Questions follow apparent resignation of NKY mayor, including possible improper spending

WALTON, Ky. (WKRC) - A longtime Northern Kentucky mayor is leaving residents with many unanswered questions after seemingly stepping down from his position out of the blue.

Gabe Brown has been the mayor of Walton, a small city in southern Boone County, since 2014.

But late Wednesday night, he reportedly announced his intention to resign after a closed-door executive session meeting of the Walton City Council.

The meeting was held to discuss the possible discipline or termination of an unnamed city employee.

That's according to city council members who were there before the public was let back in.

They then told the public the council plans to investigate possible improper spending and credit card use by Brown.

Local 12 obtained transcipts of the credit card transactions in question through court records dating back two years.

They were part of an open records lawsuit filed by the lawyer of Walton businessman Kelly Fulmer.

A judge ordered the city to pay $13,000 for not providing the proper records and making inappropriate redactions.

Fulmer has been embroiled in a dispute with Brown and the city over the use of his parking lot on Main Street.

He accused Brown of using public money to hang signs mocking him during a city festival in 2023.

"'Fulmer jailhouse blues, 'Fulmer fence company,' et cetera. I found that to be very offensive,” Fulmer said. "As a taxpayer, as a businessperson here in the community, I don't feel any citizen should be targeted by its government and the use of their own tax dollars to effectuate that purpose."

The apparent resignation also comes after Walton's six-member City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance putting stricter limits on the use of city credit cards. Those include requiring receipts and other information for approval.

Previously, the city would just pay the mayor's bill with no questions asked.

The resignation isn't official until Brown submits it in writing. Council members and the city clerk have yet to get that letter as of Thursday evening.

The Walton City Council also scheduled a special meeting Wednesday with the express purpose of censuring the mayor, giving him a public reprimand. That wouldn't carry any specific penalty.

There is also a pending EEOC complaint against Brown and Walton by a woman who, at the time, was the city's only African American employee. She is alleging racial discrimination after being terminated, and is waiting for permission to move forward with a lawsuit.