There’s a solid, straightforward story about the conviction by plea and subsequent resignation of Whitewater Common Council member Javonni Butler over at the Gazette, portions of which are excerpted below.
Of this, three things may be said with confidence: that for some, this is a moment of particular schadenfreude; that so hidebound is Whitewater that the loss of a single council member during weeks of upcoming budget deliberations will likely produce no change in the outcome; and that the Gazette is the only newspaper in the area that publishes news on the weekend.
….Butler pleaded guilty Friday to a felony charge of delivering marijuana. Police say he twice sold drugs to an undercover informant earlier this year.
Butler, 22, New Berlin, will spend 45 days in jail and two years on probation as part of a plea agreement reached with the prosecution….
Other council members previously said they weren’t sure whether the crimes would affect his public position, but members of the state Government Accountability Board said anyone convicted of a felony is prohibited from holding office.
[Council President Patrick] Singer said Butler’s seat was immediately vacated Friday following the guilty plea. The city will soon advertise the open seat and look to appoint someone as early as November, Singer said.
See, from Kevin Hoffman, Guilty plea in marijuana case forces Whitewater city councilman to step down @ Walworth County Today.