The Racine Common Council has decided to pay Mayor John Dickert’s legal fees and any damage award, in a slander lawsuit over a radio interview in which Dickert claimed a fired city worker was embezzling and “I fired him.” But the aldermen also want the mayor to sign a document to pay back the city if a judge rules he was not in his official capacity, just in reelection mode. “This protects the city,” said Alderman Eric Marcus. “We need to protect the city. If it turns out he was doing the right thing, he’s not hurt at all, he doesn’t have to pay a dime, we’re paying all the money up front.”
Alderman Q.A. Shakoor said there’s no question the mayor was acting in his official capacity at the time. “A private citizen cannot fire a city employee,” said Shakoor. “It takes a city official, representing the city.” The mayor requested indemnification for costs with the lawsuit, which a Kenosha Judge has yet to decide. Mayor Dickert is on vacation with his family.
Tom Karkow, WRJN