ÿWPC^  X;¸(ðÚÝ=ùù»û®Î¿.ó½ +CÅwK†rkÍ!¦}pfvF³Ðx]»ä¸·Wh;м(g±õ ’‘ÅS—?J¨˜‡ËÀ¼²´²"nþDƒ â¤ç¦–ŸeeoãýæìkûHOz‚à.–M¸ÍŸeE@œU ˆÆúh0H!ý&Øô×Ö¸‘ÞÅ›®¯¸*¸Wì;ϯœëwÆF‹d»Îx¯ùFxDµæúTœÆ†|ɳ=Açòã"Ñ%É=ÓÜÊ ¤Ï_BgÏÆUC0F™Ý’–žøÛlµšpŽõƒ2DŽ)Ø7[ŠGz‘ÒƒÙIdh·“Ô¡‚Ì„ swiu|ïñ_jû½°‰^¡8mF‰*q cäu#YÞ8 8U¶ba¡­De4= /iÿŽx~Öq¾¾ÁuÕºL³?–Á…[«˜ÜaL¾¦ž2£µéBú¡X•&Ť„Ô,¨ÕséO¶#ù˜uÚÅcºŒ}¤ÙQMáO‡²ÿç” ÁÎV¬Ùª6±`·]åÒU¥kÆê‰0ÇætÃ@—Î&h}•´» õKö®HÄhuãe9!±I÷Óg,°¨,˜»ì%‰ìã·ÿ¾Í\·&u+ÉN?OtËDß°…4F Z 0(i ‘ w@™ »Ù UN” 0lâ 0DN M’ UNß -U:K…U:££££££££££UBÝ % B%%%% D3BBB 0Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu AO¹Æ 0DÎ D/ BAýhµ&ÔøÔô3|x<($¡¡ &E'(D)D*Õ+ ,-E.Ó€: ±Ý ƒüÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÐ  ÐÒܰÒÔ€ Xû×XXXÔÔ€ &ÏŠ&X Xû×ÔÔ‡&ÏŠ&& &ÏŠÔÔ‡ŠŠ&&ÏŠÔà 4 àÔ#†&ÏŠ&ŠŠÃ#ÔPlaintiffs€pointed€out€that€statutory€law€prohibits€public€officials€from€having€certainÐ ˜ Ðconflicts€of€interest.€òòSee€óóT.C.A.€ðð12„4„101(a)(1).€€This€issue€is€not€properly€before€this€Court€underÐ rj Ðthe€ouster€petition.€€òòSee€óóT.C.A.€ðð29„35„101,€and€òòState€v.€Wardóó,€163€Tenn.€265,€43€S.W.2d€217,€218Ð L D Ð(1931).Ô#† &ÏŠ&&&ÏŠ¤#Ô(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular((3úÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó CÝ ƒüÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular Ô€ Xj~XXXÔÔ€ îìÈîX Xj~ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ Òæî îìÈÔÐ  ÐÌò òJune€28,€1999Ð ¶¶ ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ ôzš ô ÒæÔAppellate€CourtÐ –– ÐClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular Ô€Xj~XXXÔÔ€îìÈîXXj~ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ÒæîîìÈÔÐ  ÐÌò òJune€25,€1999Ð ¶¶ ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôzš ôÒæÔAppellate€CourtÐ –– ÐClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX d&&&&'ÿÿdxd(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝѰÑÒܰÒÑ ý ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€ÚuXXdÈXXdð7ÑÔ€X@<XXXÔÔ€Š4ÍŠXX@<Ôñ.ñ›ñ.ññ:ññ.ñßr€ *<,(j 8 `€€@E  tt0"H¨Órßñ.ññ:ññ:ñßr€*<,(j 8 `€€@E  tt0"H¨Órßñ:ññ.ñ›ñ.ñ€€€€à@j j ‚àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ  ÐÌà@>>%‚àAT€KNOXVILLEˆÌó óÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€EX€REL.,à ì à)€C/A€NO.€03A01„9810„CV„349Ð   ÐNEIL€PLEMONS,€MELANIE€à ” àà ì à)Ð  ÐGOODWIN,€DONNA€GODDARD,à ì à)€ROANE€CIRCUITÐ  ÐHOMER€HARMON,€DOUGLASà ” àà ì à)Ð   ÐSMITH,€WINDELL€BULLARD,à ” àà ì à)€HON.€RUSSELL€SIMMONS,€JR.,Ð   ÐJERRY€KERLEY,€LARRY€FUTRELL,à ì à)€JUDGEÐ   ÐFRANK€COLEY,€DONALD€à ” àà ì à)Ð   ÐSCANDLYN,€JACK€MATLOCK,€à ì à)Ð   МJEFF€›MIZE,€LUTHER€MANNING,à ì à)Ð  ÐRALPH€POTTER,€and€DARRELL€à ì à)Ð  ÐGODARD,à Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ìà 4 àPlaintiffs„Appellants,à ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ìv.à 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)ÌHAROLD€L..€WESTER,€Mayor€of€theà ì à)Ð  ÐCity€of€Harriman,€Tennessee,à ” àà ì àœ)€AFFIRMED›Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àœ)€AS›Ìà 4 àDefendant„Appellee.