Mayor of West York, Pa., resigns after racist Facebook posts

WEST YORK , Pa., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The West York, Pa., borough council moved to accept Mayor Charles Wasko's resignation after public disapproval of his racist social media posts.

The unanimous vote was greeted with applause at a council meeting Monday.

Wasko's Facebook page recently featured posts including accusations President Barack Obama and Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are Islamic State leaders; a photograph of actor Clint Eastwood holding a noose, with the caption "Barry [Obama] this is for you;" a wheelbarrow of baby orangutans with a reference to the White House; and a comment on football player Colin Kaepernick. Wasko admitted the postings were his, and later wrote on his Facebook page, "I will say what is on my mind and what I believe in."

The mayor's position in West York, a community of 4,500 people in southeastern Pennsylvania, is unpaid, and the borough council does not have the power to remove a sitting mayor.

Council President Shawn Mauck, who was elevated to the mayor's position after the vote to accept Wasko's resignation, said Wasko agreed to resign if any of four conditions were met. He did not detail the list of conditions, but local civil rights activist Carla Christopher commented, "It is ludicrous that a bully offers this list of demands. We think it is insane that we should have to entertain this."