(1-6-24) Monday night three new Celina City Council members will be attending their first meeting since being voted in this past November. All three are Republicans…Joe Wolfe, Matt Gray and Tom Sanford. They replace two council members who were voted out in November, Eric Lochtefeld a Democrat and Mike Sovinski, who had been a Republican but ran as an Independent. Calvin (June) Sott, a Democrat, decided not to run for re-election.

The entire city council will now be represented by all Republicans…last year current council member Mark Fleck made the choice to leave the Democrat party and would join the Republican party.

The turnover can be attributed to those council members who voted against supporting Celina as a sanctuary city for the unborn by not allowing abortion clinics in the city limits and the issue of a drag queen event that was to be held at the Lakeshore Park during Celina Pride Week.

The new ‘All-Republican Council’ appears to want to make a point at this very first meeting. The last item on Monday night’s meeting is Resolution 3-24-R. It is interesting that city officials did not include a description of the resolution that is listed on the agenda (see below).

House Bill 245 is a bill that was co-sponsored by State Rep. Angie King (R-Celina).

RESOLUTION NO. 3-24-R

A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR HOUSE BILL 245 TO AMEND SECTIONS 2907.39 AND 4301.25 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE TO PROHIBIT ADULT CABARET PERFORMANCES IN LOCATIONS OTHER THAN ADULT CABARETS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

The bill would impact the Celina pride event in the future.