By Logan Andrew Founder/Editor-in-Chief, FreeWire
Tuesday night’s Bucyrus City Council meeting began with the swearing-in of newly appointed Councilwoman Clarissa Slater—and from there, the tone shifted quickly.
Keith French’s Powerful Testimony
Keith French opened the public comments with a deeply personal and emotional 10-minute address. He spoke candidly about living with PTSD, anxiety, and a cancer diagnosis that he says should have taken his life over a decade ago. French was visibly shaken as he explained the ongoing harassment he says he’s experienced at the hands of Council President Kurt Fankhauser, including being handed a clown mask during a public committee meeting and allegedly being told he was “the biggest piece of excrement ever to grace city hall.”
French warned that these actions may constitute a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and could result in a federal lawsuit. He has since confirmed he is weighing his legal options. But when his 10 minutes were up, Fankhauser moved swiftly: he issued two warnings, then ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove French from the chamber. The decision drew criticism from Robert Taylor, who questioned why the city is paying overtime for a security officer who has now been used twice in recent memory.
A Cascade of Commentary
Following French’s removal, the council chamber saw appearances from familiar voices. Greg White delivered a trademark speech, complete with his usual criticisms and a new addition: “I know I’m annoying and I don’t care.”
Next came Elmer Copp, a self-described musician who claimed to have uncovered a major oversight: that contractors working on city projects aren’t billed for their water usage. But before he could leave, John Ernsberger cut him off with what many have already dubbed “the speech of the night.”
Ernsberger condemned the relentless name-calling and online smear campaigns, such as Copp’s now-infamous “Exposed” page. He reminded the public that council members are paid just $7,000 a year to do their jobs and don’t deserve to be bogged down by petty drama. “We’re all in this together,” Ernsberger said. “Fighting each other isn’t productive.”
The Auditor Speaks Out
The drama continued during the Auditor’s Report, where Kali Lewis found herself forced to respond to more Fankhauser-fueled controversy. Reading from an email Fankhauser sent to council and the media, Lewis outlined his claim that the city was mishandling Street Levy funds:
“The last 3 years the street fund (street levy income tax money) hasn’t even made it to 50% of that levy money going towards the actual street improvement line item… I think the voters would be outraged to know this.” – Kurt Fankhauser
Lewis rebutted the accusation like a tired professor correcting a misguided student. She explained that city budgets are more complex than Fankhauser presents them to be and urged him to consult her directly in the future instead of stoking confusion via public email blasts.
A Censure and a Turning Tide
During New Business, Councilman Zyan Hickman introduced a motion to censure Fankhauser for his inflammatory comments toward both Keith French and Zach Roski, the fiancé of Treasurer candidate Adrienne Kemery. Fankhauser protested, framing the motion as an attack on free speech: “Is this what we’re going to do now—regulate free speech?”
Law Director Brandon Gobrecht clarified that the move wasn’t about censorship—it was about legal responsibility. The city needed to distance itself from Fankhauser’s remarks to avoid potential liability.
Then, in a moment that drew a clear line in the sand, Councilwoman Clarissa Slater called a Point of Order against the president. When Fankhauser ruled her out of order, she appealed the decision—and council unanimously sided with her.
Fankhauser was hit with two more Points of Order before the meeting ended. Each time, his rulings were overturned.
Slater, in what is quickly becoming her signature refrain, reminded the room:
“The council president’s role is to run the meeting and present information—not to give opinions that might sway the vote.”
Judging by tonight’s events, council seems increasingly prepared to enforce that distinction.
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