By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis school board member Bill Purdy is facing a lawsuit from two of his fellow board members.
Wednesday, Flint Fowler, Ron Jackson and some 50 city residents filed suit against Purdy.
They claim Purdy is violating a board by-law that prohibits anyone with at least a second-degree relative who works for the district from running for the board.
Purdy's two daughters and grandson are district employees.
But Purdy says state lawmakers eliminated that provision three years ago, and that the by-law was never changed to reflect that. He believes St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay is behind the lawsuit.
"The mayor could not get his people elected to the board; they outspent Veronica O'Brien and me. But in the end, the voters elected us to serve and represent them on the school board and I think that this is just sour grapes."
A Slay spokesman denies the mayor has any role, direct or indirect, in bringing the suit against Purdy.