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The post read, “Sad day in America. Flying an American flag half-mast for a racist. Priceless.” The post was signed, “Wellsburg Mayor Daniel L. Dudley”.
The post quickly drew criticism, with many calling for him to step down.
7 News sat down with the mayor, state delegates, and Brooke County officials. Quotes from them can be read below.
“It was sent to me I got the sense that this didn’t represent what Wellsburg felt.”
Delegate Jimmy Willis
“I am getting feedback about all these signatures to resign there’s more signatures for me to resign there were people that actually came out to the poles and voted so I don’t understand this.”
Daniel L. Dudley | Mayor, Wellsburg
“I don’t wanna see that kind of stuff, political violence is never the answer whether it’s Charlie Kirk in Utah, the President in Butler, the governor of Michigan when they tried to kidnap her, violence is never the answer republican or democrat liberal or conservative, we have to move forward as a country.”
Delegate Jimmy Willis
The original petition has been corrected, initially it said the county clerk was the deciding factor in the mayors resignation.
“I’m not the decider by anyway. I’m obviously I work for the county. He works for the city affiliated.”
County Clerk
Even amid the backlash Dudley made it clear he has no regrets about the post. When asked if he stood by the post or regretted it, he responded “Yes. I stand by it.”
“I really felt that I didn’t think he deserved them besides that we just had 9/11 24 years and if you fly a flag half mass, it could’ve been through all the people there.”
Daniel L. Dudley | Mayor, Wellsburg
Despite the petition circulating with hundreds of signatures, Dudley says he has no plans to resign, responding when asked, “No, not forced.”
Delegate Jimmy Willis, who shared the petition, says the mayor may have free speech, but so do his constituents.
“I would say it is and it’s my right in the first amendment to call for his resignation and it’s the right of over 500 people to sign a petition for his resignation and the 30,000 who have seen it.”
Willis said he believes this moment should be about unity, not division.
“This isn’t a time to keep dividing people let’s come together, that’s all I’m asking for. We gotta move forward.”
As of 4pm Friday evening the petition for Mayor Dudley’s resignation has nearly 700 signatures.
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