ST. CHARLES COUNTY — St. Charles County Councilman Tim Baker is suing a constituent, alleging the man’s comments on a Facebook post were malicious and damaging to his reputation.
But the constituent, Jarrett Pillsbury, says Baker has misunderstood what he calls “self-deprecating humor.” Pillsbury said his reference about “excessive drinking and glue-sniffing” were made in jest about himself, not the elected official.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Baker, R-District 7, revolves around a December 19, 2024, Facebook comment made by Pillsbury, of St. Peters.
In the social media post, Baker’s fellow councilman Mike Elam asks his Facebook followers to name the most influential people who live in St. Charles County.
“It was meant to be uplifting, definitely not anything that I thought would be the least bit controversial,” Elam told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday.
People are also reading…
Among the 100-plus comments made by others, Pillsbury wrote on Facebook, “I think of Tim Baker but then I remember that excessive drinking and sniffing glue causes all kinds of cognitive problems.”
Pillsbury said he answered Elam’s question about good leaders facetiously.
“I said Tim Baker, because he is not a good leader. I would never think of Tim Baker, unless I was under heavy chemical influence,” Pillsbury said. Pillsbury, a 20-plus year resident of St. Charles County, said the lawsuit represents just the latest chapter in a behind-the-scenes battle between the two men over issues related to the library district and public schools.
“This was not out-of-the-blue,” Pillsbury said. “I’ve dealt with Tim Baker before.”
Baker said Wednesday that he believes his reputation has been damaged by Pillsbury alleging he drinks excessively.
“It upsets me that people can say stuff online and not get called out on it,” Baker said. He said he would consider dropping the lawsuit if Pillsbury came to the County Council and publicly apologized during the meeting.
St. Charles County officials said the lawsuit marks the first time that a county official has sued a constituent for defamation.
