FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS -- An anonymous flier accused Mayor Gail Mitchell of allowing a sex convention in town last weekend, but the mayor said he had no say in the private event.
The "Beat Me in St. Louis" event at the Fountains at Fairview was for people exploring or practicing bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism in sexual relationships. The conference center and adjoining Four Points by Sheraton hotel were closed to the public from Friday to Sunday.
On Saturday, some Fairview residents received a political flier that said Mitchell allowed a "porn convention on city-owned property" and tried to keep the event a secret, and questioned whether his continued leadership would benefit the city.
Mitchell, who is up for re-election in April, said the flier was inaccurate and "the lowest political thing that somebody could stoop to."
Mitchell said he could not stop a private event that did not violate any criminal or city code. When he found out about the event Friday afternoon, he had the Police Department and city attorney look into the matter.
"You bet I would have stopped it if I could have, because I don't want that kind of stuff going on in my city," Mitchell said.
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