Racine Mayor Gary Becker arrested for solicitation of a minor

[undeterred]

RACINE — A complaint made to the Racine Police Department several weeks ago is what led to the Tuesday afternoon arrest of Racine Mayor Gary Becker on multiple felony counts, including solicitation of a minor.

At a press conference at City Hall Wednesday morning, Lt. Jim Dobbs, a spokesman for the Racine Police Department, said that city police then contacted the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigations, which took over the investigation.

City officials would not comment on what charges Becker may be facing. Dobbs said it was his understanding that DCI had not yet finished the paperwork and the Racine County District Attorney’s Office had not yet finished a criminal complaint against Becker.

Becker was arrested Tuesday in a shopping mall outside the City of Milwaukee, according to City Administrator Ben Hughes. Upon the arrest he was transported to the Kenosha County Jail, where he is being held on a $165,000 cash bond.

Racine County Sheriff Bob Carlson said local authorities made the decision to move Becker to Kenosha. “It’s a better security process,” he said. “It’s not unusual.” However, the case is still a Racine County case, according to Deputy District Attorney Rich Chiapete. They have not drafted a criminal complaint yet and said they couldn’t comment further until they received all of the paperwork on the investigation.

“We’re still waiting on reports,” Chiapete said. “We’re anticipating it’s going to be tomorrow (that charges are formally filed).” Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said Wednesday morning that he was shocked by the allegations against Becker. He knew about the investigation when the department received the complaint, but said DCI handled it.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2009/01/14/local_news/doc496deda1079ed663015381.txt

He's a Democrat.

[keroro gunsou]

1. no...

he's a complete dumb fuck. character before party. being a dumb fuck and a horny one at that is an equal opportunity character flaw.

[undeterred]

2. Background information...

Becker rose to power and became the national face of Racine
Journal Times

RACINE — Gary Becker was a product of this city long before he became its leader. In two terms as mayor, Becker, a Racine native, has become the very public face of a city that has seen its share of hard luck.

As mayor, Becker has tried to lead the city’s effort to redefine itself and in so doing brought the city some national attention — most notably a New York Times article that focused on Becker and these efforts.

Becker got a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980. He operated a dry cleaning business before getting into politics. He got his start on the small stage of Racine politics in the 1990s, after first being elected to the City Council in 1995. That year he started serving the first of two terms as alderman representing the city’s 15th district.

He was a young and active Democrat long before he himself sought public office. Becker, who is married with two children, has been in the public eye for more than a decade.

Becker has become even more visible in recent years. He started running the city in 2003 when he was elected to the first of two terms as mayor. Becker is currently serving his second term.

In that time he has found a place on the larger national stage. He has been an active member of the United States Conference of Mayors and has served on the board of directors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a group of mayors and other elected officials working to protect the Great Lakes.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2009/01/14/becker/doc496e92f7d9cac507961978.txt

[undeterred]

3. Criminal complaint filed

Racine, Wis., mayor charged with child-sex crimes
By DINESH RAMDE – 1 hour ago

RACINE, Wis. (AP) — The mayor of Racine, Wis., has been formally charged with committing sex crimes against a minor.

Online records Thursday show that Mayor Gary Becker is charged with six felonies, including attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, child enticement and using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

The 51-year-old Becker is to make an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Patrick Cafferty, did not immediately return a phone message Thursday.

Becker was arrested Tuesday by the state Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation. He was released from jail Wednesday on $165,000 cash bond.

Racine is Wisconsin's fifth-largest city, with about 80,000 residents. It's about 30 miles south of Milwaukee.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5govJW1ohvL4IfWGWe18Cmvb1FqRQD95NO8601

Read Van Hollen's complaint: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Becker_Criminal_Complaint.pdf

[undeterred]

4. Mayor Becker resigns

RACINE – Mayor Gary Becker has resigned his position as mayor effective at 5 p.m. today.

“In accordance with 17.01 Wis.Stats. I resign my position as the Mayor of the City of Racine effective at 5 p.m. today, January 20, 2009,” states the letter that the mayor’s criminal defense attorney Patrick Cafferty delivered to the city clerk Tuesday at 11:13 a.m.

“He decided this was in everyone’s best interest and he is hoping the city can now move on,” Cafferty said. The resignation does not need to be officially accepted by the City Council, said City Attorney Rob Weber. The resignation took place just moments after President Obama took office.

“It’s painfully ironic that within 15 minutes of President Obama taking the oath of office to become our next president that Gary Becker was resigning from office,” City Administrator Ben Hughes said.

