CRESTWOOD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The indicted mayor of Crestwood had a change of mind and decided against resigning during a village board meeting Thursday night.
Mayor Lou Presta had planned on resigning ahead of a guilty plea to bribery and tax evasion charges; and was going to be placed in a new position by the village board, Economic Development Director, at the same salary, according to the Daily Southtown. He said he has serious health issues.
But, the Sun Times reported, the 71-year-old mayor faced a room full of angry constituents with questions.
One saying, “Whoever heard of a person being indicted — soon to be convicted — and then handed a $65,000 job?”
Another said, “I don’t know anybody who steps out of a job when they’re ill, then steps into another job that pays the same amount.”
Someone else said, “It’s unconscionable that this is even a consideration.”
That’s not to say the 71-year-old mayor didn’t have supporters. He did.
The paper reported a visibly irritated Presta told the crowd he was postponing his resignation plan indefinitely “based on the decisions of the board, his attorney and his doctors."
Presta is expected to plead guilty later this month. If convicted of bribery and tax charges, Presta couldn’t hold elected office, but he could be the Economic Development Director while free.
After the trustees tabled a motion to create the new job, Presta said, “This is only a vote to create a position. It’s not giving nobody the job.”
For now, he’s still the mayor.
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