PULLMAN, WA – The attorney for the former City of Pullman Administrator is further explaining their side of the story regarding Mike Urban’s departure from city hall.

The city and Mayor Francis Benjamin announced on Tuesday that Urban resigned on Monday. Urban immediately stated that he did not resign. His attorney Alexandria Drake issued a press statement Wednesday and reiterated that the city’s claim that Urban resigned is “categorically false.”

Urban was placed on paid administrative leave for three weeks starting in late March. On April 17th the city and Mayor Benjamin announced that the allegations against Urban were proven false by an independent third party and he was welcomed him back to work. The false allegations involved the dispute between the city’s former Police Chief Jake Opgenorth and his ex-mistress. Opgenorth used Urban’s name on his phone to hide messages from the woman.

Urban wanted to negotiate his return to restore his reputation before getting back to city hall and his attorney says those talks were attempted. Drake says that no agreement was reached and Urban expressly reiterated to the city that he wanted to return to work. She states that the city illegally fired Urban and breached his contract and he intends to pursue all remedies available to address the city’s misconduct.

Mayor Benjamin says that Urban communicated multiple times that he does not intend to return to work which the city interpreted as a resignation. Benjamin refuses to provide any additional information or documentation about that claim citing legal confidentiality.