As for the mayor’s salary and benefits, Hughes said, “today is the last day he is paid a salary.” Hughes also will be notifying the state retirement system that contributions to his retirement will be ceasing today. But Hughes is still reviewing Becker’s medical benefits with the human resources department, he said.

The scheduled 5:30 p.m. Executive Committee meeting, intended to discuss the mayor's removal at City Hall, has been canceled, Hughes said.

In order to discuss filling the soon-to-be vacant position, the City Council will need to schedule another meeting, said Deputy City Attorney Scott Letteney.

To fill the position of mayor, Letteney said the City Council would have three options:

- temporarily appointing someone to fill Becker’s spot, and then ordering a special election and holding it 62 to 77 days from when it is ordered.

- temporarily appointing someone to fill the spot and holding an election in April 2010.

- appoint someone to fill the remainder of Becker’s term, which expires in 2011.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2009/01/20/becker/doc49761551961b9656280893.txt

[undeterred]

5. Racine mayor's wife files for divorce

Posted: Jan. 21, 2009

The wife of former Racine Mayor Gary Becker has filed for divorce, according to an online court record posted today.

The divorce filing came five days after Becker, 51, was charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with an Internet sex sting case. Free on bail, he has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

Becker has been accused of having an online chat with an undercover agent who he thought was a 14-year-old girl and with whom he intended to have sexual activity.

His wife, Julie Becker, 51, who works for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints in Racine, filed for divorce Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court. The Beckers have one daughter in high school and one in college.

The former mayor also is accused in another legal complaint with having an affair. The allegation was made last August in a wrongful termination case filed by Sandra Tingle, a former aide to Becker. Tingle alleges she was fired after complaining to Becker that Racine City Administrator Ben Hughes had been sexually harassing her verbally.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/38001664.html

[undeterred]

6. John Nichols: A capital 'G' green mayor for Racine?

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was before his election a full-time environmental activist, and he is certainly one of the greener mayors in the United States. But Cieslewicz is green with a small "g," not a capital "G." Cieslewicz, like the mayors of most other large Wisconsin cities, is a Democrat.

Though mayors are elected on a nonpartisan basis, as are all municipal officials in Wisconsin, most cities tend to have Democratic majorities and more often than not their mayors -- Tom Barrett in Milwaukee, Keith Bosman in Kenosha, Larry Nelson in Waukesha -- are either active Democrats or at least fellow travelers. (An interesting exception is La Crosse Mayor Mark Johnsrud who, though he emphasizes the nonpartisan nature of his election, ran for the Legislature in 2000 as a Republican.)

Former Racine Mayor Gary Becker was an active Democrat, and Racine has a history of electing Democrats (often with labor ties) to the top job in this city of 81,000.

But Racine has been traumatized by Becker's hasty resignation, after he was charged with an ugly assortment of child enticement and child pornography charges, and the city might just break the political mold when it holds a special election to fill the mayor's job this spring.

Former Racine Alderman Pete Karas, a Green with a capital "G," is likely to be a serious contender for the mayor's job. Karas, who responded to a "Draft Pete" campaign by officially filing paperwork to run for mayor, is one of Wisconsin's most energetic and effective Green Party activists. He's also a smart, engaged local political figure who was repeatedly elected to the City Council in competitive races.

Karas notes, correctly, that "it's no secret my time on the council was spent clashing with Becker." But, he adds, "I want to run not only to bring some integrity back to city government, but because we need to focus on jobs, on the city's economic health."

more at: http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/top/434899

[undeterred]

7. Hughes resigns from city administrator post in Racine

RACINE — City Administrator Ben Hughes abruptly resigned his position with the city Monday, and questions remain about why.

“I’m going to refer any questions about why he resigned to Ben,” said Deputy City Attorney Scott Letteney.

In a city press release Hughes said, “Unique circumstances and unanticipated events sometimes call for the need for a new page to be turned.”

In the same release Mayor Tom Friedel said, “I was aware when I accepted this appointment ... that there were personnel issues at City Hall that would need my attention. This is one that I did not anticipate.”

On Tuesday, Hughes did not return calls seeking comment.

The resignation took place around noon Monday, just hours before the Executive Committee met in closed session to discuss two state complaints pending against the city. They both name Hughes specifically.

Sandra Tingle, former Mayor Gary Becker’s administrative assistant, alleged sexual harassment against Hughes and misconduct against Becker. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division dismissed it, but it’s going to a hearing.

