Have You Seen This Missing Democrat?

Atlantic City Mayor and politician of still unknown (to the media) party affiliation Bob Levy is still AWOL, and his problems are mounting, as the U.S. Attorney's office has launched a probe into his bogus claims about being a Green Beret.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has launched a probe into Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy, whose indefinite, hush-hush leave of absence on medical reasons has other officials and the public scratching their heads.

Authorities are trying to determine whether Levy's false claims to have served with the Army Green Berets in Vietnam were meant to boost his veteran's benefits, an official with knowledge of the case said Thursday. The official spoke anonymously because the investigation is ongoing.

The probe makes Levy the latest local official to come under the scrutiny of law enforcement recently, and his puzzling absence has raised further questions.

Levy left office Sept. 28 after reportedly transferring his powers verbally to the city business administrator, Domenic Cappella. City Council members have questioned why the power transfer wasn't more formal.

The mayor's office would not discuss the power transfer or comment on the reason for his medical leave.

Assemblyman and former Mayor Jim Whelan said Levy, whom he describes as his best friend since the two were teenage lifeguards on the beaches of the gambling mecca, should explain why he's been gone or resign.

"You can't have this big mystery going on and have a functioning city government," Whelan said this week.

Hold on, a shocking development. His local newspaper has (gasp!) discovered he's a Democrat. Will wonders never cease?

The last of official act of Levy, a Democrat, apparently came Sept. 26, when city records show he signed seven ordinances. He and his city-issued Dodge Durango then vanished from a city beset with resignation rumors tied to an ongoing federal investigation into his military records.

Business Administrator Domenic Cappella has said Levy is on medical leave and verbally designated him acting mayor. But pressure mounted for Cappella and other top staffers to reveal the chief executive's location as national media began paying attention to Levy's disappearance. Cappella did not return calls seeking comment.

A spokesman for McCullough's opponent, Assemblyman Jim Whelan, a Democrat, labeled Levy's unknown whereabouts "a crisis" and said Whelan was discussing the issue directly with Corzine.

Hmm. I wonder what national media they're referring to?

Previously: Another Phony War Hero? Atlantic City's Democrat Mayor Goes AWOL