Former Dixon Mayor Jim Burke dies at age 77

DIXON, Ill. (AP) - Jim Burke, the former Dixon, Illinois mayor who alerted federal authorities about the theft of funds by the city's comptroller, has died at age 77.

The Lee County coroner's office says Burke died Friday at his home. Although he had been diagnosed with cancer, the coroner's office didn't give a cause of death.

The Telegraph in Dixon reports (http://bit.ly/1QpXr7w ) Burke, along with city Clerk Kathe Swanson, alerted the FBI about their concerns over the actions of Rita Crundwell. The former Dixon comptroller was convicted in 2013 of federal wire fraud for diverting more than $53 million in city funds into her own bank account over a period of about 20 years.

Burke, a Democrat and owner of a Dixon realty firm, was elected to his first term in 1999, when he defeated the two-term incumbent by 235 votes. He did not seek re-election in 2015.

Burke is survived by his wife, Lucy.