TOLEDO, Ohio — Suspended Toledo City Council members Yvonne Harper and Tyrone Riley formally resigned their seats last week following guilty pleas to federal bribery charges.
Assistant Clerk of Council Julie Gibbons confirmed to WTOL 11 Tuesday that Riley's resignation was received Friday. Harper's resignation was sent last Wednesday.
Riley's email to council read as follows:
"I write to notify you that I resign from my position on Toledo City Council effective Dec. 24, 2022. I have enjoyed working with you on Council."
Harper's resignation went sent to council through an attorney.
"Effective immediately I am resigning my seat as District Council 4," she said in the email.
Harper and Riley voluntarily suspended their seats in 2020 after they were arrested, along with then-members Larry Sykes and Gary Johnson. Riley, Harper and Sykes all pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to federal charges and will be sentenced in June.
Sykes ran for re-election to his at-large seat last year, but received the fewest amount of votes among all candidates. Harper and Riley could have returned to their council roles had they been found not guilty in court or had their charges dropped.
Johnson refused a plea deal and will take his case to trial.
A Lucas County judge appointed John Hobbs III and Vanice Williams to Riley and Harper's seats.
WTOL 11 reported last week that council is inquiring with the Ohio Attorney General's office to determine if Hobbs and Williams can remain serving. Councilman Nick Komives said last week their terms are only good until trials end or the defendants are found guilty.
Both members were asked not to attend last week's regular council meeting.
City spokeswoman Gretchen DeBacker released the following statement last Tuesday:
“The City intends to seek a legal opinion from the Ohio Attorney General‘s office to address the effect of last Friday’s guilty pleas by the suspended members of Council. As the Attorney General’s Office initiated the suspension process under Ohio law, it makes sense to get the AG's opinion on its interpretation of state code. This request will include an interpretation of Ohio law as it pertains to the status of the interim members who have been serving since the suspensions.”
Council can vote to re-appoint Hobbs and Williams if their terms are ruled to be finished. The city could also take applications for either position.
Current members Tiffany Preston Whitman and Cerssandra McPherson were also appointed to fill seats due to the federal case. However since they filled at-large seats and won an election, they are not subject to the same limitations.
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