Steve Berman
Voters in Gilbert appear to have ousted Mayor Steve Berman in the town’s primary election Tuesday night amid a criminal investigation into allegations he tried to poison his wife.
Berman came in third out of six candidates running for mayor, earning about 16 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Candidate John Lewis appeared to be leading the race with about 41 percent.
Because no one earned more than half of the votes, Lewis will likely face a runoff election in May with the No. 2 vote getter, Donald Skousen, who earned about 20 percent.
The criminal investigation, revealed last week by Heat City, is the latest in a series of public problems Berman has seen over the past couple years. He narrowly dodged a recall election in the middle of his term after the town clerk botched the petition-gathering process. He also was cleared of domestic violence allegations in January after his wife, Michelle Berman, recanted a previous story that he punched her during a fight.
Now, the Gilbert Police Department is investigating the mayor after his wife told officers she believes he tried to poison her late last year. Berman could face a low-level felony if investigators find enough evidence to charge him.
Berman has not responded to Heat City’s request for comment on the allegation, but he denied any wrongdoing to KPHO-TV (Channel 5).
Gilbert’s official election results are expected to be released on Friday.