Martinsville Mayor Phil Deckard called a meeting with city employees on Monday to address claims suggesting the city's financial problems would prevent city employees from receiving their paychecks.
At the meeting, Deckard says he assured his employees the city has money to meet payroll, there would be no withholding of payroll and there would be no layoffs.
"After our meeting, I had some questions from employees about the election process and some things that my opponent was doing and I said I would appreciate their support and I would appreciate their vote for the mayor of the city of Martinsville," Deckard says. "I do not believe that is illegal and the state election board said it was not."
Deckard says there was nothing unethical about his statements and he has received support from city employees who understand the context of the comments.