(WKYT) – London Mayor Randall Weddle was indicted on four campaign finance charges.
Weddle is still seeking reelection this year.
Mayoral candidates react
London mayoral candidate Matt Orr said many residents suspected this day would come.
“There’s lots of rumors surrounding that for the last couple years and so I think yesterday kind of gave some answers to a few people about what it was,” Orr said.
When asked if he thinks the indictment will shift support from Weddle’s re-election, Orr said it’s up to the voters.
“That’s up to the people that are voters, and he has a pretty firm group of supporters, but I think people are looking back to see how London has been for the last couple years. It’s been in a place the last couple years that we’ve never seen it before,” Orr said.
Mayoral candidate Tracie Handley, who was also London’s interim mayor while Weddle was impeached, said she hopes this situation will bring the city one step closer to peace.
“An elected official needs to be held accountable when they are guilty of breaking public trust and acting unlawfully. I have hope that we can repair the damage that’s been done here. That’s a big focus of what I want I want to do here in office,” Handley said.
Attorney responds
In a statement, Weddle’s lawyer said the indictment feels politically motivated.
Professor Matthew Howell with Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Government said that’s the last thing any state leaders would want people to think when something like this is filed.
“There is a desire not to be seen political in doing this because it damages the case. The jury going to hear this doesn’t want to think this is one team trying to hurt the other team,” the expert said.
Weddle has not been convicted of these crimes. He is still required to uphold his mayoral duties.
He is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.
You can see Weddle’s attorney’s full statement here.
