Strafford divided by mayor's legal problems

STRAFFORD, Mo. -- Residents of this town east of Springfield are split on whether their mayor should resign after being accused of defrauding people in an investment scheme.

Alan Baker pleaded innocent last week to a seven-count indictment charging him with transmitting various letters, contracts and other communications used to execute the scheme. The indictment claimed the mayor solicited funds in Greene County for an investment program from January 1998 through April 2000 and allegedly spent some of the funds for his own use.

At a packed Board of Aldermen meeting last week, Baker asked town residents to deliver to city hall signed, written opinions on whether he should resign. He said they could also e-mail him.

The town's 1,845 residents have been slow to respond to Baker's request. City Administrator Ron Carriger said Baker had received just one letter by Friday, although he expected several more to arrive.

Deanna Knotts, a Strafford resident and local hairstylist, said she intends to write Baker asking him to leave office.

"I think he should resign, not for the city, but for himself so he can concentrate on his legal problems. No one can concentrate on their own problems if they're trying to run a city. And he can't run the city if he's concentrating on his own problems," she said.

Others say he should stay in office until his legal issues are resolved.

"We have a Constitution and today (Baker is) innocent. We get two black eyes if we act on allegations," said Springfield attorney Charles Cowherd, who represents an area property owner in matters regarding city issues.

The mayor said he will make a decision by the November board meeting.

Baker is accused of using a wire communication to commit fraud between Missouri and several states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. If convicted, Baker could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Baker is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 17.

City personnel said Baker was referring all questions to his attorney, Dee Wampler, who declined to discuss the allegations.

"Unfortunately, I got caught up in something that most people would never get caught up into. I was stupid enough to get into it, so it's my own fault," Baker said at last Monday's board meeting.

"But I will not discuss it with anyone, because it is my personal business. And I will take care of my personal business, as well as the city business."