Lincoln, Illinois city clerk resigns under cloud

LINCOLN -- A fraud investigation has prompted the resignation of Lincoln's city clerk.

Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman said Tuesday she accepted Melanie RiggsÂ' resignation after learning Riggs was the subject of a criminal investigation.

Davis-Kavelman did not elaborate on the Illinois State Police investigation or whether it had any relationship to Riggs' job as clerk.

State police spokesman Mark Sterling said his office also could not comment on the probe, but did confirm that the results of the investigation have been forwarded to State's Attorney Mike McIntosh.

Riggs served as Lincoln's deputy city clerk for 14 years prior to being named in 2003 to fill an unexpired term as the clerk. She was elected to the job in 2005 and was running unopposed for re-election in the Feb. 24 Republican primary.