As political discord rages in a small town north of Birmingham, arrest warrants were issued today for the mayor and two city employees.

Laverne Knight, the city clerk in Tarrant, told AL.com she filed criminal charges because Mayor Wayman Newton is blocking access to records she needs to do her job.

One of the warrants charges Newton with “obstructing a governmental operation.”

“I’m a nonpolitical appointee,” Knight told AL.com. “No way is this political. He wants to control the city clerk.”

The mayor, speaking at a press conference Tuesday evening, called the warrant a political scare tactic by his adversaries — council members, the police chief and now the clerk — in the town of 6,000.

“Also, three council members have already started campaigning for my seat in next year’s election,” Newton said “This isn’t just about running for office. It’s about them using dirty tricks to gain power, even if it means undermining our city values and putting our employees’ livelihoods at risk.”

Tracie Threadford, president of the Tarrant city council, told AL.com that the council had no role in the arrest warrants.

“I haven’t declared that I’m running for any office at this time,” she said. “My only concern is for this city. I nor anyone else on this council has instructed anyone to issue warrants for the mayor or anyone else. We don’t have that authority.”

In addition to the warrant for Newton’s arrest, the clerk also signed documents accusing another city employee of obstructing a governmental operation and accusing a third of harassment.

Neither of the three had been arrested and formally charged as of Tuesday evening.

Newton called the warrant “bogus.”

“We’ve been informed that the city judge is going to recall these warrants,” he told reporters.

Wendell Major, the police chief in Tarrant, told AL.com that the warrants are legitimate and not based on any political witch hunt.

Origins of the arrest warrants began with a dispute between Newton and the clerk over questions she raised regarding the hiring of a new public works director and other documents.

The small town north of Birmingham in recent years is known for the antipathy between the mayor and city council. Meetings are frequently tense and combative. As a result, the mayor and council have been at odds in multiple lawsuits over the last two years, complicating normally routine operations.

Knight, who recently marked one year as clerk, was selected by both the mayor and council to serve the city. She’s the fourth person to hold that position since 2020.

Knight told AL.com that she was forced to take the legal action.

“I’m the record keeper. It’s my job, my name if things are not done correctly in the office,” Knight said. “This is not pollical at all. It’s just being prudent and it’s being transparent as a local government.

“Other city clerks don’t have problems getting access to records. Why doesn’t he give me access?”

Newton dismissed the clerk’s accusation and said Knight has chosen to join the council in conspiring against him. He said his relationship with the clerk was congenial until recently when he spoke to her about some performance issues.

“She has been spoken to about some things and some questionable decisions that she’s made here,” Newton said. “She has been talking extensively quite a bit with the council and she has actually said on several occasions that she works for the council.”

Newton during his press conference also restated his previous accusations that Chief Major has “doctored” crime statistics in the city.

The police chief recently won a protracted legal battle to reinstate him after multiple suspensions by the mayor. The council unanimously supports Major and fought Newton’s efforts to oust him.

Newton said people responsible for the arrest warrants will be held accountable.

“I want folks to know that these intimation efforts won’t stop us from doing what’s right,” Newton said. “We are going to keep pushing for accountability, transparency and justice in our city.”

Knight said she sought warrants against the other two employees because they are complicit in violating operations rules.

“I have no choice. I don’t think any other city clerk has this problem,” Knight said. “What is there to hide?”