(Southaven, MS 11/10/2011) Month after month, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis charged everything from $1000 meals, luxury hotels, even furniture to the City of Southaven over the 3 years.
He says it was all for tourism, like Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Biloxi in June 2009 for $7,588.
He was back in 2010 charging another $7, 218, listing it as a Convention.
The Mayor did a lot of dining in the name of tourism.
Big dollars were spent at the Mesquite Chop House.
In October of 2010, he spent $423, December $644, and February 2011, $2000.
We went to the Mesquite where the manager told us Davis was a regular customer and held events there.
There were also charges to the Ritz Carlton New Orleans $1,092 (October 2010) and $1, 842 dollars for Dana Hotel and Spa in Chicago.
But we found other charges that might raise concern.
$1,629 to the Great American Home Store, a furniture store in Southaven. A note says it was for the fire department. Then there are charges to D Vine Wines Liquor Store in Southaven. in two days two charges totaling $533.
Workers confirmed, the Mayor usually made a visit around the holidays. “He came in buying for a Chirstmas party supposedly. I assume that’s what it was,” says one worker. But the charges we saw weren’t in December at all, but July. And those are just on Davis’ city issued credit card.
He also racked up monthly charges on his personal credit card the city paid for.
No itemized expenses…just a listing for phone, travel and training and tourism. This is just what the city paid on his personal credit card in 2010: July – $16,300 August – $3,100 September – $5,200 October – $6,900
That’s not even including the monthly reimbursement he received for mileage.Hand written scribbled odometer readings were turned in with no explanation, but reimbursed each month for Davis using his private vehicle.
Here is what the City of Southaven paid back to Mayor Davis for mileage this year: January – $1,379 February – $767 March – $1,586 April – $1,322.
We tried to get comments from Mayor Greg Davis, but all this week his staff has told us he is not available.