Mayor of Johns Creek seeks halt in investigation of ethics breaches

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The mayor of Johns Creek wants a Fulton County judge to halt an investigation into allegations of ethics breaches.

Mayor Mike Bodker told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik his attorney filed the petition against the city after an outside investigator subpoenaed phone and lease records he doesn't want to hand over.

"This has been a witch hunt from the start to the finish," said Bodker. "They've never had something specific they were going after. They merely want to dig and dig and dig to see if they can find something."

An interim report released by former Dekalb County District Attorney Bob Wilson in October accused Bodker of several breaches, including voting in favor of a developer's project after spending a free week at the developer's Florida vacation home. Bodker said the developer is a close friend and the vacation had nothing to do with his vote.

The report also accused Bodker of using his position to gain reduced rent on two properties where he stayed in the city. Bodker denies he got any sweetheart deals.

"None of what I did had anything to do with the fact that I'm the mayor," said Bodker. "They're not going to have access to all of my private phone calls."

Wilson told Petchenik the mayor's personal phone records are fair game.

"When he used his personal phone for the public's business, the public has the right to know," he said.

Wilson said he issued the subpoenas after the election to avoid any questions about political motivation after repeated attempts to gain access to the records in question. Wilson said Bodker initially agreed to release the records, and then stalled.

"It's a hide-and-seek game," he said.

Wilson said he's currently authorized to conduct the investigation, but concedes when two new City Council members take over in January, it's likely they might vote to end the investigation, which he said has cost the city about $80,000 to conduct so far.

Out-going city councilman Randall Johnson told Petchenik he's not surprised the mayor filed suit to stop the investigation.

"I've said all along that Mike Bodker is desperately trying to not let this information out," he said. "He's definitely hiding something and doesn't want this information out. He's fighting through the legal process and the media to get investigation stopped."

WSBTV