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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (AP) -- Three of the five City Council members say Mayor Kelvin Bailey, who faces charges for a made-up story of being kidnapped, should step down.
Bailey, making his first appearance with the City Council since March 18, listened Tuesday as Councilwoman Diane Jacob, speaking for herself and two other council members, asked for his resignation.
Bailey, 47, faces a misdemeanor charge of giving false reports to law enforcement officers. After failing to return from a hunting trip on March 27, Bailey phoned his wife and said he had been carjacked and forced to drive 500 miles to Barstow, Calif.
His wife contacted authorities. Bailey eventually told FBI agents and Utah County sheriff's officers that he had made up the story to explain leaving the area to get away from stress and challenges in his business and personal life.
On Monday, he issued a statement saying he intended to remain in office.
Jacob read a statement signed by herself and council members Greg Kehl and Brigham Morgan, Jacob contending too many residents were concerned about the mayor's lying.
They said "much of the stress was brought on by himself," particularly because of unresolved issues involving the city's revised development code.
"His statement to the press is not what he told authorities," she said. "In the interest of the majority of this council ... in our opinion, the mayor should submit his resignation."
Council members Linn Strouse and Mark Madsen support the mayor remaining in office.
Bailey said honesty and integrity are virtues measured over a lifetime instead of by one single act. He attributed his one-time lapse to an emotional breakdown that led him to make a poor personal choice.
"Honesty and integrity are as much a part of my life as ever," he said and pleaded with his critics to meet with him so they could reason together.
Bailey limited public comment to 30 minutes, allowing just 10 residents to speak. Three voiced support for Bailey's decision, three opposed it and the rest addressed issues other than the mayor.
Wendy Minks supported the mayor's decision, saying, "I'm so glad we're getting back to the business of the city and getting back to work on the development code."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
