Three Wilmer City Council members, including one who is running for mayor, are seeking legal action against the current mayor, the city secretary and the Dallas County elections administrator.

Council members Tiny Lange, who's running for mayor, Eugene Lowe and Dean Rolison are asking the 44th District Court judge to intervene in regular council business.

The petition alleges that Mayor Jeff Steele has refused to place certain items, including a job review for city secretary Alice Holloway and discussion on hiring a city administrator, on the council agenda. If an item does not appear on the agenda, the council cannot take any action.

The suit also alleges that Holloway and Steele refuse to open the city's financial records to council members. In addition, it alleges that Holloway has sought to alter the appointment of election judges for the May election without council approval.

"A court is going to have to step in and govern this municipality because the mayor hasn't," said Robert McNiel, the attorney representing the plaintiffs.

Steele, who is running for a full term as mayor in the May 9 election, said the allegations cited in the petition are politically motivated and have no credence.

"All counts of the lawsuit are completely unfounded," he said. "It's political overtones."

He deferred additional questions to his attorney, who could not be reached for comment.

Steele was appointed in November by council members who now say he refuses to do his job. He was appointed after former Mayor Don Hudson resigned midterm to move to his new home in Ellis County.

Holloway was hired last year after the Wilmer City Council fired three administrators, including the city manager and city secretary.

"Since Steele's appointment as the city's mayor, he has consistently operated the city as if it is his own private fiefdom," the suit said. "In an effort to solidify his totalitarian rule over the city, Steele seeks to silence not only the majority council, but also, the city's residents they represent."

The plaintiffs ask that the judge place the items on the agenda for discussion and release the financial information the suit claims is being withheld.

The suit also asks that a judge issue a temporary restraining order that would prevent elections administrator Bruce Sherbet from approving new election judges that have not been approved by the Wilmer council.