Also, City Health Administrator Janelle Grammer alleged Hughes discriminated against her for using medical leave and filed a complaint with the state.

Letteney would not say if Hughes’ resignation is connected to the state complaints and the aldermen have been asked not to comment on the closed session.

“Because it was in closed session, we are not allowed to talk about what transpired,” said Alderman David Maack, a member of the Executive Committee.

When asked if city officials asked Hughes to resign, Maack said, “I don’t know that. Again you would have to talk to the city attorney.”

About the timing, Maack said, “Mr. Hughes has to do what is best for him ... I can’t judge how other people make their decisions.”

Even though Hughes and Becker both resigned, the cases will still continue, Letteney said.

“The claim is against the city. It is not against the former mayor; it is not against Ben,” Letteney said. “They just happen to be the actors that the claim alleges behaved inappropriately as employees of the city.”

The resignation

Hughes’ resignation agreement with the city says he will cooperate with the city in providing a defense in legal matters dealing with his employment and that he agrees that an internal investigation of the Tingle case showed Hughes did not sexually harass Tingle or create a hostile work environment for her.

The agreement also required the city to provide a letter of recommendation to Hughes.

In the letter it says his final salary was $115,273.60 per year and states: “I recommend Mr. Hughes be given full consideration for any position for which he may apply.”

Letteney said he and the mayor were aware Hughes was going to hand in his resignation letter before Monday.

Hughes began as city administrator in October 2007 and was the second person to occupy the position since it was established in 2003.

He took charge of the city after Becker was arrested Jan. 13 on charges of attempted sexual assault of a minor and possession of child pornography, among others.

In Friedel’s press release, he thanked Hughes for his service during the transition.

“City Administrator Hughes did a terrific job for us and his positive passion for the city was evident in everything he did. Racine is a better place because of his public service. We are particularly grateful for his leadership and hard work during the aftermath of Mayor Becker’s resignation. These have been very difficult and trying times for our community and especially for Mr. Hughes. He has informed me that he believes it is in everyone’s best interest that he moves on and I have accepted his resignation. We wish Mr. Hughes nothing but the best.”

Hughes assisted with the transition of Friedel into office, but now, about four weeks after Becker resigned Hughes also handed in his papers.

His resignation letter said: “I am writing to resign my position as City Administrator effective February 16, 2009. I wish to thank you, the City Council, the City employees, and the residents of Racine for their support during my tenure.”

The weekend of Feb. 7, Hughes spent a long weekend in Arizona, Letteney said.

He could not say when Hughes returned to City Hall, Letteney said.

Letteney also said he does not know what Hughes will do now and deferred that question to Hughes.

In a press release Hughes said: “I will forever be grateful for my service with the City of Racine. I depart with the confidence that this City has a bright future and much for which it should be proud ... I sincerely thank the City Council, the City employees, and the citizens for the confidence and support they have consistently shown to me.”

For now the city administrator office is vacant, but it could be filled in the future.

“Short-term, we’ll fill it internally. Scott Letteney will take some responsibility in that area,” Friedel said. “Long-term, I intend to try to do whatever I can to prepare things so that when the next mayor is hired, he or she has a running start on making a selection and being prepared to move forward with it.”

Resignation agreement

The following are included in the terms of Hughes’ resignation agreement:

- Hughes agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding all matters relating to his employment with the city and his duties as city administrator.

- He will receive payment for 11 vacation days, one personal day and 122 hours of sick leave.

- The city will provide Hughes with a letter of recommendation.

- Hughes gave up his rights to sue the city for any claim relating to his employment or his resignation.

- He agreed to cooperate with the city in providing defense for any legal matters relating with his employment with the city.

- In the case of Sandra M. Tingle v. City of Racine, Hughes agrees he has not sexually harassed Tingle or created a hostile work environment.

Hughes timeline

October 2007: Hughes starts as Racine city administrator.

Aug. 1, 2008: Former Mayor Gary Becker’s administrative assistant, Sandra Tingle, files a discrimination complaint against the city and names Hughes.

Jan. 13, 2009: Hughes holds press conference about Becker’s arrest and takes a leadership role while Racine is without a mayor.

Jan. 21, 2009: City Health Administrator Janelle Grammer files a medical leave complaint against the city and names Hughes.

Feb. 16, 2009: Hughes resigns as city administrator.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2009/02/18/local_news/doc499af168c774d633292785.txt

Painful to watch, but I think in the end Racine is going to be way better off.