A former Dunbar mayor who the West Virginia Ethics Commission said used the office for personal gain is again running for the post.
Roger Wolfe is one of three candidates in the city's Democratic primary Saturday. Wolfe was ousted from office nine years ago by a judiciary panel after the City Council petitioned for his removal.
Wolfe said he still refuses to pay the nearly $35,000 in fines and interest the Ethics Commission leveled against him.
"My answer is the same as it was 10 years ago, when we went through this thing," Wolfe said when reached Friday morning. "I didn't receive a fair hearing and I'm not gonna pay them one penny."
In 20ll, the Ethics Commission found that Wolfe had violated the Ethics Act by getting reimbursement for his meals, mileage and cellphone without the authority to do so. At that time, the commission ordered Wolfe to pay restitution to the city of Dunbar for $5,757, pay a $15,000 fine and pay the Ethics Commission $5,698 for the cost of the investigation. As of Oct. 18, Wolfe owes the commission $34,735 in fines and interest, according to a writ of execution filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
The order also said that, if Wolfe should ever be elected to public office again, he must cease and desist from using public money for unauthorized private use.
Wolfe also has not paid restitution to the city of Dunbar, City Clerk Connie Fulknier said Friday.
Wolfe said he wants the Ethics Commission to sue him for the fines in Circuit Court so that he can present his side of the story. During the ethics hearing, he did not get a chance to present evidence or call witnesses, Wolfe said.
"I'm innocent, and I'm not gonna forget it and not gonna pay them a penny," Wolfe said.
A three-judge panel removed Wolfe from office in 2008, after members of the City Council filed the petition in Circuit Court claiming Wolfe was consistently spending money and conducting city business without approval from the council.
Wolfe argues that the City Council acted illegally, by obtaining a lawyer to file a complaint against him.
Wolfe said that, over the years, he's suffered health problems because of stress over the charges against him.
"During these last 10 years, I've had heart attacks and a stroke over this stuff," Wolfe said. "I feel a lot better, and all I want to do is thank God above, for being alive."
Also on Saturday's Democratic ballot are incumbent Mayor Terry Greenlee and Ricky Hicks.
Reach Lori Kersey at Lori.Kersey@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1240 or follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.