KY Supreme Court says London mayor can remain in office amid efforts to oust him
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky Supreme Court keeps Mayor Weddle in office, sends case back.
- Justices found substantial compliance with service rules; denied relief.
- Council and Weddle continue disputes over budget and fire department.
The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that London Mayor Randall Weddle can remain in office, and that an effort to oust him should be sent back to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
The London City Council brought its case to the Supreme Court after the court of appeals in October denied a motion to remove Weddle from office and reinstate Tracie Handley, who served as acting after the council impeached Weddle for misconduct and willful neglect Sept. 5.
A panel of Supreme Court judges ruled that there would be no irreparable harm from keeping Weddle in office while the council’s efforts to remove him continued.
Weddle appealed the council’s impeachment vote Sept. 11 in Laurel County Circuit Court. A little more than two weeks later, a special judge presiding over the case, David Williams, reinstated Weddle as mayor.
The council appealed the order to the court of appeals, but Weddle has remained in office in the meantime.
Weddle and the council have continued to fight over city business since Weddle’s reinstatement, including most recently over a city budget proposal that puts the entire city department at risk, according to the mayor. The council said in a statement that it remains dedicated to maintaining a fully staffed fire department while balancing the budget.