à ” àà ì àœ)€MODIFIED›Ð   ÐÌÌœGERALD›€LARGEN,€Kingston,€for€Plaintiffs„Appellants.ÌÌJON€G.€ROACH,€WATSON,€HOLLOW€&€REEVES,€P.L.C.,€Knoxville,€forÏDefendant„Appellee.ÌÌÌà@%‚àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óˆÐ )"" ÐÌÌà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àFranks,€J.ÌÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àThe€Trial€Judge€dismissed€plaintiffsðð€ouster€petition€filed€against€HaroldÏL.€Wester,€the€Mayor€of€the€City€of€Harriman,€and€plaintiffs€have€appealed.€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€Plaintiffs,€a€group€of€citizens€of€the€City€of€Harriman,€brought€thisÏaction€alleging€that€the€œMayor›€had€violated€his€oath€of€office.€€The€defendant,€havingÏbeen€elected€as€Mayor€in€1995,€has€served€in€public€office€prior€to€that€election,Ïhaving€been€elected€Mayor€in€1983€and€again€in€1991,€and€having€been€elected€to€theÏCity€Council€in€1971,€1973,€1977,€and€1981.€€€€€Ð :þ23ýG Ðà 4 àà Œ àDuring€the€entire€period€of€time€that€defendant€has€served€in€a€cityÏoffice,€he€was€and€is€an€employee€of€the€Harriman€Utility€Board€(HUB).€€€For€the€pastÏ20€years,€he€has€been€a€water€plant€operator€for€the€œBoard.€€The›€Board€was€establishedÏby€the€city€council€under€the€provisions€of€the€Municipal€Electric€Plant€Law€of€1935,Ïcodified€at€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€7„52„101€òòet€seq.óó€€Pursuant€to€the€statute,€the€HUB€hasÐ  Ðcontrol€over€the€electrical€distribution€system,€and€the€water,€sewer€and€natural€gasÏsystems.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€7„52„111.€€The€Board€employs€the€General€ManagerÐ   Ðof€the€Utility,€who€employs€the€other€employees.€Ìà 4 àà Œ àFive€members€of€the€Board€are€appointed€by€the€Mayor,€with€theÏapproval€of€the€city€council.€€One€of€the€Board€members€is€also€a€city€council€member.€ÏWhen€defendant€appointed€two€of€the€board€members,€the€vote€of€the€city€council€onÏapproval€was€a€tie.€€The€Mayor€broke€the€tie€by€voting€in€favor€of€the€candidate€that€heÏappointed.€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€city€council€is€empowered€to€abolish€the€HUB,€and€in€fact€has€votedÏto€so€abolish€the€board,€but€defendant€vetoed€the€ordinance€abolishing€the€board.€€AnÏattempt€to€over„ride€the€veto€failed.Ìà 4 àà Œ àEach€time€defendant€took€public€office,€including€the€most€recent€timeÏin€1995,€he€took€the€oath€prescribed€in€Article€V,€Section€1€of€the€Charter€of€the€CityÏof€Harriman,€which€provides:ÌÓÓà0 4 àà8Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àSection€1.€€òòOath€of€officersóó.