Don’t dwell on scandal, mayors tell Congress

Mark D. Preston

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 11:31 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Mayors from across the country penned a letter to Congress this week urging them to quickly decide President Clinton's fate and focus its energies on solving problems that are facing American cities.

Mayors from 41 cities including Jeff Griffin of Reno -- signed the six-paragraph letter that was delivered to Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate Tuesday. Most of the signers are Democrats, but a handful are Republicans.

The letter was drafted by Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and highlighted an array of problems facing urban and suburban cities ranging from crime to economic development on which they believe Congress should be focusing their efforts.

Webb said the mayors want congressional leaders to know Clinton's relationship with Lewinsky is not on the minds of constituents back home. Instead, people are more concerned about issues that will have an impact on their lives.

"Congress has really lost focus on the issues we deal with," Webb said. "What we are hearing from our hometowns is that most people are tired of hearing about it."

The letter chastises Clinton for his actions, but it also said the mayors will "continue to support his leadership." The letter does not offer advice on what type, if any, punishment they think Clinton should receive.

"We deplore the actions taken by the president, and we regret particularly that this kind of discussion is presented daily to our nation's children," the letter said. "For their sake as well, we ask you to move swiftly on the matters before you."

The mayors signed the letter last weekend while attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Summer Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City.