Southport residents speak out against mayor

SOUTHPORT, Ind. (WISH) - Tempers flared Monday night at the Southport city council meeting as the battle between the mayor and council members heated up. The council wants the mayor to resign, the mayor won't and residents are taking sides.

From the start it was clear it was no ordinary council meeting. The mayor made a statement before getting down to business.

"Although I certainly feel the weight and seriousness of their demands, I have no intention of resigning," Mayor Rob Thoman (R) said.

Thoman, a dentist, has been under fire for eliminating the police department and for his handling of city finances.

Charges of embezzlement and bribery against Thoman while he was a student body president at a Colorado University in the early 80s have recently been revealed. And accusations that he may not have stated the charges on applications for his dental license have also added fuel to the fire.

Jim Cooney, a council member, spoke for himself and the other members of the council.

"Mr. Mayor, it is now your turn to address the issues and listen to the people that put you in office," he said.

The council tried to get a resolution passed asking for the mayor to resign.

One resident at the meeting said to the mayor, "You are simply a disgrace."

Another resident asked the mayor a question.

"How can we, knowing that you made dishonest statements on those, justifiably sit before us and lead us in an honorable and truthful manor?"

But the mayor denies any wrongdoing, saying, "I did not try to mislead and I did not try to hide."

While not as vocal, there were residents who sided with the mayor with their applause.

The mayor adjourned the council meeting before the fireworks began, though the council tried to keep that from happening.

The council did pass a resolution to allow a fraud investigation from January 1, 2008 to the present.

The mayor, however, said he is staying in office.

As for city finances, the mayor and council agreed to a November 9 meeting to see if they can't get a full accounting of where Southport's finances stand.