Father of runaway bride's fiance thanks city for efforts

DULUTH - The father of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks&#39; fiance has thanked the City of Duluth for the time and effort spent looking for the Gainesville native when she vanished four days before the wedding.<br> <br> Claude Mason, who was mayor of Duluth in the late 1970s, made a brief statement at the council&#39;s meeting last night. He said ``The quick and quality response we received from the Police Department was overwhelming.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He and his wife left the meeting after his statement and made no further comment.<br> <br> Mason is the father of John Mason, who was set to marry Wilbanks in a lavish ceremony April 30 in Duluth.<br> <br> Wilbanks took a bus to Las Vegas and then to Albuquerque, N.M., first telling authorities she was abducted while jogging. She later admitted running away.<br> <br> Duluth&#39;s current mayor, Shirley Lasseter, thanked Mason for his comments and told him the city was ``glad they could be there to help.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Lasseter estimates the seach for Wilbanks cost taxpayers $40,000-$60,000 in overtime pay and resources. Wilbanks&#39; attorney is working with the City of Duluth for possible reimbursement for the manpower used in searching for her.