Public Official Fired over Porn Star Wife

(AP)  The mayor of a small Florida town on Thursday defended the town council's decision to fire its city manager after officials learned his wife is an adult film actress.

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Larry Kiker insisted that Scott Janke's termination had nothing to do with his spouse's job, that the town was merely trying to maintain order.

Janke married Anabela Mota Janke, who goes by the stage name Jazella Moore, in October. He began working for the town in March 2008.

"What we were addressing was a situation where we weren't going to be able to govern the town with all the disruption and interruption," Kiker said.

The plan appears to have backfired.

"I've done over 30 interviews (with media) ... I've gotten hundreds of e-mails, we're getting threatened," Kiker said. "Nobody is getting any work done around here."

Still, Kiker insisted that Janke wasn't fired because of his wife's job.

"We didn't fire him because his wife was a porn star," Kiker griped, adding that the decision wasn't a "knee-jerk reaction."

However, the mayor also noted: "It was not his job performance. We all liked Scott ... He's a good guy."

Kiker said he learned of Janke's wife's job after receiving a telephone call from a reporter on Tuesday. He said he then spoke to Janke, who agreed "this was going to be a big disruption for the town and he was not going to be able to do his job well."

Within a few hours, Kiker had called an emergency town council meeting, and the group voted 5-0 to exercise a "no-cause" clause in Janke's contract, effectively firing him.

Councilman Tom Babcock said at a council meeting Wednesday that Janke was fired because his wife's profession brought an inaccurate image to Fort Myers Beach, the News-Press of Fort Myers reported.

"When you become a public figure you are held to a different level of scrutiny and ethics," Babcock said at the meeting.

Janke told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that he and his wife had their "heads held high."

"We have done nothing to be embarrassed about. We've done nothing wrong," Janke said. He said it's too early to think about what's next, and wouldn't comment on any possible legal action.

He will get a severance package worth six months salary, which comes to about $50,000, plus health benefits.

Dan Miller, editor at the AVN Media Network, which covers the adult industry, said he had not heard of a similar case, but noted the adult film industry is "not necessarily widely accepted" in mainstream American politics.

Diane Duke, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, said the firing could present legal problems for the town.

Duke said even with a "no-cause" clause in Jenke's contract, as a government employee his rights are still protected.

"There may very well be a case here," she said.

Added Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida: "His firing may run up against Florida's law that prohibits discrimination based on marital status."

[dockellis70]

Don't be too harsh on the town, she was also working as a high-end prostitute by the name of "Erica" in Boston. She would travel to Boston occasionally to work. I wonder if the town found that out as well.

[barbaram99]

toldtouso said it backfired. They lady is right. I am going the article. Yhey asked for the attn when they fired the man. They wanted order, Well they got what thet sowed. The wife is a porn aceress. So. If they are married they should not run around. I don't if the person is a transgendered,same gendered,etc. The people voted them in and it sould be the people that vote them out. Yer fired the man as seems to this person it was his wife. I son't think the lady's job would have caused the mess had ye learnt mind yer business. Maybe they shouls lay out the duties. What people does in their home is their business. common sense.

[Eb_Jebb]

Fort Meyers Beach: A loverly, smellish, Gulf Coast town! The county concil thinks that a business that was closed 11 years ago still runs their construction testing, the cities all think they are made of gold, and apparently no elected official wants to bother reading, or they don't know how. Beautiful South Gulf Coast Florida, where the ignorant thrive, and the old go to die.

[proudmilvet]

At Least you get the same thing whether it's a Porn Star or a Politician, Somebody's getting F**KED!

[proudmilvet]

Should have been "Porn Star fired over Public Official Husband"

[woozybarnes]

Aren't all those religious fanatics in the Middle East awful?

[dennisgreen5]

As president OBama said today the American people don't trust the federal government. Most people I talk to don't trust state and local government either. These bureaucrats think they're in charge and have forgotten that the people are in charge. I would take these people to court!

[woozybarnes]

No, the people are NOT in charge. Not even slightly.

[tomadams99]

Hey, where are all the libbies to support this one??? Come on now, let's get after those puritan's!!

[Laquanda2]

How can this be legal? No one knew for months-- I wonder if there is more to the story-- like town officials who were clients?
How about governors who frequent prostitutes-- do their wives get fired???

[longtree-2009]

oregon has a TS mayor. california has, well just about anything you can think of these days. nevada has an adulterous u.s. senator, then there is governor sanford and the list goes on and on. the man married a porn star which is his choice but what it has to do with his job is a mystery. his contract has a "no cause" clause but it still seems a tad too tight to fire him for marrying a porn star. if i were him, i would sue the city, the council members, the mayor and let the chips fall where they may. money is no object since his wife is a porn star and her work is sure to sell like hot cakes now!