Whitehall City Council is allowing councilmember Gerald Dixon to retain his position following accusations that he sexually abused multiple underage boys going back to 1996.
A majority of the members of council voted Tuesday to expel Dixon from council, to which he just won re-election in November.
Councilmember Larry Morrison voted against the measure. In order for Dixon to be expelled, all six members of the council apart from Dixon needed to vote to expel him.
"It's heavily contested one way or another as to whether this action should taken. The most that I have seen and the protocols I have received is that people feel that this is being rushed," Morrison said.
Morrison declined to comment further after the meeting.
Dixon was arrested last week, 24 hours before he was set to be sworn in, but was released from jail without a set bond amount by a Franklin County judge.
Dixon is charged with sexual imposition and compelling prostitution from a minor. Whitehall Police say they have substantial evidence against Dixon and that eight victims have come forward.
Dixon spoke to the audience briefly, even as people jeered him. One woman held up a bright pink sign that read "Pedophiles used to slither in silence. Now Whitehall reelects them. Protect our babies!"
Another sign defended Dixon, stating "The mayor is corrupt! We support Dixon! Innocent until proven guilty!"
"I would love to speak. I have many things I can and could say, But there is a process that is underway and it's called the justice system. So, at this time, I cannot say anything and I will do my best," Dixon said before the vote.
Dixon later told reporters he would be represented by Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens in court. Collins and Stephens are defense lawyers who most often represent police officers charged with crimes in central Ohio.
Dixon is an ally of the Fraternal Order of Police and introduced a resolution earlier this year to investigate the Whitehall Police Department amid the police union's fight with the department's leadership.
Dixon never denied the charges, but pushed back on evidence presented by Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen at a press conference last week. Dixon spoke to reporters before he was sworn into a new term on Whitehall City Council last week.
Dixon later said in a Facebook post he would defend himself.
Council considered expelling Dixon for gross misconduct, which is one of the reasons given to Whitehall City Council in city code to expel a council member. Whitehall City Attorney Brad Nicodemus told WOSU gross misconduct can be any action that "shocks the conscience."
Crispen wrote a letter to Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens detailing the allegations against Dixon. Dixon allegedly wrote about his attraction to underage boys in journal entries recovered by police during a search of his home.
Most of the five councilmembers who voted to expel Dixon said they spoke with Crispen about evidence and why police charged Dixon. Morrison declined to say whether he talked to Whitehall Police before voting against expelling Dixon.
Council member Amy Harcar introduced the legislation to remove Dixon. She said the allegations against Dixon are severe and deeply disturbing.
"Remaining in office under these circumstances undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the trust of the residents concerned. For the protection of the community and the credibility of council, you must step down without delay," Harcar told Dixon.
Council member Lori Elmore said she was on a trip outside of the country and only heard the news when she returned. She said she was saddened by the "blight and mark" Dixon's arrest puts on the city.
Elmore criticized emails the city received that were worried about due process for Dixon, but that she said never expressed concern for the children who were allegedly victimized by Dixon.
"My question is this, where is the outcry for our children? There have been numerous emails, due process, innocent till proven guilty, he wouldn't do that, etc. What are we doing to help our most vulnerable, is my question," Elmore said.
Elmore claimed the emails appeared copied and pasted.
"That is very disturbing to me. Aren't we supposed to protect our babies and those vulnerable?" Elmore said.
Besides a large crowd, there was an increase in police presence at city council. Police set up a metal detector before the entry to council chambers. Several officers also stood inside the meeting as it proceeded.
A preliminary hearing for Dixon's case is scheduled for Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Before Dixon started speaking, a crowd of children entered the room to attend the regular meeting of city council scheduled for later in the evening.
One of the conditions set by the Franklin County judge that released Dixon was that he needs to stay away from children.
Dixon left the council meeting early.
