KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- They'd talked about suing to force Mike Ragsdale out, as Knox County mayor.

But tonight, after meeting with a prosecutors, those very critics say they're willing to let the process take its course.

Putting their faith what they call the government's unlimited manpower and resources rather than take it into their own hands.

"We had thought about, just the ten people who were in the room, to go and request a citizens arrest," Victoria DeFreese.

Outgoing Commission Victoria DeFreese, fellow Commissioner
Paul Pinkston, and eight citizens still believe they've got enough bads on Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale to put him behind bars.

But they now believe letting Specially Appointed Prosecutors finish investigating would really make this go much, much faster.

"They're even going beyond and further than what we've asked them to," Paul Pinkston said.

Two weeks ago, the A-G said the probe would cover the commission's major audits: firstly, questionable charges on P-cards, those Knox County credit cards paid for with your tax dollars.

Travel money, expense reimbursments, and the hospitality account: which paid for the Mayor's public functions, with private dollars:

Mike Ragsdale said this in an interview of June 26th: "What you have are corporate citizens, a wide variety of them, not just one or two, but many who stepped up and said we want you to do these things."

"Taking the money in the name of Knox County and having it in another acccount that nobody knew about. That's strictly state statute," Pinkston said.

He maintains county commission should have okayed the money and spending--reason enough to warrant Ragsdale ouster.

Ragsdale spokesman Dwight Van De Vate says the actions and reputations of Commissioners DeFreese and Van Devate speak for themselves. And that the Mayor's office continues to support the efforts of the Special Prosecutors to resolve these matters--and will pledge its full cooperation.

DeFreese: "I feel real confident in telling Knox County citizens that justice will prevail."

Commissioners DeFreese and Pinkston say a citizens arrest warrant could take two years, letting Ragsdale finish his term.

They claim they went into today's meeting as private citizens.

But mayoral spokesman Dwight Van de Vate claims using county commission stationary to announce it: could violate of Tennessee open meetings laws.

Commissioner DeFreese says she put notice through the commission office--to keep it legal.

Van De Vate claims the commissioners are trying to have it both ways.