Mayor Ronald Fires Board of Public Works Member
In a detailed legal takedown, Mayor J.T. Ronald removes George H. Heilbron from office, citing conflicts of interest and chronic absenteeism.
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Mayor J.T. Ronald has officially removed George H. Heilbron from the Board of Public Works. Following a formal investigation, the Mayor exonerated Commissioner Rinehart but found Heilbron guilty of misfeasance and nonfeasance. The findings state that Heilbron held interests in insurance companies that contracted with the city for city property coverage. Furthermore, the Mayor's report condemned Heilbron’s lack of oversight regarding the city's tunnel construction and water main improvements, noting he rarely visited the sites and missed thirty-six board meetings. J.W. Van Brocklin was appointed to fill the vacancy.
“The finding in Mr. Heilbron's case is much more elaborate, and sparkles, so to speak, with legal technicalities, like a coat of burnished mail.”
Public corruption in city contracting—specifically the 'revolving door' between board members and private insurance firms—is a recurring theme in city hall accountability. The mayor's exhaustive public report serves as a historical document on the difficulty of maintaining integrity in early municipal infrastructure expansion.
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