Milledgeville mayor out on medical leave

Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence.

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Pro-Tem Jeanette Walden read a letter from Bentley to the council announcing the sudden leave, said Milledgeville City Manager Barry Jarrett.

“This is to inform you that I am currently addressing personal medical issues that will prevent me from temporarily performing my duties. ... I regret that I will be unavailable to attend meetings and personal appearances while I am being treated medically,” stated Bentley’s hand-delivered letter signed Monday. “As always, I would ask for your prayers for me and my family as we are dealing with such personal matters.”

Bentley sought treatment at a Macon hospital Monday for an undisclosed condition, was diagnosed and underwent surgery Tuesday at the Medical Center, Navicent Health, Jarrett said.

“I don’t have any information on his medical condition,” Jarrett said. “I heard he came through it successfully yesterday and was resting comfortably.”

Bentley was in the Neuro Intensive Care unit of the Medical Center on Wednesday morning.

Walden will assume Bentley’s duties in the interim.

“I certainly hope he will be returning soon,” Jarrett said.

Bentley, believed to be in his early 50s, was elected mayor in 2005 when he defeated incumbent Floyd Griffin.

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Milledgeville mayor out on medical leave ."