The Brookhaven political scene is heating up and may provide aninteresting situation in the days leading up to the June 5 mayor’srace. That race pits the incumbent against a former political allywhile an independent candidate quietly watches in the wings.

Charges this past week by republican mayoral candidate and WardFour Alderman John Roberts and former democratic mayoral candidateand Alderman at large Henry Newman that Mayor Bill Godbold hasmisused city funds bring a new wrinkle to a race that has alreadyseen the disqualification of one candidate after revelations of afelony conviction in his past.

Godbold calls the charges mud-slinging. Roberts does not deny heis playing politics saying it’s the public’s right to know.

It will be interesting to see where the race goes in the final17 days.

In a letter published elsewhere on this page, Godbold questionsthe motives behind the charges and has called for an audit by thecity auditor of all elected city officials’ reimbursements. He alsocalled for a complete review of city policy on reimbursementprocedures. No timetable was given for the start or completion ofthe audit or the policy review.

Putting all politics aside, the charges by Roberts and Newmanare serious and should be investigated. In the Tuesday city boardmeeting, Roberts claimed over $25,000 has been misused over an18-month period.

Copies of credit card invoices and mileage reimbursement forms,handed out by Roberts after the Tuesday night board meeting, showover $6,000 in hotel expenses, $2,000 in restaurant expenses and$10,000 in mileage expense reimbursements since November 1999.While the expenses appear excessive and deserve question, Robertsdid not provide any documentation to prove the expenditures were ofa personal nature or not legitimate.

Godbold says all expense reports had been approved by the boardand that he was unaware of any concerns until Tuesday night.

We commend the mayor’s call for an audit of city expenditures.We also commend Roberts and Newman for bringing the issue to light,as that is their duty and obligation as elected officials. We justdo not understand why they did not question the expenses sooner. Weagree an audit is in order and suggest in addition to the cityauditor, the State Audit Department be brought in to handle theinvestigation.

Obviously the first job of the new administration will be tolook into the reimbursement policy and, if necessary, react to thefindings of the auditors.

When the public’s money is involved there should be no stoneunturned in properly documenting and approving all expenditures andthere should be no question as to the legitimacy of those expenses.That is the job the mayor and board are elected and sworn to do andthe public has the right to demand their accountability.