Whitehall

Residents displeased with the work being done by Gerald Dixon announced efforts to recall the Ward 1 council member.

A recall effort attempted to oust Elmore, Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens and City Council Member Amy Harcar.

The special election asked voters to decide whether Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens and City Council Members Lori Elmore and Amy Harcar should keep their seats.

A special election was called after a recall petition circulated in the community successfully forcing the city to let voters decide whether the mayor and two council members should keep their seats.

The Columbus suburb’s government has been roiled by fights with the Fraternal Order of Police, the arrest of a city council member on child sex abuse charges and now this recall effort.

A contentious three-hour meeting of Whitehall City Council ended late Tuesday night without a firm date set for a recall election for the mayor and two members of city council.

Columbus, Westerville and Whitehall are among more than a dozen cities in Ohio that ban conversion therapy. The U.S. Supreme Court found that a Colorado law banning the practice violated a therapist's First Amendment rights.

Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens and City Council members Lori Elmore and Amy Harcar are being targeted by a recall petition. City Council could set a date for the special election at its next meeting on April 7.

The petition was organized by Holly Stein and Patricia Balser. The two criticize Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens and the city for fighting with the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9. The two allege Bivens is fiscally irresponsible and isn't following the law or expectations of elected officials.

The Franklin County Prosecutor's office said in a statement that Whitehall Police are still investigating Gerald Dixon and will determine future action once that is complete.