Salem councilman answers criticism

A mayor candidate debate set for Thursday has been canceled.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — City officials on Tuesday attacked Democrat Councilman and mayoral candidate Clyde Brown.

Brown defended himself during the council meeting, saying he had done nothing wrong.

But Council President Tod A. Mumpire and Councilman Justin Palmer told those in attendance that the fighting had to end.

“This whole thing going on needs to stop. It’s not happening on council’s time,” Palmer said.

The meeting opened with Perry Township Trustee Jerry Wolford, the Republican mayoral candidate, calmly announcing that a mayoral candidate’s forum he set for Thursday at the Salem Community Center has been canceled.

Brown said he will be in Columbus on Thursday to discuss an unspecified economic development project. He said he would make an announcement on the project if there is any progress.

Wolford said later he hoped the forum could be rescheduled.

Democratic City Safety Director Scott Cranmer, who was defeated by Brown in the primary, then accused Brown of overstepping his bounds as a councilman.

Neighbors’ dispute

According to Cranmer, Brown demanded to see a permit for a property owner who had put up fences along a vacated alley off New Garden Avenue.

Brown denied that he asked to see the permit.

Cranmer said the woman, whose name was not announced, went to police to complain about Brown. Cranmer said it wasn’t right to “rough up a resident in the city at the hands of Mr. Brown.”

Brown said that three families had been fighting over the alley vacation, and had repeatedly filed complaints with police. Brown said the families had filed 240 complaints against each other.

“A councilman has to do something to settle little problems,” Brown added.

Brown said he went with one woman from one family, to talk to the woman who put up the fence.

Republican Councilman Greg Oesch, who withdrew from the council race this year after the other three ward incumbents were defeated in the primary, criticized Brown for having “some sort of special secret meeting.”

Oesch scheduled a finance committee at 6 p.m. today, but said to Brown, “We hate to make an imposition on you.”

wilkinson@vindy.com