By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington mayor Tari Renner is taking a temporary leave of absence for what he says are medical-related reasons.
In a statement released late this afternoon, Renner said he’s informed City Manager David Hales and Mayor Pro-tem Karen Schmidt of his decision.
Renner, elected this year to a second, four-year term, said he’s taking a leave after consulting with his physician and his family.
The mayor said he’s thankful the city has a strong and capable city council and administration to manage the day-to-day operations in his absence.
Renner goes on to say he and his family appreciate privacy as he continues to focus on his health.
Renner, also an Illinois Wesleyan University political science professor, has been at the center of several tumultuous issues in recent months.
He’s the subject of an Illinois State Police investigation into the purchase of airfare so that his girlfriend, Margot Ehrlich, could accompany him for an official visit to Bloomington-Normal’s Japanese sister city. A city staffer used a government credit card to buy the $1,800 but Renner said Ehrlich reimbursed taxpayers. Renner said everything was done legally even if taxpayers had foot the bill for Ehrlich’s trip.
Renner seemed particularly angry with frequent city hall critic Bruce Meeks, who has hammered the mayor about the Japan trip controversy.
Meeks sent to the news media an email he received from Renner at 2:46 on a Sunday morning earlier this month.
“You seem to be totally crazy as they come,” Renner told Meeks.
“It seems you do this kind of garbage because you don’t have an actual job,” the Mayor told Meeks.
Two years ago, the city council censured Renner for inflammatory comments he made to conservative blogger Diane Benjamin, who is also a frequent critic of city administration.
Also this month, the city council shot down Renner’s proposal to hire a mayoral aide because he claimed the job of running the city is too much for a part time mayor. Renner is paid $12,000 a year.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].
