In trouble over bikini photo, Patterson mayor can resign — or step aside for now

Patterson Mayor Dennis McCord should step aside and stop running the City Council until a school investigation determines whether he should be disciplined for unseemly behavior toward a 15-year-old girl and perhaps other students.

McCord’s employment as a math teacher at Patterson High School and his position at City Hall are separate. But his conduct in both places must be beyond reproach for him to be effective in the latter, the highest elected office in Patterson.

Also separate are two investigations, one conducted by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services to the city, and the other by the Patterson Joint Unified School District, which oversees the high school. The former concluded without criminal charges against McCord, but the latter is ongoing and discipline for violating district policy remains a possibility.

Scant information released thus far looks bad for the mayor, who has been on paid administrative leave since October. Reportedly replying “nice” and “wish I was there” when the girl sent him a bikini photo on Snapchat does not reflect a healthy, proper relationship between a 58-year-old teacher and a teenage student.

Blocking her social media contact may have saved McCord from answering in criminal court. But the court of public opinion in which all elected officials are held to account is another matter.

Several speakers during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting denounced McCord, some asking for his resignation. More than 450 people have signed a petition demanding he leave, The Modesto Bee’s Kristin Lam reported. No more evidence is needed to conclude that McCord’s problem with his day job has spilled over into his night job. It has become an unwelcome distraction, and no amount of denying wrongdoing can change that.

The people of Patterson deserve the best representation available. Their leaders should be able to concentrate on jobs and housing issues, for example, without salacious distractions. People deserve to know that confidence in their elected officials is not misplaced.

If the school district hands down discipline, McCord must resign as mayor.

If he is cleared, McCord can resume his duties as mayor.

A reasonable interim solution

Because teachers have rights to due process — especially strong rights, in California — we may not know for some time whether McCord will face discipline. School district administrators should proceed as quickly as allowed by law.

If he is at fault, he must go. But it’s a different story if he is innocent. Remember that McCord was selected in November 2020 by 52.6% of voters in Patterson with nearly double the votes received by runner-up Mark Miles, who got 26.6% (David Keller obtained 20.8%).

Resigning is an honorable option. Acknowledging that the greater good is more important than one’s individual pride and political ambition would require humility and courage, and may preserve some respect, for the time being.

Temporarily stepping aside — pending the school district’s decision — is the least that McCord can do. If his conscience is clear, he should have no problem with this interim solution.

Continuing to lead council meetings while pretending that nothing is wrong, as the mayor has done so far, is selfish and arrogant.

This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 10:15 AM.