What is Beth thinking?

Mason asks for back-pay, salary and benefits

June 6, 2009 Hobokwn Reporter

Councilwoman Beth Mason, less than a month after her candidacy for mayor failed, has asked the city to reimburse her council salary going back to January and to reinstate her salary and medical benefits going forward.

City officials confirmed yesterday that Mason requested backpay totaling $8,816, a reestablishment of her council salary - roughly $22,000 per year - and council health benefits going forward.

Mason confirmed the request after the City Council meeting on Wednesday, and said that she finally listened to all the supporters who told her she earned her salary and should take it.

Even before the mayoral campaign, Mason pointed out at times from the dais that she was the only council member who did not accept the annual salary the city offered. Now with the election over for her, many people are claiming she was just using the salary refusal as political posturing.

Mason said she didn't think the reimbursement was news, but rather wishes that more attention would be paid to her many contributions to the community, like her very large donation to the YMCA just a month ago.

Mason spent over $300,000 contributing to her own mayoral campaign and many are speculating that she is just trying to recoup some of her loses.