The verdict is in on whether the city of Green Bay will keep its mayor.
In a special meeting that lasted over four hours Monday night, the Green Bay City Council voted not to remove Mayor Jim Schmitt from office. The vote was 8-4, falling one vote short of removal.
Alderman Chris Wery thought there was sufficient cause to oust the mayor.
“Well, obviously disappointed,” said Wery about the vote. “I think a case was made and you heard a vast majority, eight out of 12 people, speak for various different reasons all across the spectrum for removal.”
Alderperson Barbara Dorff was one of the four that did not support removing the mayor.
“This was just a horrible experience,” Dorff stated about the process. “It was hard for all of us. It will make so many people unhappy. It will make so many people happy.”
Alderman Andy Nicholson had strong feelings as to why the mayor should have been removed from office.
“He cheated at an election,” Nicholson said point blankly. “He cheated at a game. Is that fair to the candidates that ran against him at the time? It’s not fair.”
The council deliberated for nearly two hours in closed session before coming out to vote within public view. A petition to remove the mayor was submitted after Schmitt pleaded guilty to charges he violated state campaign finance laws during his bid for re-election.