May 9, 2006 5:26 pm US/Central
Duluth Council Tables Possible Mayor Investigation
Duluth, Minn. (AP) ―
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Duluth, Minn. Mayor Herb Bergson (File)
Courtesy City Of Duluth
The Duluth City Council has tabled a resolution for an independent investigation of Mayor Herb Bergson.
Under the resolution, the city would hire an independent attorney with prosecuting authority to investigate whether Bergson broke the law when he shared a draft report by Minnesota's Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles with the Duluth News Tribune in May 2005.
The draft report was not classified as public data under state law and Bergson was obliged to withhold its contents, according to a letter from Nobles, who called for an investigation of the mayor.
The draft and subsequent official report outlined problems with contracts between the city and the Duluth-based Minnesota Council on Compulsive Gambling. Among other things, the report revealed that the council received payments for costs not included in its contract with the city or the state.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling has disputed the report's findings. The City Council and the state have ended their contracts with the council.
Bergson has said he showed the report to the newspaper looking for advice and didn't believe the findings would be published.
"I don't buy that, frankly, and I don't think many people do," said At Large Councilor Tim Little, who called for the investigation of Bergson.
After the Monday meeting, it was uncertain when, or whether, the council would take up the resolution again.
Attempts to reach Bergson through the city's public relations office on Tuesday afternoon were not immediately successful.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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