A local political activist was escorted by police from Monday’s Hillsdale City Council meeting after refusing to state his name during public comment.
The removal of Lance Lashaway followed a dispute with Mayor Scott Sessions over city procedures. At the time, council guidelines said speakers were “requested” to provide their name and address. Lashaway argued the guidelines don’t constitute a mandatory requirement.
However, Sessions said he interpreted the rule to mean full names were required. He then ordered Lashaway to give his name or sit down.
When Lashaway refused, a visibly agitated Sessions called a recess that lasted about 12 minutes before reconvening the meeting and ordering Lashaway again to sit.
During the confrontation, Councilman Matthew Bentley introduced a motion to override the mayor’s authority and allow Lashaway to speak, but the motion failed.
At that point, Sessions asked police to escort Lashaway from the chambers. He left without further confrontation.
In a formal notice sent to city officials Tuesday, Lashaway challenged his removal, calling it “retroactive rule enforcement.” He said that a proposed amendment to change the rule’s wording from “requested” to “required” had not yet been voted on when public comment began.
His letter demanded that the city preserve all records, including body camera footage and emails, under a litigation hold.
He also requested that the matter be placed on the next council agenda.
City officials have not issued a formal response to his letter.
Lashaway has also challenged similar identification requirements at recent Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners meetings.
