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PATTERSON CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING ALLEGATIONS
OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT BY MAYOR MCCORD
At the February 1st City Council meeting, the Patterson City Council conducted a public hearing to consider possible actions concerning the allegations of inappropriate conduct by Mayor Dennis McCord and to hear from concerned Patterson residents on this item.
The City Council finds the allegations against the Mayor serious and troubling. The protection of children is a fundamental City value. The City Council does not condone any type of inappropriate conduct with a minor, including inappropriate communications with a minor. Such conduct runs counter to City values. However, the allegations are currently part of disciplinary action in a personnel matter being conducted by the Patterson Joint Unified School District. The school district’s internal personnel investigation has not concluded. The City Council’s knowledge of the details of the allegations are limited as the school district’s personnel matters are confidential. The information available to the City Council regarding the details of the allegations are only what is available to the public and reported in the media. The City Council believes the appropriate authorities are handing this matter and for that reason the City Council will refrain from reaching any conclusions concerning matters that are not within the City’s jurisdiction to address. The City Council will continue to monitor the matter and will consider its options as more information becomes available.
City residents are entitled to a City government led by officials with the highest levels of integrity, respect and personal behavior. City government can only be effective if it has the public‘s confidence. The City Council takes all comments and concerns from members of the public very seriously. The allegations have placed the Mayor under a cloud of suspicion and diminished public confidence in City government. This matter has been a distraction to the effective conduct of City business.
Until any disciplinary proceedings are concluded or legal action is taken by the appropriate authorities, the City Council must return to effectively conducting City business. The City Council’s focus must be on improving the City. The City Council urges the Mayor to carefully reflect on the public outcry regarding the allegations, the loss of the {CW111642.3}
public’s trust and the numerous requests for his resignation. City residents have the right to expect highest level of integrity, respect and personal behavior of its elected officials. ###