MISSOULA – Missoula Mayor John Engen says he has been absent from his job for the past month because he was in a treatment program for alcoholism.
Engen revealed in a letter distributed to media that he returned to work on Monday after checking into a 28-day inpatient program in October.
Earlier this month, Engen’s staff said the mayor would be out of the office for several weeks for medical reasons.
Engen says he wrote the letter because Missoula residents deserve to know their mayor is an alcoholic in recovery, and because his story might help others addicted to alcohol.
He adds that he is confident he can live a healthy, productive and sober life, and that he plans to run for re-election next year.
Engen’s staff tells KECI-TV the mayor will not comment further Monday.