Mayor spends taxpayer money on meals

Joseph L. Wagner and Martin Stolz of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reviewed local records to show that "Beachwood Mayor Merle Gorden has dunned taxpayers for more than $20,000 for meals over four years, including $1,943 for 66 private meals he had with his assistant, Tina Turick." The mayor of neighboring Solon also spent thousands on meals and gifts during the past five years. "Beachwood City Council's Finance Committee has never examined Gorden's credit card statements, said Chairman Fredric Goodman. He said that over the years, he looked at a few of Gorden's credit card statements, but he asked no questions."