Bangor council weighs ethics findings against Mallar, Leonard remarks

The Bangor City Council held a workshop Monday on two ethics matters. Councilors discussed proposed findings that Councilor Wayne Mallar violated three ethics code provisions during an August 2025 historic preservation meeting, and took up a separate complaint over remarks Councilor Joseph Leonard made at the June 22, 2026 meeting. No final votes were taken; staff will draft orders for a future council meeting.

Key points

• City Solicitor David Szewczyk said the Ethics Board found Mallar violated three ethics code provisions (sections 33-13.1(b), 33-13.1(c), and 33-1) by a 5-0, 4-1, and 5-0 vote, and found no violation of two others.
• The board's findings are advisory; the council must still deliberate and vote on each provision, and Mallar was given a chance to respond but declined to speak.
• Councilor Michael Beck moved to have staff prepare an order adopting the board's findings with a penalty of training with the legal department on when and how councilors must disclaim their titles; the motion was seconded and discussed.
• Councilors Daniel Carson and Carolyn Fish raised concerns about applying penalty options from a proposed ethics code update that has not yet been adopted to a complaint filed months ago.
• On the Leonard matter, Szewczyk outlined a possible referral to the Ethics Board over remarks Leonard made about ICE detention facilities and President Trump, citing ethics code sections 33-1 and 33-13.1.1.
• Leonard objected to discussing his June 22 remarks in executive session, citing his right under state law to a public hearing on his own conduct; the council instead discussed the matter in open session.
• Councilors split on the Leonard matter: Fish said she would send it to ethics, Beck said he opposed any order and wanted to move on, and Carson said his concern was decorum during the exchange with the audience rather than the language itself.
• A representative of the American Heritage Association briefed the council on a tall ships and rowing event planned for Bangor's waterfront, including a drone show and a six-person rowing competition.

Next steps

• Staff will draft a proposed council order reflecting the Ethics Board's findings against Mallar, including a penalty option, for a vote at a future regular council meeting.
• The council is expected to revisit the Leonard matter at a future workshop or meeting; Chair Susan Hawes said it would be on the agenda in about two weeks.
• The council planned to move into executive sessions, including one on consultation with the city solicitor regarding the June 22, 2026 council meeting.

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