Multiple civil penalties issued to both candidates vying for 2nd Ward seat on Hannibal City Council

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Mike Dobson asked at a candidate forum last month why constituents should trust April Azotea, the woman who could replace him in the 2nd Ward seat on the Hannibal City Council, with the city’s budget based on her tax status and business handlings. 

The same questions were not asked during that forum about the tax status and business handlings of Tammy Riley, the other woman who could replace Dobson.

Azotea led Riley by 17 votes in the April 8 municipal election, but since she didn’t secure 50 percent of the total vote between the race’s original three candidates, a runoff election between the top two candidates is required to determine who will be the next 2nd Ward Council Member, per the city’s charter. 

The race entered new territory when a threat of legal action against Muddy River News was made April 8 by a family member of a sitting councilman in an attempt to stymie efforts to provide the voters of Hannibal with information about each candidate.

Judgements against both candidates have been issued for improper tax filings and other matters related to finance. Public records indicate that only one candidate, Azotea, has paid their civil penalties in full, while the other, Riley, still owes more than $100,000.

The analysis of each candidate’s record has been limited to cases involving taxes and business handlings. Traffic violations, divorce proceedings and cases that were ultimately dismissed are not included.

Multiple civil penalties issued to Riley for nearly two decades have gone unpaid

Public records indicate Riley owes roughly $104,000 to various entities. That figure does not include interest, court costs or other associated fees, nor does it reflect any pending payments that have not been noted in the public record.

2006 — Gem City Account Service v. Tammy Riley: A judgement was issued in Illinois against Riley for $14,610 plus costs and interest in January 2006 for an unpaid balance with the business. The matter was transferred to the Missouri court system in 2008. The case was originally filed in December 2005, less than a month after the death of Riley’s husband.

“Things were a little chaotic, of course, and I got behind on some things,” she said of the time following her husband’s passing during an April 14 interview with Muddy River News.

Public record indicates the amount has still not been paid nearly 20 years after the original judgement was issued. 

2009 — Department of Revenue v. Tammy Riley: A judgement was issued against Riley for $3,431.79 in December 2009 for unpaid taxes. The Department of Revenue wrote to the Marion County Circuit Clerk in February 2010 to say the amount had been paid in full.

2014 — Irvine Finance (doing business as Wise Finance) v. Tammy Riley: A default judgement was issued against Riley for $3,160.95 plus 58.45 percent annual interest and court costs in April 2014 for an unpaid balance with the business. Cornell Law School defines a default judgement as one that is ruled in favor of a plaintiff when the defendant fails to show up in court. 

Roughly $1,700 was withheld from Riley’s wages between January and October of 2010 and paid to the office of E. Rex Bradley, the plaintiff’s attorney. The last update to the case, made in August 2017, showed Riley still owed more than $2,000.

Riley said the balance had been paid, contrary to public record, and that Bradley’s office could confirm. When Muddy River News contacted Bradley’s office in Louisiana, Mo., the person who answered the phone did not confirm that the payment had been fulfilled and declined to comment on the matter.

2018 — Department of Revenue v. Tammy Riley: A judgement was issued against Riley for $2,191.59 in September 2018 for unpaid taxes from the 2015 and 2016 filing periods. A July 2024 application for garnishment listed the remaining balance due as $1,447.10. The application was released in August 2024 for an unspecified reason. When contacted by MRN, the Department of Revenue also did not provide a reason. Public record still indicates the balance has yet to be paid in full. (Because of the uncertainties regarding the status of this payment, it was not counted towards the $104,000 figure owed to previous entities.)

2019 — Hannibal Regional Hospital v. Tammy Riley: A default judgement was issued against Riley for $3,255.07 plus 9 percent annual interest and court costs in June 2019 for an unpaid balance with the hospital. Public record indicates this balance has yet to be paid.

2022 — Division of Employment Security v. Tammy Riley: A judgement was rendered against Riley for $62,502.39 plus all court costs, interest and penalties in August 2022 after a certificate of assessment of contributions, interest and penalties was issued by the Missouri Division of Employment Security, which administers the state’s unemployment insurance program. Public record indicates this balance has yet to be paid.

2023 — U.S. Foods, Inc. v. Riverside Restaurant and Tammy Riley: A default judgement was issued against Riley for $23,701.74 in August 2023, likely for an unpaid balance with U.S. Foods, Inc. The process server logged multiple unsuccessful attempts to serve Riley with a court summons on at least four occasions but Riley did not answer.

“Again defendant appears to be home but refuses to come to the door after repeated knocking. Vehicle present,” the process server noted in June 2023.

Riley said the Covid pandemic was the reason cases were brought against her by the Division of Employment Security and U.S. Foods, and that she makes $2,700 worth of monthly payments towards the balance owed for both cases.

“The two (cases) for 2022 (and) 2023, somewhere in that area, for taxes and the one for U.S. foods, those were all pertaining to my restaurant that I opened Mother’s Day of 2019,” Riley said. “And then 10 months later, Covid shut us down. You can’t bankroll yourself in 10 months, obviously … We were down to carry out and delivery, and it was pretty sad for everyone, not just me.”

Civil penalties issued to Azotea on three occasions

2015 — Synchrony Bank v. April Azotea: A judgement was entered against Azotea in April 2015 for $3,486.67 plus interest and court costs. Azotea said the case was brought forth due to an unpaid balance on a credit card. Records indicate the fine was paid in full in October 2017.

2017 — Department of Revenue v. April Azotea: A judgement was entered against Azotea in March 2017 for $3,573.90 after the Department of Revenue filed a certificate of tax lien, which occurs when a taxpayer doesn’t pay their taxes on time or at all. The fine was paid in full in August 2017.

2024 — Missouri Department of Revenue revokes Azotea’s sales tax license: Azotea’s sales tax license for her business, La Azotea Lounge, was revoked in September 2024 for incomplete sales tax payments made in November 2021 and October 2022. After being informed by the state of the amount owed, she said her accountant submitted the necessary documents and payments to remedy the issue, which are currently processing. (This matter was not brought forth in civil court. It is only included in this analysis to provide a status update on Dobson’s allegations.)

Constituents of the 2nd Ward can return to the polls Tuesday to make their pick. Polling places and times are the same as they were for the municipal election. Voters can visit the Marion County website for precinct-specific polling addresses.