The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

May 22, 2009

Petition against mayor of Mount Hope dismissed

By Staff Reports

Mount Hope Mayor Michael Martin is staying on the job.

The Register-Herald learned late Friday afternoon that a special three-judge panel had dismissed a petition to have Martin and city council members removed from office.

Martin confirmed he was notified earlier Friday by his attorney, Christopher Moorehead, that the petition had been dismissed.

But Martin said he had not seen the judges’ order and declined further comment.

Moorehead could not be reached for comment.

George F. Smith, who lost last May’s mayoral election to Martin, had leveled several allegations against Martin and council members. Among other things, Smith accused Martin and council of illegally paying out Christmas bonuses totaling more than $3,100 to city employees and contended an executive session regarding a settlement in a civil dispute with a dismissed Mount Hope police officer should not have taken place.

Smith lost last May’s election by 37 votes out of 421 cast and almost immediately contested the results to Fayette County Circuit Judge Paul Blake. In December, Blake forwarded the case, which then contained additional allegations, to the state Supreme Court, which appointed a three-judge panel to hear the case.

The three circuit judges — Gary Johnson of Nicholas County, Robert Waters of Wood County and David Janes of Marion County — heard testimony in March.

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