€€Every€officer€elected€orÐ -&& Ðappointed€under€the€provisions€of€this€Act€shall,€before€enteringÏupon€the€duties€of€his€office,€take,€subscribe,€and€file€in€the€officeÏof€the€city€clerk,€and€[sic]€oath€in€the€following€form:€ð ðI,Ï______________,€do€solemnly€swear€that€I€am€a€citizen€of€theÏUnited€States€and€of€the€State€of€Tennessee;€that€I€will€supportÏthe€Constitution€of€the€United€States€and€of€the€State€ofÏTennessee,€and€will€faithfully€and€honestly€perform€the€duties€ofÏthe€office€of€____________€to€the€best€of€my€ability;€that€I€haveÏnot€and€while€holding€said€office€will€not€have€any€directÏpersonal€interest€in€any€contract€with€the€city€or€any€departmentÏor€institution€thereof,€that€I€am€nor€[sic]€indebted€to€the€State,€theÏCounty€of€Roane,€or€the€City€of€Harriman,€on€account€of€anyÏlawful€tax€against€me€now€due€and€unpaid,€and€that€I€do€not€oweÐ :33 Ðthe€City€of€Harriman€any€past€due€and€unpaid€indebtedness;€that€IÏhave€not€been€convicted€at€any€time€of€malfeasance€in€office,Ïbribery,€or€other€corrupt€practices€or€crimes,€and€do€not€standÏcharged€by€the€attorney„general€of€Roane€County€or€indicted€onÏaccount€of€alleged€offense€against€the€law.€€So€help€me,€God.ððÐ Œ Ð Œ Ð  Мà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àAnd›€every€such€officer€or€person€who€shall€take€œand€subscribe›Ïsuch€oath,€shall€be€guilty€of€perjury€in€case€the€oath€shall€be€false€orÏshall€be€violated,€and€shall€be€liable€to€indictment€for€perjury€by€anyÏgrand€jury€of€Roane€County,€and€upon€conviction€thereof€shall€beÏpunished€as€now€provided€by€law€in€case€of€perjuryòò.€€óóIf€any€personÐ 0(  Ðelected€or€appointed€to€office€shall€fail€to€qualify€within€the€time€hereinÏprovided,€his€election€or€appointment€shall€fail€and€the€office€be€deemedÏvacant.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌÓúÓArticle€V€of€the€City€Charter€also€provides€in€relevant€part:ÌÓÓœà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àSection›€2.€€òòOfficers€not€to€have€personal€interest€in€city€œcontractsóó.›€Ð LD ÐIt€shall€be€unlawful€for€any€member€of€the€city€council€or€other€officerÏto€have€any€direct€personal€interest€in€any€contract€with€the€City€ofÏHarriman,€or€any€of€its€departments€or€institutions,€and€any€suchÏcontract€wherein€any€such€officer€of€the€City€of€Harriman€shall€have€anyÏinterest€as€aforesaid,€adverse€to€the€interest€of€the€said€City€of€Harriman,Ïshall,€at€the€option€of€the€mayor€or€of€the€city€council,€be€void,€and€eachÏofficer€and€every€contractor€under€any€contract€so€declared€void,€shallÏseverally€forfeit€to€the€city€a€sum€not€exceeding€one€thousand€dollars€toÏbe€recovered€in€a€civil€action.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌÓàÓà 4 à€€€€€€€€€€€The€Trial€Judge€concluded€that€defendantððs€employment€contract€withÏHUB€was€not€a€the€type€of€contract€mentioned€in€the€Oath.€€The€Court€further€held,Ïhowever,€œñ#ñassuming€ñ#ññ$ñthat›€ñ$ñthe›€œmayorñ%ñððs€eñ%ññ&ññ%ñnokñ%ññ&ññ'ñmployment€was€a€contract,€heñ'ñ›€would€not€be€guilty€ofÏperjury€because€he€did€not€possess€the€requisite€intent€to€deceive€by€making€falseÏstatements,€thus€he€was€not€subject€to€a€criminal€indictment€or€official€misconduct€andÏcould€not€be€subject€to€ouster.Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€Mayor,€employed€by€œHUB,›€has€worked€there€during€all€the€time€heÏhas€œservñ-ñicñ-ñed›€on€the€city€council€as€Mayor.€€He€never€tried€to€hide€his€employment,€andÏtestified€that€he€did€not€think€his€employment€would€prohibit€him€from€serving€on€theÏcity€council€or€as€Mayor.Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€Charter€of€the€City€of€Harriman€prohibits€city€officials€from€havingÏð ðany€direct€personal€interest€in€any€contract€with€the€City€of€Harriman,€or€any€of€itsÐ Ð9È22 Ðdepartments€or€institutions,€and€any€such€contract€wherein€any€such€officer€of€the€CityÏof€Harriman€shall€have€any€interest€as€aforesaid,€adverse€to€the€interest€of€the€said€CityÏof€Harriman,€shall,€at€the€option€of€the€mayor€or€of€the€city€council,€be€void,€.€.€.€.ðð€ÏThe€Mayor€said€in€his€oath€that€he€did€not€and€would€not€while€holding€said€officeÏð ðhave€any€direct€personal€interest€in€òòany€contractóó€with€the€city€or€any€department€orÐ (  Ðinstitution€thereof,€.€.€.€.ððÌà 4 àà Œ àThe€issue€thus€becomes€whether,€his€employment€with€the€HUBÏestablished€a€direct€personal€interest€in€any€contract€with€the€city€or€departmentÏthereof.€€It€is€not€disputed€that€the€HUB€is€a€department€of€the€city.€œWhen›€examiningÏan€act€of€legislation,€the€ð ðprimary€rule€of€statutory€construction€is€the€intention€of€theÏlegislative€body.€This€intent€is€ascertained€primarily€from€the€natural€and€ordinaryÏmeaning€of€the€language€used,€when€read€in€the€context€of€the€entire€statute,€andÏwithout€any€forced€or€subtle€construction€to€limit€or€extend€the€import€of€theÏlanguage.ðð€€òòDingman€v.€Harvellóó,€814€S.W.2d€362,€366€(Tenn.€App.€1991).€€Ð p!h Ðà 4 àà Œ àAn€employment€relationship,€whether€reduced€to€a€written€contract€orÏnot,€is€contractual€in€nature.€€òòHamby€v.€Genesco,€Inc.,óó€627€S.W.2d€373,€375€(Tenn.Ð €%x ÐApp.€1982).€€The€City€Charter€prohibits€ð ðany€contract,ðð€without€limitation,€so€long€asÏthe€official€has€a€direct€personal€interest€in€that€contract.€€The€natural€consequence€ofÏan€employment€contract€is€that€the€person€employed€has€a€very€direct€and€personalÏinterest€in€that€contract.€€Therefore,€employing€the€natural€and€ordinary€meaning€ofÏthe€language€of€the€Charter,€an€employment€contract€œñ(ñeasily›€ñ(ñfalls›€within€the€City€CharterððsÏcategory€of€a€ð ðdirect€personal€interest€in€any€contract.ðð€€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àWhile€the€employment€contract€is€a€œñ)ñtype›€of›€ñ)ñcontract›€œproscribed›€by€the€CityÏCharter,€the€defendantððs€action€in€taking€the€oath€of€office,€in€our€view,€does€notÏjustify€his€removal€from€office€under€the€ouster€statute.