Independent Elyria Council candidate and Republican party treasurer call for Mark Jessie's resignation

ELYRIA — Opponents continued the call for Elyria Councilman Mark Jessie's resignation at City Council on Monday and criticized Council members response. Andrew Lipian, an independent candidate for the 1st Ward, and John Gall, the treasurer for the Elyria Republican Party and Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung's administrative assistant, condemned City Council's response to Jessie's arrest. Jessie, D-3rd Ward, was arrested Sept. 30 in a statewide prostitution sting and charged with soliciting. On Oct. 7, City Council Democrats called for Jessie's resignation. Jessie has said he will not resign, but will give the voters a say in the November election. Lipian said that he, as a sinner, will not judge the sins of others, but that City Council's response to Jessie's charge brought the "mark of shame upon our city." He brought up Council President Vic Stewart's, D-at large, initial comment on Jessie's arrest. Stewart had said it should not be a reflection of Jessie's character. Lipian accused Stewart of flip-flopping by later calling for Jessie's resignation. Stewart said he does not condone Jessie's actions and neither does City Council. He said he has never condoned Jessie's actions. Lipian called for Jessie to be taken off all his Council committees. He said City Council cannot lead Elyria into the future. Gall, who also is a resident of the 3rd Ward, highlighted a human trafficking walk in Elyria last week that he took part in. He said when someone buys sex, they don't know if the person on the other end is being forced. He criticized City Council for what he characterized as a weak response with no backbone. He implored other 3rd Ward residents not to vote for Jessie and allow "this stain to continue." "So much for your watchdog bark, you have no teeth," Gall told Council. Jessie said he accepts the anger and criticism directed toward him, but he doesn't accept when it's directed toward the rest of City Council. "Yes, they publicly supported me at first because they are fine people with the capacity for compassion and forgiveness," Jessie said. "Their calling for my resignation was a genuine realization of the seriousness of the situation. They are by far the best candidates by virtue of their years of experience and dedication." He said the voices Monday are playing a political game to try to win seats on City Council. To 3rd Ward residents, Jessie said they don't have to vote for him if they don't want to. But he said not to let political games stop residents from supporting all the other incumbents on the ballot. Stewart said it's not right to lump all of City Council in with Jessie and his actions. "We don't condone the behavior and from now on out as Council, we're moving forward," he said. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.