A Superior Court judge says Gordon Mayor Mary Ann Whipple-Lue can remain in office.
Judge Robert Reeves released his verdict Tuesday after a three-day trial last week. Eight people in Gordon filed a lawsuit in 2014 aimed at removing Whipple-Lue, arguing that she violated the law and abused her office.
Reeves wrote Tuesday that there are no legal grounds for removing Whipple-Lue.
She has been "misguided," "wrong" and "arrogant," has violated the state's open meeting law, and "has not been a good mayor," his decision says.
But he said she has not acted "with evil intent" or been "grossly negligent."
"Hopefully, she has learned from her mistakes and will proceed more prudently and graciously in the future," Reeves wrote.
If not, voters can deny her a second term in 2017, he said.
Critics accused Whipple-Lue of violating the state’s open meeting law, spending money without authority and mishandling city personnel records. Whipple-Lue argued that she’d done nothing wrong and was being targeted because she’s a black woman.
Reeves suspended her from office twice in 2014, and the legal fight ended up in the state supreme court twice.
