Aldermen hear about nude selfie incident

Mayor emotional, but says no laws broken

An emotional Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson said April 5 evening he broke no laws in a nude photo texting incident, so there was no disciplinary action for aldermen to consider.

Johnson, speaking at the start of a regular Board of Aldermen meeting, read a statement that he said would probably be has last public comment on the matter.

“I made a personal mistake in a private relationship that has now become public,” Johnson told aldermen and a full board room, many of whom were there to discuss other items. “I’m a human being who never professed to be perfect.”

The nude photo of Johnson in the shower, a photo he took of himself, was sent to a Little Rock woman he had been seeing. The unidentified woman, who has declined to comment, sent the photo to at least some of the city’s seven aldermen. It became public last week.

Johnson, 49, said he is no longer involved in a relationship with the woman. He is involved in a divorce that predates the photo incident.

Johnson termed the matter a “mistake that has caused pain to me, my family and my friends. I apologize to the board, employees and the citizens of Hernando.”

However, Johnson said the photo was taken with a private cellphone, on personal time and did not affect city business. He said the city attorney had researched the question of official impropriety, and had found none.

“Given that no laws have been broken, there’s nothing in this board’s power to do even if they decided to get involved in my personal business,” Johnson said.

Some Hernando citizens who had hoped to address the issue at the meeting were angry afterward that Johnson did not open the floor to remarks.

“I had hoped to get an open floor to ask some questions about an investigation or possible disciplinary action,” said Roman Swatzyna. “It sets a real bad precedent. According to the mayor, if you’re a policeman or alderman or any other city official, it’s OK to send nude photos of yourself.”