Chief of staff for Wilmington’s Mayor resigns
Bill Montgomery is leaving the Mayor James Baker’s staff to avoid questions about whether his campaign to replace Baker as Mayor violates the Hatch Act.
Montgomery has been leading Baker’s staff since the Mayor took office in 2001. His resignation will be effective on April 13. “It is time for me to move on from this position and resume my efforts to lead our city to even greater heights as the next mayor,” said Montgomery in his resignation letter. Montgomery announced his decision to resign in a late afternoon staff meeting on Thursday. You can read Montgomery’s resignation letter on his campaign website.
“I have accepted Bill’s resignation today with regret, but I respect his decision,” said Mayor Baker. Montgomery has worked with Baker, supervising the day-to-day management of all city departments, offices, boards and commission through almost all of Baker’s unprecedented three terms in office. He’s also worked to develop the city’s budgets for Baker.
Because he oversees city departments which receive federal funds, his campaign for Mayor brought about questions about possible violations of the Hatch Act. The act prohibits state and local government workers from running for political office if their position is paid for by, or supported with federal funds. Rather than call his campaigns legitimacy into question, Montgomery will step down.
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