N.J. Missing Mayor Mystery Lingers On

Politicians are now behaving like common criminals or celebrities:

The mystery of this gambling resort town's missing mayor appeared to be close to a conclusion Tuesday, with a request before a judge to declare his office vacant.

Meanwhile, the mayor's lawyer promised an explanation of the politician's two-week absence.

City officials last heard from Mayor Robert Levy on Sept. 26, when he called in sick, climbed into his city-issued Dodge Durango and seemingly vanished. His aides have said only that he was hospitalized somewhere, and will not disclose his condition.

Members of the city council say they're fed up with the disappearing mayor, who is under federal investigation for embellishing his Army service in Vietnam, and have asked a judge to declare the mayor's office vacant.

Councilman William "Speedy" Marsh was preparing to take office as early as Tuesday afternoon, said Marsh's attorney, James Leonard.