Racine mayor resigns after arrest
RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Racine's City Council president says the city has received a letter of resignation from its mayor who faces charges in an Internet sex sting.
President David Maack says the resignation of Mayor Gary Becker will allow the city to move forward without having to deal with the process of removing him from office.
Maack says the council will meet soon to decide whether to hold a special election or appoint someone to fill Becker's remaining term, which is about two years.
The 51-year-old Becker was charged Thursday with six felonies. He's accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he thought was an underage girl.
Jan 21, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.
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I've read articles about him in two other publications and both of them mentioned his political affiliation. That said I think it's irrelevant to the story.
Jan 21, 2009 at 8:26 a.m.
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Becker is a Democrat. However, the office of mayor in Racine is officially non-partisan. No one runs for mayor as a memeber of any political party.
Jan 20, 2009 at 6:14 p.m.
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Where is his political affliation?
Democrat Mayor
If he were a republican, it would be the first word in the story
Jan 20, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
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the best way to remove is a good kick in the butt with the boot.
Jan 20, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.
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Exactly, Publius. I'm not sure who they expect to "fire" him, anyway, as the Mayor is the executive branch of a municipality. The Council has to follow a statutory removal process, just like an impeachment trial, otherwise they could just "fire" anyone they didn't like even if the citizens supported him.
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By contrast Janesville's city manager is an *employee* of the city, which is run by the City Council, a combined seven-person executive and legislative entity. Similarly the city manager can be fired, but councilors cannot be fired unless removed from office by a similar process.
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It does appear they have some pretty serious evidence for the pretty serious charges, but keep in mind that evidence being ON a computer is not the same as evidence showing who downloaded it. That has to be shown by e.g. logs and other indirect evidence.
Jan 20, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
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To Catch A Predator
Jan 20, 2009 at 3:16 p.m.
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The "at-will" doctrine only applies to employees. A Mayor is an elected official not an employee. Specific procedures are required to remove a Mayor for office. As Jvlhomeowner said, he just made it easier for the City of Racine by resigning. Becker has a wife and two daughters.
Jan 20, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.
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ljs64: Follow this link for mention of family and further details. http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/3...
Jan 20, 2009 at 1:12 p.m.
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It's once you are convicted of a felony you can't hold a public office, nurse4u. There's a big difference between being accused of and being convicted of one. It's called a trial. ;)
Though in this case it does appear that they have him dead to rights.
Jan 20, 2009 at 1:01 p.m.
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ljs: I think I saw it mentioned in either the Wisconsin State Journal or Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he had a spouse and daughters. This was back when the original story broke.
Jan 20, 2009 at 1 p.m.
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He had child pornography on his computer. If he did not download it, who did? SpongeBob?
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.
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I was under the impression once you commit a felony you can not hold office.
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.
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catlady...., the innocence you speak of is a legal determination. It doesn't mean he didn't do it.
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:31 p.m.
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You can fire anyone for any reason or no reason for that matter. We live in an "At will state." Also, if he violated a code of conduct they can fire him.
SarahB: How do you know he has a wife and children? Where in the article does it state that?
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
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I feel badly for his wife and children.
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:21 p.m.
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He is only charged, not yet convicted (guilty or not). Can't fire him until he is convicted. He's just made things easier on the city.
Jan 20, 2009 at 12:18 p.m.
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Innocent until proven guilty. Just because someone is arrested it does not necessarily mean that they committed the crime. Sure from what we have read it sounds like he did it but until someone is actually found guilty by a court of law for a felony they are considered innocent
Jan 20, 2009 at noon
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Why did he have to resign? Couldn't they just fire him as he was arrested on Felony charges???
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