NEWARK, Ohio — Mayor Bruce Bain docked himself two days’ pay this week as punishment for promoting his son’s health-drink business in e-mails to some city workers.
Bain, speaking yesterday at an impromptu news conference at City Hall, said he realized almost immediately that the e-mails sent last week to 15 workers were an improper use of the city’s computer system.
The mayor has asked city Law Director Doug Sassen to review whether he did anything illegal. Bain also sent out e-mails apologizing to the employees for telling them about the health drink, Xango.
His son, Nick, has a part-time Xango business, and Bain wanted to know if anybody was interested in earning some money through such a business. He said he is not involved with Xango.
"I was wrong. I violated policy," Bain said. "How can you say to a city employee, ‘Don’t do that’ " if the mayor is doing it?
Bain, who makes about $66,000 a year, wrote out a check for $368 to the city. Usually, employees would receive verbal reprimands for misusing the computer system, Bain said. He decided that docking his pay was more appropriate.
"How does a mayor verbally reprimand himself?" he asked.
Sassen is on vacation this week. Assistant Law Director Melanie Spangler said she had spoken with Bain and is aware of the situation. Any decisions about possible wrongdoing by the mayor will be made by Sassen, she said.
An official with the Ohio Municipal League said it is unusual for a mayor to admit to a mistake and also mete out punishment.
"It’s kind of refreshing," said John Mahoney, the group’s deputy director. "Mayors are just as human as the rest of us."
Bain, a Democrat and former City Council president who was elected mayor in 2003, plans to announce next month whether he will run for a second four-year term.
Republican Bob Diebold, an at-large city councilman, has indicated he will run for mayor and intends to announce his decision by September. He congratulated Bain for stepping up yesterday.
"Quite frankly, I think Bruce used good judgment," Diebold said. "He stood up and took credit for making a mistake."
Bain said he doesn’t know how voters will react to the incident if he decides to seek re-election.
"I will not ever cover anything up," he said. "I hope the people will not hold it against me for making this one error."
ing genius.