Desoto County News

DeSoto County supervisors respond to Mastry lawsuit

UPDATING AN EARLIER STORY ON THE LAWSUIT FILED BY TODD MASTRY WITH A RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Feb. 4, 2025-The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors Tuesday afternoon released an official statement in response to a lawsuit filed against the board and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) board by the former Executive Director of the Landers Center Todd Mastry.

Mastry filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court, charging he was fired from the position for booking what the lawsuit said were labeled as “Black acts” performing at the facility, referring to shows that attracted a specific African-American audience. Mastry said his termination was a violation of the Civil Rights Act, an action that took place in early January by the CVB board.

The seven-member CVB board is made up of seven members, five of which are appointed by county supervisors, one each to represent each Supervisor district in the county. The remaining two at-large members are appointed as members of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council and all commission board members serve four-year terms.

In particular, Mastry pointed to current board president Mark Gardner, claiming that Gardner had repeatedly said for over a decade that the supervisor “did not want ‘Black acts’ performing at the Landers Center,” making it clear he did not want “those people,” as the lawsuit claims, performing and “those people coming down to see the performances in DeSoto County.” 

Mastry’s suit states the same views were shared and advocated by fellow Supervisor Lee Caldwell, along with other members of the Board and the CVB. 

According to the lawsuit, Mastry had repeatedly told Gardner and Caldwell he could not and would discriminate based on race in contracting with artists at the center.  

Mastry charges that he was fired once Gardner was able to have two new CVB board members put on the seven-member board who would vote to fire Mastry.

Tuesday afternoon, the attorney representing the Board of Supervisors released a statement denying the charges Mastry claims.

“The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors vehemently denies allegations of racism and racial disparity alleged in a lawsuit filed by former Convention and Visitors Bureau employee, Todd Mastry.  No member of the Board of Supervisors has ever stated that any act at the Landers Center should be selected or denied based upon race.  Furthermore, the Board of Supervisors has no authority to hire nor fire any employee of the DeSoto County CVB.  Likewise, the Board of Supervisors neither selects acts nor regulates the content of any act performing at the Landers Center.  That is the sole responsibility of the DeSoto County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.”

Adam B. Emerson, Bridgforth, Buntin & Emerson, PLLC

When asked Monday morning about the lawsuit, Gardner offered no comment, except to say the Board attorney was formulating a response. Caldwell denied the allegations.  

“The allegations are not factual, they’re incorrect, but we’ll have our attorneys follow up on a later date,” Caldwell told DeSoto County News.