperson Lisa Shoemaker with the auditor's office.
"The bottom line is no one really knows where he's at right now," said Southaven resident Cheryl Drummond.
As long as he's away, the $62,000 Davis must repay the state is on hold.
"There's something to that I think," said Drummond. "He was around I think before the end of the year, before he went away for the holiday. Now he's gone away for health issues or something."
Davis' lawyer said the mayor's been away since Christmas. He may not be back until February.
"You do have some extenuating circumstances here where the mayor is not available," Shoemaker said. "I doubt there's anyone that's authorized to make that type of payment on his behalf while he is out of town."
"You kind of begin to have a lot of questions," Drummond said. "It's significant to the story that he's away."
Southaven citizens donated much of the $96,000 Davis repaid the state in December.
The auditor notified Davis' lawyer they're waiting for the remaining $62,000, but that may not matter.
"The demand isn't issued against the attorney or anyone else paying on his behalf, it's to the mayor. I just don't know any realistic way to expect payment until the mayor is available and out of treatment," Shoemaker said.
As an elected official, Davis is covered by a $100,000 bond that's like an insurance policy.
That bond is how the auditor could recoup the $62,000, but that doesn't mean Davis is off the hook. He would still have to repay the bonding company.
