Longtime mayor quits, citing health concerns

10/20/2012

Longtime Maumee Mayor Tim Wagener has resigned from his post, citing concern for both his and his wife’s health.

City Council President Richard Carr has taken over as acting mayor, in accordance with the city’s charter.

John Boellner, a city council member, said the mayor’s health issues were too great for him to continue in his position.

“It was a real struggle for him,” Mr. Boellner said. “That [health issues] takes a lot of his time. Being a mayor takes up a lot of his time.”

Mr. Wagener, 55, suffered a stroke in 2010.

Democrat Mr. Wagener, a lifetime Maumee resident, served on city council from 1991 until 1999, when he was elected mayor.

Earlier this year, Mr. Wagener received a “public reprimand” from the Ohio Ethics Commission after admitting he intermingled his personal finances with his public office. The allegations of misconduct also included claims that the mayor obtained a list of retiring city employees and their spouses in an attempt to sell them annuities through his insurance work.

The ethics commission investigated Mayor Wagener for accepting personal loans from a city employee, who was a friend. The settlement agreement between the mayor and the commission included the reprimand in lieu of referring the matter to the Lucas County Prosecutor’sOoffice.

Even with public awareness of the investigation, Mayor Wagener easily won re-election in November, beating Republican City Councilman Timothy Pauken with 63 percent of the vote in only his second contested election in 12 years.

The mayor’s salary is $27,951 a year.

In a statement released Friday about his resignation, Mr. Wagener stated he “will continue to serve the city as a proud citizen. If I were to list the things I have cherished, and continue to cherish, about my years as a leader of this great city, I could ramble for days on end.”

His letter concluded, “I have always championed the All-America City of Maumee and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.”

Neither Mr. Wagener nor Mr. Carr could not be reached for further comment Friday. Mr. Boellner said city officials are waiting on a legal opinion as to if they will hold a special election for a new mayor.

“Tim loves Maumee. People in Maumee love Tim too,” said Mr. Boellner.

Contact Kate Giammarise at: kgiammarise@theblade.com or 419-724-6091, or on Twitter @KateGiammarise.