PIEDMONT — Faced with increasing public outcry over his “inflammatory or insulting” Facebook posts and comments, Piedmont Mayor Jeff Wieler has resigned his position as mayor effective Sunday.

Related Articles Residents criticize Piedmont mayor for views, Facebook comments

Piedmont council calls special meeting Monday to vote on removing mayor The Monday special meeting that was scheduled for the City Council to vote to remove Wieler as mayor is canceled.

City Administrator Paul Benoit said Sunday that Vice Mayor Bob McBain will become acting mayor immediately effective, and Wieler will continue on as a member of the council.

Benoit said Wieler’s offenses do not warrant removal from the council according to the city charter and the city attorney. Wieler can continue to serve as a member of the council and finish his term ending with the November 2018 general election.

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Wieler on Sunday notified his fellow council members, the city and Piedmont’s two weekly newspapers, including the Bay Area News Group’s The Piedmonter, of his decision.

A public outcry gained momentum this past week after it came to light that Wieler had posted inflammatory posts and comments on his Facebook page, including insulting Conna McCarthy, daughter of the late former Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy.

McCarthy also claimed Wieler posted Facebook statements such as: “The left is dangerous and un-American”; “Black Lives Matter encourages cop killing”; and “Transgenders are mentally ill.” The Bay Area News Group could not verify the statements. Wieler has since taken his Facebook account private.

Benoit said on Friday the matter of voting to remove Wieler as mayor had to be dealt with quickly. Benoit said Friday that the city had been “swamped this past week with dozens and dozens” of phone calls and emails, “taking away the everyday business of running the city. Best to grab the bull by the horns.”

Wieler’s message Sunday to city officials and council members said in part:

“I realize my continuing in the position is no longer tenable for the City Council. After a quarter-century of volunteering, I regret the impact this has had upon the city I love and the men and women on the staff who do such a fine job for our citizens.

“I am proud of what I accomplished as a civic volunteer. I am less proud of how my service as mayor is ending,” he continued.

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“I made inappropriate Facebook posts. Some had titles or comments by me that were inflammatory or insulting.

“Piedmont has become a liberal city; Republicans are a vanishing element. I learned the hard way that what one says on Facebook can come back to haunt you; civility is essential.

“I apologize to the citizens of Piedmont. I want to make clear I loathe and despise white supremacists, neo-Nazis and racists. I want to put this embarrassing and painful episode behind me and regain some respect.”

FYI

To view Wieler’s complete letter to the city of Piedmont, visit www.ci.piedmont.ca.us.

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