City leaders hope Lockhart loses

SANDUSKY — Three city commissioners made one thing clear recently — they don't want Greg Lockhart, a convicted child molester, re-elected on Nov. 5.A fourth commissioner urged voters to carefully review Lockhart's record and vote according to their personal values.Lockhart was elected in November 2015, before his criminal record — which includes sex offense convictions with a 14-year-old victim and domestic violence charges, among other criminal reports — was exposed.And, just weeks after being elected, he was accused of raping an adult woman, and later another woman told police Lockhart raped her when she was 16, according to police reports.Sandusky ex officio Mayor Dennis Murray Jr. didn't mince words."Greg Lockhart was elected because no one knew who he was, and he certainly didn't tell us," Murray said. "Anyone with decency or shame would not ask for public support again, and the fact that he is seeking re-election demonstrates that he has neither."Our democratic process is being tested and strained in ways that we have not seen in decades, if ever," Murray said. "Having an unrepentant, convicted child molester in office with the gall to seek re-election cynically undermines people's faith in democracy."Lockhart molested a 14-year-old girl in 2000, before state law required people convicted of similar crimes to register as sex offenders. He lured the girl into an office area at a teen dance club in Milan he operated, cut the lights and sexually assaulted her.A sheriff's report of the incident states:• Lockhart asked the girl if she was a virgin, and she replied, "Yes." He told her what was going to happen next might not "be fun" for her.• Lockhart began to perform sex acts on the child.• She pleaded with Lockhart: "Don't do this. I'm just a little girl."• The assault was interrupted when a security guard entered the darkened room carrying a flashlight.In 2001, Lockhart took a deal at trial, agreeing to a no-contest plea and acknowledging the prosecution had evidence to convict him. He said he just wanted to get the incident behind him and did not refute the allegations the girl made. He did not admit guilt but pleaded no contest and was convicted of sexual imposition and importuning, also known as soliciting a minor. Commissioner Dick Brady said he also hopes voters reject Lockhart's re-election bid. Since the 2015 election, "Voters have been made aware of Mr. Lockhart's criminal past," Brady said."The real tragedy here will be the failure to act on this information," Brady said. "We are not talking about sexual harassment. We are talking about crimes committed against women and children. When they are informed, our voting residents have a history of getting it right at the ballot box. I am confident they will not return Lockhart to commission."Lockhart has refused to answer questions from the Register about his criminal past since the newspaper reported in May 2018 about more than 20 police reports on file with the Sandusky and Perkins police and the Erie County Sheriff's Office. Those reports included details about Lockhart molesting the 14-year-old that led to his conviction and the other rape and assault allegations.A special prosecutor determined there was "insufficient evidence" to proceed with the November 2015 rape accusation. In the other rape allegation, that woman, who told police she was raped by Lockhart when she was 16, did not want to pursue charges. Those documents, consisting of police and court records, can be viewed online via links at sanduskyregister.com with this story, "Lockhart's no stranger to police." Commissioner Naomi Twine said she hopes voters review the records before casting their ballots."I'd like city voters to educate themselves and do the research about the candidates who are running for office," Twine said. "After voters have done the research on a candidate, voters should vote according to their personal value system."Commissioner Dave Waddington also has misgivings serving with Lockhart on commission. But, like Twine, said it's up to voters whether he's re-elected.Commissioner Nikki Lloyd, who opted not to run for re-election this year, also offered her view."Greg Lockhart has no business running for re-election. He should have resigned years ago," Lloyd said. "Unfortunately, we do not have the legislation to make that decision for him. Our city commission is a representation of our community. Our community should not support a child molester. Our community needs to support candidates we can stand behind, we would introduce our children to and be proud to call our leaders."Lloyd said Lockhart "consistently shows up to commission meetings unprepared, he derails meetings on a regular basis, and he takes credit for projects that he clearly did not support."She also called him a "disrespectful man" and said he's referred to her as "'Commissioner Cutie' and 'Commissioner Lockhart' on multiple occasions. "He should absolutely not be a representative of our community," Lloyd said.There are seven candidates — including Lockhart, Waddington and Wes Poole running as incumbents along with challengers Jonathan Monroe, Blake Harris, Alex Jones and Mike Meinzer — running for four seats on commission.Poole did not respond to questions about Lockhart's candidacy. Lockhart responded but did not answer the questions he was asked, suggesting they were too "vague."Meinzer said nothing in the city charter prevents Lockhart from being a candidate. But, if he is elected, "I will try to work with charter review to add conduct clauses and moral turpitude clauses for city commissioners as it is for all other city employees. They should have the same standards."Monroe agreed the city charter should prohibit convicted child molesters from serving on commission."I do not believe anybody convicted of sex crimes or domestic violence should serve in public office," Monroe said. "I am completely against violence toward women and believe candidates who have a history of such crimes should be excluded from running."Jones said he is keeping the focus on his own campaign. "I believe the citizens of Sandusky will decide if Mr. Lockhart's conduct precludes him from serving our community as a city commissioner. Having spent the better part of this decade working with the young people of our community, I believe our city needs to do its due diligence to ensure those who are leading our city are the kinds of people our youth should aspire to be."Blake Harris declined to comment. *Editor's note: Register managing editor Matt Westerhold contributed to this news story. Sandusky city commissioner Greg LockhartMurray, DennisSandusky City Commissioner Dick BradyNaomi Twine on Between the Lines, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Waddington, DaveLloyd, NikkiMike Meinzer, Sandusky's former fire chief who retired in 2011, talks about his campaign for Sandusky city commission during "Between the Lines" on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019.Jonathon Monroe appears on "Between the Lines" on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019.Alex Jones talks about running for Sandusky city commission during a segment of "Between the Lines" on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019.