DOVER, Del. (AP) — Gov. Jack Markell has vetoed a bill changing Georgetown's town charter.
Markell vetoed the bill Wednesday, expressing concern about a new standard for removing the mayor or town council members from office.
While such disqualification provisions are standard in many town charters, Markell said the proposed change for Georgetown goes too far in saying elected officials automatically forfeit their right to hold public office for "failure of personal conduct," as defined in the town code.
Markell noted that the definition covers not just serious misconduct like fraud and misappropriation of town funds, but less objectively defined offenses such as insubordination, horseplay and any action that reflects adversely upon the town.
Markell said such language could be misused by a majority of council members to silence or remove political opponents.
