Politics & Government

City Council Decides to Subpoena Mayor Bodker

In a tense meeting, the Johns Creek City Council voted in favor of a resolution to issues subpoenas to the mayor for documents they say are needed for their investigation.

In a Special Called Meeting held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19,  the Johns Creek City Council voted 4-1 to have the city clerk issue subpoenas to Mayor Mike Bodker to gather information for their on-going investigation.

Only Council member Kelly Stewart voted against the resolution to subpoena the mayor.


Council member Karen Richardson, acting in her new position as mayor pro-tem, called the meeting to order but after asking if council had any questions, was apparently caught off guard when Council member Stewart asked:

"Why are we having a meeting today when there is one scheduled in two business days?"

Richardson seemed to struggle for an answer before turning to city attorney Bill Riley to respond. "Mr. Wilson, the investigating attorney, requested the meeting to be called due to some urgency," explained Riley. (Robert E. Wilson is the attorney hired by the City Council to investigate the mayor.)

City Council then went into executive session to discuss a legal matter. When they returned, they asked Wilson to come to the podium to speak to the reason why he was requesting the council exercise their power to issue subpoenas for certain records he said were crucial to his investigation.

"There is reason to believe there is possible breaches (by the mayor) during executive session and conflicts of interests," said Wilson. 

"I'm searching for the truth," he added. "The records must speak for themselves, but I need the records and I don't need them next spring."

The investigation which began in early summer has continued to drag on into early fall. 

"It's frustrating, this thing is dragging out because Mike Bodker is not cooperating," said Council member Johnson. "Why is he not cooperating, what is he hiding?"

The comment was met with boos from the audience, who were apparently there in support of the mayor. Their outbursts were met quickly with a stern reminder from Council member Richardson that if they spoke out again, they would be removed from the room.

"It isn't the City Council that has driven up the cost of this investigation, said Council member Richardson, who pointed to the mayor's delay in providing the information as the cause.

Council member Stewart is the lone member who is not in favor of the investigation and surmises there is a political reason behind it.

"They are investigating going back to the beginning when the city was formed. If there was wrong doing, why are they just now investigating," she asked.

"I don't condone unethical behavior, but I've been on the City Council since 2010 and I have not seen any unethical behavior."

The City Council is requesting the following from the mayor.

1. All personal cell phone records itemized by phone number for the time period of January 2007 through the present. b/ lease and rental documentation related to his lease of properties located at Johns Creek Walk and Amberly Lakes (owned, leased or rented by Don Howell); and c) cancelled checks, bank statements or any other documents, which reflect the amount paid for rent and payment history at the above properties.

2. AT&T or other cellular telephone provider for the production of itemized cell phone bills for Mike Bodker's personal cell phone from 2007 to the present.

3. Any owners, landlords, or management companies for the properties rented by Mayor Mike Bodker as described in item number one, above for the production of any and all leases or rental agreements with Mike Bodker and any documents evidencing the amount paid for rent and the payment history under those leases or rental agreements.

Wilson said the first formal request for the records was made Aug. 9 through the mayor's attorney but as of Sept. 19, the records have not been produced.

How do you feel about the City Council's investigation? 


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