MENOMONEE FALLS

The Journal Sentinel staff

Menomonee Falls David J. Goller, elected to the Village Board on Tuesday, has decided not to take office after the disclosure that he has a conviction for drunken driving and allegedly passed a worthless check.

Goller, 23, of W153-N5788 El Camino Drive, said he did not want to resign but feared the attention his past has drawn would destroy his home contracting business.

"I have nothing more that I fear would come out, but it's gotten to the point where I've talked to some people . . . who said in a roundabout way I should get off the board, move on," Goller said.

"I warn the person who gets (on the board as a replacement), you better be made of crystal, you better not have a flaw in your diamond," Goller added.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Goller had received a municipal citation in March for allegedly passing a bad check to a carpet store in the village in January for $770 Leg 1 ends here worth of flooring, and that he was convicted of drunken driving in 1991 and has since lost his driver's license.

Goller said the check incident stemmed from a miscommunication with one of his employees over checks that were being mailed out. He said another check, which would have depleted the account's funds, inadvertently was sent at the same time the check to the carpet store was mailed.

He said he planned to pay full restitution and cover any fees incurred by the store, Malkin's Carpets. Court Appearance Set

Goller is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court on Wednesday on the citation. He faces a maximum forfeiture of $265 and could be ordered to make restitution.

In the four-way Village Board race for three seats, Goller received the third-highest number of votes.

Village President Joseph J. Leg 2 ends here Greco said Village Attorney Michael J. Morse is to issue a ruling Monday on Goller's replacement. It was not clear whether his seat would go to the next highest voter-getter, Pamela Paul, or whether the Village Board would solicit applications and appoint a successor, Greco said.

Paul received 13 fewer votes than Goller.

Goller said he had received phone calls from village residents who were concerned that "what had happened in his past could possibly happen in the future."

Goller apologized for past mistakes and added, "The things (check incident and conviction) are true, but it could get to the point where . . . no matter what I say or what I do it's not the acceptable answer. I'm getting out of it at this point.

"Is it their business? Yes. But it's also mine. I do have a personal life. The way it's going I'm not going to have one left," he said. "I'm losing all the way Leg 3 ends here around in this quote, unquote, limelight."

Goller said residents were condemning him. He said he feared that because the majority of customers he got for home construction projects for his business, Country Life Builders, were from the village, continued attention on his position as a trustee and his past would put him into bankruptcy.

"I wasn't (running for the board) for any personal benefit of my own," he said. "I was only out there trying to help the people who are now condemning me.

"Do I want to do this? No. I've put a lot of time and effort into this. But I talked to my attorney and accountant and they said, `If you want to save your business, this is what you've built, you've got to do this. You've made some mistakes, yes. Who cares?' But I've got a business to protect here.

"And I don't need my parents in the grocery store hearing, `Hey your kid is a crook.' "

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