The Sheboygan City Council has rejected an effort to stop proceedings to remove Mayor Bob Ryan from office for his latest drinking episode. The 9 to 7 vote followed a nearly 30 minute discussion Tuesday night. Council President Eric Rindfleisch, one of the leaders of the removal effort, cast a surprising vote in favor of ending the process, saying there have been no deals and no promises. “This is not forgiveness for Bob. There is a price to pay for his actions,” said Rindfleisch. “But in my opinion, the citizens do not need to continue to pay the heavy price.” Alderman Jim Bohren said residents have already paid a heavy price. “The majority of people that I have talked to, my constituents, are for to go forward and at least do the investigation, find out if we have a case, and then we can make the decision,” Bohren said.
“We have a duty to investigate this,” said Alderman David Van Akkeren. “I can’t see why the council would want to ignore those complaints and end this process before an investigation is even completed.” The council then voted to continue the removal process, but put off action on hiring outside legal counsel to assist with the proceedings. The council will take that question up when it meets in two weeks and will hear from the attorneys on cost and procedures. The effort to remove Ryan from office began after said he would not resign in the wake of a weekend drinking incident in Elkhart Lake in July. Ryan’s issues with alcohol date to 2009, when a video posted on YouTube showed him drunk in a Sheboygan tavern.
Mike Kinzel, WHBL
