The mayor of Martin, his daughter, and another top-ranking city official were indicted Monday for the misuse and theft of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
An investigation by the Tennessee State Comptroller of the Treasury found that Martin Mayor Randal “Randy” Brundige, his daughter Natalie Brundige, and Bradley “Brad” Thompson, the city’s full-time Director of Economic and Community, scammed taxpayers there for high-end travel, getting paid for work not done, and a consulting fee scheme.
For these, Mayor Brunidge faces 10 charges; Thompson faces six; and Natalie Brunidge faces two.
Thompson’s high-end travel
Investigators found that instead of staying at a conference hotel in Panama City, Thompson used his city credit card to rent a three-bedroom, three-bath, beachfront condo in the 30A area for more than $4,000. During that trip he used the credit card to pay for several meals for three or four people, even though he was the only city employee on the trip. One dinner was catered by a private chef.
On a nine-day trip to Italy, Thompson flew first-class for more than $5,600. On that trip the participants toured historic Italian sites, visited various agricultural sites — like an olive farm to learn about wine and olives — and a goat and sheep farm for a cheese tasting.
City officials believed this trip was in conjunction with Town and Gown, a city of Martin partnership between the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) and the city, for which Thompson serves as the city liaison.
UTM officials told investigators they were not aware of any official city business that took place on the trip. Investigators could not substantiate any benefit to the city as a result of this trip.
In all, the Comptroller’s office said Thompson’s high-end and unauthorized traveling cost more than $33,000.
Thompson’s consulting company
Part of Thompson’s city duties includes writing grants for the city. He hired One Consulting to do some of that work. Thompson owns One Consulting and had the the mayor hide that fact from the Martin Board of Aldermen.
From 2015 and 2024, One Consulting submitted 55 invoices to the city for a total of more than $236,000.
The mayor loves steakhouses
When the mayor traveled quarterly to Franklin, Tennessee, he did it in style, on the city’s dime, and with a buddy. The mayor could not drive over 50 miles, investigators were told. So Thompson — the high-style traveling ECD director — would drive him.
On the road, they ate wagyu steak and drank Gentlemen Jack and Tito’s vodka. From 2021 to 2023, investigators found 27 times in which the mayor used the city credit card to purchase “lavish” meals. Charges for the meals — often for two people — ranged from $200 to $700.
Investigators found receipts for trips to Jeff Ruby’s, Perry’s Steakhouse, Bob’s Steak and Chop, Cork and Cow, and River House. One recipe (above) shows a wagyu steak for $224, king crab for $92, and five alcoholic drinks. That dinner totaled nearly $673.
They would also use Uber and Lyft to and from these restaurants, instead of driving their city-furnished car.
Together, these charges totaled more than $10,900.
Mayor’s daughter got money for nothing
From 2019 to 2025, Natalie Brundige received more than $174,000 in salary and benefits from her city job as a custodian.
She was expected to clean the Martin Police Department on an eight-hour shift starting at 5:30 p.m. on workdays. Employees there told investigators, she would routinely leave by 8:30 p.m.
Investigators pored through footage from 16 police department security cameras to confirm her time worked. They concluded she worked an average of two hours per day for a total of 3,436 hours. However, she received $139,723 in unearned salary compensation for 9,996 hours that she did not work.
Her father — the mayor — would fudge her time off, too. He had an agreement with the humans resources department to tell them verbally when his daughter would not be at work for any reason.
A grand jury in Weakley County indicted all three of them on Monday on multiple charges.
Mayor Brundige
• four counts of theft of property over $60,000
• one count of theft of property over $10,000 but less than $60,000
• one count of accessory after the fact
• four counts of official misconduct
Thompson, director of ECD
• one count of theft of property over $60,000
• on count of theft of property over $10,000 but less than $60,000
• four counts of official misconduct
Natalie Brundige
• 1 count of theft of property over $60,000
• one count of official misconduct
