Liar! Liar!

Mayor's absence in Atlantic City troubles Corzine
He said the state was weighing legal options for replacing Bob Levy, who has been missing for more than a week.

By Jacqueline L. Urgo

Inquirer Staff Writer

ATLANTIC CITY - Gov. Corzine said yesterday that state officials were looking into legal options for replacing Mayor Bob Levy, who was last seen in public more than a week ago.

"It seems to me that the situation today can't go on for an extended period of time," Corzine said, calling Levy's drop from public life "dysfunctional and chaotic behavior."

Corzine, who appeared at a news conference on the Boardwalk with Assemblyman Jim Whelan, said he was awaiting a determination from the state attorney general about the city's leadership problem.

Also, City Councilman Bruce Ward said he filed a motion yesterday morning in Superior Court seeking a declaratory judgment that the office of mayor has been abandoned. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Levy, a Democrat, left City Hall in his city-issued Dodge Durango on Sept. 26. Two days later, a spokesman issued a 36-word statement saying Levy was on indefinite medical leave from his $100,000-a-year job. His office would only say he was hospitalized, but would not say where or for what.

Levy apparently left town without officially handing over the reigns of power to a replacement, as required by state law. City Council members have expressed displeasure with Business Administrator Domenic Cappella's announcement that Levy's absence left him in charge.

The drama about where Levy is and how long he will be gone continues to swirl amid reports of a federal investigation into whether Levy embellished his military-service record by saying he was a member of the elite Green Berets unit, in order to collect a higher pension. Levy served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was twice decorated for bravery.

This week, Whelan, a former mayor and a Democratic candidate for state Senate in a contentious race against Sen. James "Sonny" McCullough (R., Atlantic), came under fire from his opponent after he said that Levy, a longtime friend, should either publicly explain his absence or resign.

The TrekMedic notes:

Captain America over at First In! adds a few very pointed words as well:


Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch Bob Levy WAS a soldier and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED having served two tours in VIETNAM. He was awarded medals for Meritorious Service and bravery. What he wasn't is a Green Beret Commando. Why is it that Democrats constantly have to lie about all issues military including the nature of their service?

So this week the Mayor of Atlantic City disappears without telling anyone. He's officially A.W.O.L. It seems he's the subject of an investigation or two. But Bob Levy is a Democrat in a town full of Democrats and the problem is he falsely claimed to be a Green Beret. When he ran for office the Democrats were only too happy to point this claim out even printing it on campaign literature.


Well done, Captain!