Two penal orders in question for a mayor, including one for embezzlement – that’s too much for a city. The head of the town hall of Bamberg should do the city a service. And resign from office.
Bamberg’s Lord Mayor Andreas Starke (SPD) will not have to walk through the city in the future, bowed with shame. But it can’t be done away with either: He has now suffered two heavy blows in a very short space of time. The first penalty order because of Breach of official secrets was something for (administrative) legal connoisseurs. The second, now issued by the Court of Justice, is the same. Neither of them question Starke’s personal integrity. They are not defamatory of him as a person.
Starke did not reach into the city treasury to enrich himself personally. And he has not abused his position of power to the detriment of third parties. Part of the irony of the story is that the opposite is actually the case with the latter. Starke was involved in that City Hall employees very attractively paid became. So he would rather have used his power for the benefit of employees. Only the municipal auditing association as well as the government of Upper Franconia and now the public prosecutor’s office consider this to be illegal in this form. For good reasons.
A head of administration must not accept money that is apparently incompatible with administrative regulations. If such things were not prevented, favoritism would be palpable. It is public money that is used to distribute benefits. A mayor should know that. Especially a studied lawyer like Starke.
Starke has not lost his reputation with this second penalty order – regardless of whether he accepts it in the end or not. He doesn’t have to fear being labeled persona non grata anywhere.
But he must now give the city of Bamberg, which hasn’t gotten out of the negative headlines for more than a year and a half, the chance for a new start. Two penal orders in question for a mayor who one even for infidelity, which is clearly too much for a city. Starke should pull himself together – and give back his office with dignity.