London mayor impeached, removed by city council on misconduct charges

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — After a hearing that lasted nearly eight hours on Friday, Sept. 5, a judge collected the votes of city council members who voted to impeach Mayor Randall Weddle and remove him from office.

Weddle had earlier written on social media that although he was “far from perfect,” he always tried to lead the city in a professional, ethical manner, even in council meetings that got tense.

“Victoria and I love you and that won’t change,” Weddle wrote on Friday evening. “Pray for the city employees and our great city!”

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Friday’s hearing followed multiple heated meetings between the city council and Mayor Weddle, who was accused of 11 counts of misconduct. The charges ranged from alleged mismanagement of the London Housing Authority to the police department and local finances. City officials streamed the impeachment hearing live, where audience members could occasionally be heard shouting in protest.

The six-member council unanimously voted to impeach Weddle on three of the 11 charges brought against him. He had held the position of mayor since 2022.

London residents who attended the meeting told FOX 56 said they were frustrated with the outcome of Friday’s impeachment hearing.

“I feel like they’re just disregarding the community and not standing with the community,” community member Brad Mallory said. “I mean, they hear our voices every day and they still I mean, they’ve had this going on. They’ve had this plan for awhile. They hear our voices and they still don’t listen.”

City Council members then appointed Tracie Handley, now London’s first female mayor, as the city’s acting leader.

Weddle told FOX 56 he planned to appeal his removal from office.