Sundermann files paperwork to suspend Young from Cincinnati City Council
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WCPO
and last updated 2021-05-05 22:17:33-04
CINCINNATI â The day following the passage of her charter amendment, City Councilwoman Betsy Sundermann filed paperwork to initiate suspension proceedings against Councilman Wendell Young.
Sundermann s action follows Tuesday s passage of Issue 2, a charter
amendment she proposed that grants City Council the authority to suspend a member who is under felony indictment. We need to listen to the voters and act swiftly to suspend Councilman Young, Sundermann said during a news conference Wednesday morning. If we don t act swiftly on this. we need to answer to 77% of Cincinnatians on why we are not doing exactly what they asked us to do yesterday.
Sarah Ramsey
Cincinnati Council Member Betsy Sundermann is seeking a suspension for fellow member Wendell Young. The process is possible under a charter amendment voters approved Tuesday, which Sundermann had proposed be put on the ballot.
The measure gives council the authority to suspend a member indicted on felony charges related to their job on council.
Last month, a special prosecutor charged Young, a Democrat, with tampering with records related to the Gang of Five text messaging case from 2018. Sundermann says it s exactly the kind of situation her charter amendment is for. How could we not do this right after people voted for it yesterday? Sundermann said. If we don t do it, I think we would have to explain to 77% of the voters why we re not following through with what they wanted.
Cincinnati City Councilwoman Betsy Sundermann wasted no time Wednesday.
Just hours after Cincinnati voters passed Issues 1 and 2 – intended to make it easier to remove arrested council members – Republican Sundermann called for Democrat Councilman Wendell Young to be suspended.
In a letter dated Wednesday, Sundermann asked Clerk of Council Melissa Autry to put forward a motion to suspend Young. That can t happen until Issue 2 officially becomes law in about two weeks when the Hamilton County Board of Elections certifies the primary vote.
Sundermann said Young shouldn t be voting while facing criminal charges. The voters of Cincinnati gave us a clear message last night – they want us to clean up corruption at City Hall, Sundermann told The Enquirer. Issue 2 was put on the ballot for a time just like this. It s time we listen to the voters and act swiftly to remove Mr. Young from Council.
Betsy Sundermann calls for Wendell Youngâs suspension from Cincinnati City Council Cincinnati City Hall (Source: FOX19 NOW) By Jennifer Edwards Baker | May 5, 2021 at 8:14 AM EDT - Updated May 5 at 3:25 PM
CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Just hours after Cincinnati voters passed two anti-corruption issues Tuesday after a series of arrests and scandals rocked City Hall, Councilwoman Betsy Sundemann went to work trying to suspend for one of her colleagues, Wendell Young, following his recent indictment.
Sundermann made her request in a letter Wednesday to Clerk of Council Melissa Autry.
She asked the clerk to put forward a motion to suspend Young. That can happen once the election results will take effect in 10 days when the Hamilton County Board of Elections certifies the primary vote, Sundermann said.