Ethics Complaint Filed Against Brentwood Mayor Mark Gorman

The “ethics inquiry” into Brentwood Mayor Mark Gorman has now evolved into an official ethics complaint, alleging that he used his position on the Board of Commissioners to obtain private business deals and failed to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when voting as a commissioner.

The ethics complaint came in the form of an email and letter on April 25 sent to the city by John I. Harris III, a lawyer representing the Governors Club Property Owners Association (POA).

On April 9, Harris sent the city an initial letter, entitled, "Ethics Inquiry: Mark Gorman,” which raised questions about what the POA says are the mayor’s potential conflicts of interest, stemming from the association’s  2022 employment and subsequent termination of A to Z Subdivision Management, which they claim is owned by Gorman and his wife, Ann. 

The Governors Club POA employed A to Z in 2022 and has since terminated its contract with the company.

The Governors Club POA letter states that Ann Gorman is the actual owner of A to Z, but that in reality, the mayor is handling operations and making decisions.

Business records on the secretary of state’s website indicate attorney J. Trent Lehman is the business’ registered agent. An official owner of the company is unclear, but the A to Z website states Mark and Ann “set out to deliver superior HOA services.”

Gorman did not speak to the Williamson Scene on the details of the “ethics inquiry,” only calling it a “smear letter.” He did provide an email from the city attorney about the inquiry to the Williamson Scene which clarified that the April 9 letter did not rise to the level of an ethics complaint, but was seeking public records related to Gorman.

That records request has since led to the Governors Club POA to file the April 25 ethics complaint which alleges four violations of city code. The city confirms this new letter is considered a complaint.

The complaint specifically alleges that Gorman has both an “employment interest” and a “personal interest” in the A to Z contract with the neighborhood and the related zoning concerns; that he has failed to disclose any “personal interest” when voting on relevant matters before the commission; and that he leveraged his position on the board to aid his business.

The complaint focuses on what is said are “unresolved” ongoing alleged zoning violations related to stormwater detention and retention, as well as membership requirements at the club, involving The Governors Golf Club (TGGC) and managing agent, KS Investors Governors Club, LLC, also known as Kemper Sports, which manages the golf club.

According to the complaint, during the 2022 interview process of subdivision management companies, “Mark Gorman assured the Governors Club POA Board that his position as a Brentwood Commissioner would not give rise to a conflict of interest. However, he also represented to the board that his official position with the City of Brentwood would facilitate communications with other city officials and would significantly aid in moving these issues forward toward resolution. … Mark Gorman assured the board in 2022 that if it hired him (A to Z) for subdivision management that he personally would fly to meet with Kemper to address these issues. He also indicated that his status with Brentwood was a benefit that other applicants did not have.”

Governors Club POA said it also employed A to Z Access Control, an off-shoot company to “provide on-site security officers,” and reports that it paid Gorman more than $1 million by the end of 2024.

The inquiry highlighted the relationship with Gorman and Russell Morgan, a Brentwood attorney at Bradley who represents  TGGC/Kemper. Morgan promoted an April 8 election meet and greet with Gorman and Commissioner Allison Spears, both of whom are running for reelection on May 6.

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“It is not clear if Mr. Gorman was in fact communicating with the relevant officials in Brentwood to aid in getting the zoning violations addressed by TGGC/Kemper or if perhaps he was stonewalling those issues for reasons presently unknown to the board. The fact is, however, he assured the board in late 2022 that he would handle these issues as both the managing agent and also as a city commissioner.”

The ethics complaint requests that Gorman disclose any potential conflicts of interest and not take part in voting on issues related to the related parties in issues that come before the commission.

“This is yet another false claim against me conveniently around election time,” Gorman said in an email to the Williamson Scene. “There have been many since I was first elected. The Brentwood voters see through this smear campaign.”

It's unclear at this time when the commission will address the complaint, but it is not part of the commission’s April 28 agenda.

On April 14, the commission voted 4-2 to hire an outside attorney to review a separate ethics complaint against fellow Commissioner Rhea Little, who is also running for reelection.