Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young will remain on council after an effort to unseat him failed.
But a state suspension looms for the Democrat, who is facing a felony charge of tampering with records related to his destruction of text messages about city business in the Gang of 5 civil case.
Republican Councilwoman Betsy Sundermann sought a vote to suspend Young after votes overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in the May primary giving council members the power to suspend a fellow member if they are indicted or arrested on a criminal charge related to their city job.
She needed a vote of 7, but only got 6.
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A measure voted down by a Cincinnati council committee Tuesday would have required immediate disclosure of some campaign donations. Council Member Greg Landsman says he s working on a new version of his proposal to require sitting council members and the mayor to report donations above $200 within 48 hours. The donations would be published on a new city website where the public could search the filings. I think this is a really important step to restore public trust as it relates to contributions and votes, how policy is made, Landsman said.
Some members of the Law and Public Safety Committee objected to the measure, saying it would be a burden to require such frequent filing.
Nick Swartsell / WVXU
Despite some concerns about moving too quickly, Cincinnati City Council Wednesday unanimously approved plans to spend more than $134 million in federal stimulus. All the ordinances passed so far come from the spending plan proposed by the mayor and city manager.
Cincinnati is expecting about $311 million total from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The first payment is expected next week, with the remaining $146,795,000 coming this time next year.
Nearly $107 million approved for spending this week is set aside to fill deficits in the current and upcoming fiscal year budgets:
$18.7 million to fill the projected general fund deficit for FY 2021, which ends June 30
Ann Thompson / WVXU
Cincinnati voters on Tuesday will choose the final two candidates for mayor and decide the fate of three charter amendments. But most of Hamilton County has no primary election May 4.
Early voting has been taking place since April 6 and continues through Monday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Norwood. On Election Day, May 4, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can find your polling place here.
The last day to register to vote was April 5. Check to see if you are registered here. If you are not registered, you can do so now online; print a form and mail it in; or visit any public library or BMV. You will not be eligible to vote in this primary election. If you want to vote in November, you must be registered 30 days prior to Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2.