€€The€ouster€statute€provides:ÌÓÓà8 4 àà0Œ 4Ð 4Ð àEvery€person€holding€any€office€of€trust€or€profit,€under€and€byÐ Ð9È22 Ðvirtue€of€any€of€the€laws€of€the€state,€either€state,€county,€orÏmunicipal,€except€such€officers€as€are€by€the€constitutionÏremovable€only€and€exclusively€by€methods€other€than€thoseÏprovided€in€this€chapter,€who€shall€knowingly€or€willfullyÏcommit€misconduct€in€office,€or€who€shall€knowingly€or€willfullyÏneglect€to€perform€any€duty€enjoined€upon€such€officer€by€any€ofÏthe€laws€of€the€state,€or€who€shall€in€any€public€place€be€in€a€stateÏof€intoxication€produced€by€strong€drink€voluntarily€taken,€orÏwho€shall€engage€in€any€form€of€gambling,€or€who€shall€commitÏany€act€constituting€a€violation€of€any€penal€statute€involvingÏmoral€turpitude,€shall€forfeit€such€office€and€shall€be€ousted€fromÏsuch€office€in€the€manner€hereinafter€provided.Ð Œ Ð Œ Ð  ÐÌÓÌ)ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„47„101€(1993).Ìà 4 àà Œ àOur€cases€teach€that€an€ouster€suit€should€only€be€brought€if€ð ðthere€is€aÏclear€case€of€official€dereliction,€as€such€a€drastic€statute€should€be€invoked€only€inÏplain€cases€and€not€for€purposes€of€inquisition.ðð€€òòVandergriff€v.€Stateóó,€185€Tenn.€386,Ð TL Ð206€S.W.2d€395,€397€(1937).€€òòSee€also€State€ex€rel.€Leech€v.€Wright,óó€622€S.W.2d€807,Ð \T Ð818€(Tenn.€1981).€€The€evidence€of€official€dereliction€should€be€clear€andÏconvincing.€€òòState€ex€rel.€Thompson€v.€Walker,óó€845€S.W.2d€752,€759€(Tenn.€App.Ð l d Ð1992).€Ìà 4 àà Œ àOfficial€misconduct€ð ðmust€be€of€such€a€nature€that€the€official€could€beÏindicted€for€a€common€law€misdemeanor€for€misconduct€in€office.ðð€€òòMcDonald€v.Ð „&| ÐBrooksóó,€215€Tenn.€535,€387€S.W.2d€803,€806€(1965).ñ*ññ,ñœ×ƒ×ñ,ññ,ñ׃ ×ñ,ñÝ ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›ñ*ñ€However,€œð ð[p]ublic›€officialsÐ Œ(„!! Ðacting€in€good€faith,€who,€through€ignorance,€error,€or€oversight,€run€counter€to€aÏcharter€provision€or€some€law,€do€not€subject€themselves€to€indictment€and€removalÏfrom€office€at€common€law,€and€under€similar€circumstances€could€not€be€removedÏfrom€office€under€the€Ouster€Law.ðð€€òòState€ex€rel€Citizens€of€Lawrenceburg€v.Ð ¬0¤)) ÐPerkinsonóó,€159€Tenn.€442,€19€S.W.2d€254,€255€(1929).Ð ´2¬++ Ðà 4 àà Œ àThe€plaintiffs€do€not€argue€that€the€defendant€committed€willfulÏmisconduct€in€office,€or€that€he€willfully€neglected€to€perform€any€duty€of€office.€ÏInstead,€they€argue€that€he€is€guilty€of€perjury€because€œhisñ)ñ›ñ)ñ€oath€was›€false,€œbut€they›€doÏnot€assert€that€he€swore€falsely€intentionally.Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€ouster€statute,€as€applied€to€this€case,€requires€a€violation€of€a€penalÏstatute€before€an€official€may€be€ousted€from€office.€€The€statute€defining€the€offenseÏof€perjury€provides:ÌÓÓà8 4 àà0Œ 4Ð 4Ð à(a)€A€person€commits€an€offense€who,€with€intent€to€deceive:Ð Œ Ð Œ Ð  ÐÓn5Óà 4 àà0 Œ à(1)€Makes€a€false€statement,€under€oath;€.€.€.€.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„16„702€(1997).€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àThus,€the€false€statement€must€have€been€made€with€the€intent€toÏdeceive.€€There€is€no€evidence,€and€no€party€has€asserted,€that€defendant€made€a€falseÏstatement€with€the€intent€to€deceive.