CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After 25-years as mayor of the city of Beckley, Emmett Pugh will resign. It’s part of a settlement with the West Virginia Ethics Commission.
Pugh was facing nine charges of ethic violations for using his public office for private gain, accepting improper gifts, using his public office for his own private gain and private gain of others and prohibited interest in public contracts.
Those violations were issued in April 2012. Pugh has continued to deny he did anything wrong.
But in a settlement agreed approved by the Ethics Commission Thursday the mayor agreed to resign later this year. As part of the settlement, Pugh did not have to admit to any of the violations.
Pugh will pay back $7,000 for the cost of the investigation and not run for public office for five years beginning January 1, 2014. He also faces a public reprimand.
Pugh says he was planning to retire even before he was offered the settlement last month.
Beckley City Council will appoint a new mayor to finish out the two years left on Pugh’s term.