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WEST VALLEY CITY — The City Council plans to issue an official reprimand of Mayor Mike Winder on Tuesday, stating its disapproval of the mayor's actions in creating a false identity to write freelance news stories for local media outlets.
Last month, Winder admitted to Deseret News editors that he used the fake name Richard Burwash to get stories published in the Oquirrh Times, a weekly newspaper covering West Valley, Magna and Kearns, as well as the Deseret News and KSL.com through Deseret Connect, a freelance contributor network through which stories are submitted to its media partners.
The Salt Lake Tribune also published a photograph credited to Burwash.
City Council members have written an "open letter of reprimand" to Winder and plan to approve that letter by resolution Tuesday night. City officials declined to release the letter until after it's approved.
In the resolution, the City Council states it has determined it's in the "best interest to the (residents) of West Valley City to admonish Mayor Mike Winder."
In the resolution, the City Council states it has determined it's in the "best interest to the (residents) of West Valley City to admonish Mayor Mike Winder."
It also includes a reminder to West Valley City residents that "the mayor can represent the city only when authorized by a majority of the City Council."
Since admitting to the deception, Winder has resigned his position as director of public affairs for The Summit Group, a Salt Lake City-based marketing and communications firm.
Winder is nearly two years into his four-year term as mayor of Utah's second-largest city. He has said he's considering making a run for Salt Lake County mayor in 2012, though he has not officially announced his candidacy.
Email:jpage@ksl.com