€€Accordingly,€defendant€could€not€haveÏcommitted€the€offense€of€perjury€under€the€statute,€and€therefore€has€not€committed€anÏindictable€offense€which€would€trigger€the€ouster€statute.Ìà 4 àà Œ àPlaintiffs€argue€however,€that€defendant€committed€a€different€offenseÏof€perjury,€with€that€offense€being€defined€in€the€City€Charter.€€The€Charter€provides:Ïð ðAnd€every€such€officer€or€person€who€shall€take€and€subscribe€such€oath,€shall€beÏguilty€of€perjury€in€case€the€oath€shall€be€false€or€shall€be€violated,€and€shall€be€liableÏto€indictment€for€perjury€by€any€grand€jury€of€Roane€County,€and€upon€convictionÏthereof€shall€be€punished€as€now€provided€by€law€in€case€of€perjury.€.€.€.ðð€€Essentially,Ïthey€argue€that€the€Charter€creates€a€separate€crime€of€perjury,€which€is€an€indictableÏoffense,€and€which€does€not€require€an€intent€to€deceive.€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àWhile€plaintiffs€are€correct€that€the€ð ðLegislature€may€forbid€the€doing€ofÏan€act€and€make€its€commission€criminal€without€regard€to€the€intent€of€the€doer,ððÏòòMcKnight€v.€State,óó€171€Tenn.€574,€106€S.W.2d€556,€557€(1937);€òòHunter€v.€Stateóó,€158Ð Ì8Ä11 ÐTenn.€63,€12€S.W.2d€361,€362€(1928),€this€was€not€accomplished€by€the€City€CharterÏas€it€relates€to€this€case.€€The€Charter€states€that€perjury€can€occur€without€intent€if€theÏoath€is€false,€but€it€then€refers€to€the€State€law€with€respect€to€perjury€by€its€statementÏthat€the€offending€person€shall€be€punished€upon€conviction€as€provided€now€by€law.€ÏAccordingly,€an€indictment€for€perjury€and€subsequent€conviction,€referred€to€in€theÏCharter,€must€be€pursuant€to€the€State€law€on€perjury.€Ìà 4 àà Œ àAssuming,€òòarguendoóó,€the€City€Charter€does€provide€a€different€offenseÐ 80  Мcalled›€perjury,€the€Charter€is€not€a€penal€statute.€€The€ouster€law€only€provides€forÏouster€for€any€official€ð ðwho€shall€commit€any€act€constituting€a€violation€of€any€penalÏstatute€involving€moral€turpitude.ðð€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„47„101.€€Since€no€penalÏstatute€was€œviolated€under€this€theory€advanced€by€plaintiffs,›€the€ouster€statute€is€notÏœapplicable.›€ñ+ñ€ñ+ñœñ+ñPlaintiffs€pointed€out€that›€statutory€law€prohibits€public€officials€fromÏhaving€certain€conflicts€of€interest.€òòSee€óóT.C.A.€ðð12„4„101(a)(1).€€This€issue€is€notÐ XP Ðproperly€before€this€Court€under€the€ouster€petition.€€òòSee€óóT.C.A.€ðð29„35„101,€and€òòStateÐ `X Ðv.€Wardóó,€163€Tenn.€265,€43€S.W.2d€217,€218€(1931).ñ+ñÌà 4 àà Œ àWe€affirm€the€Trial€Judgeððs€dismissal€of€the€ouster€petition€for€theÏreasons€given€in€this€Opinion,€and€remand€with€the€cost€of€the€appeal€assessed€to€theÏappellants.ÌÓÓÌÌÌòòà 4 àÌóóà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à__________________________Ð )ˆ"" Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌ___________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.ÌÌÌÌÌ___________________________ÌH.€David€Cate,€Sp.J.Ì