Suspended mayoral aide Cassidy returns to work

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000 | 10:44 a.m.

Embattled mayoral staffer William Cassidy completed his one-month suspension and returned to City Hall on Tuesday.

Cassidy, who was suspended without pay for using his city-issued cell phone while on personal leave of absence, drew some surprising looks from other 10th-floor staffers when he re-entered Mayor Oscar Goodman's office Tuesday.

Cell phone records released by the city first drew attention to Cassidy's bill because he requested six separate numbers be blocked out for "personal safety" reasons.

Then his $1,685 bill for the first six months of the year gained scrutiny because Cassidy had taken a two-month personal leave from mid March to mid May to work on the defense team in the Ted Binion murder trial.

It wasn't until after the Sun requested the cell phone records that Cassidy paid for the personal calls. He has since reimbursed the city for the entire amount of his bill.

Goodman has previously said that Cassidy could return to the fold provided "he can behave."

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