Wolfe Resigns Kirtland Ward 1 Seat on Eve of Recall Vote

March 9, 2022

Voters in the City of Kirtland’s Ward 1 were denied an opportunity to decide the fate of embattled Councilwoman Kelly Wolfe on Tuesday, as she abruptly resigned her position on the eve of the March 8 recall election.

She had served Ward 1 residents on council since 2019.

“Late last night the City of Kirtland had received a written correspondence from Kelly Wolfe wherein she resigned from her position as Ward 1 councilperson effectively immediately,” City of Kirtland Law Director Matthew Lallo wrote in a March 8 letter to Lake County Board of Elections Director Ross McDonald.

“As you know, the recall election was to occur today, and the only question on the ballot was whether Mrs. Wolfe should remain on council. Due to her resignation from that position, it is my opinion as the law director for the City of Kirtland that the election is now moot.”

Lallo said the city has begun the process to cancel the election.

“Based upon the foregoing, we kindly ask the board of elections to formally cancel and close this election as it is no longer necessary to proceed,” he said.

Wolfe drew the ire of residents and city officials after casting the lone dissenting vote last August not to terminate them-Police Chief Lance Nosse following a two-day administrative hearing process.

During the investigation of Nosse, it was learned Wolfe was involved personally with Nosse.

Ward 1 residents then embarked on a campaign to recall Wolfe for alleged violations of her oath of office, misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance and moral turpitude, and multiple conflicts of interest.

At city council’s Dec. 20 meeting, Eagle Road resident Frank Lyon submitted to Clerk Denise Roelle recall petitions 294 Ward 1 registered voters had signed to support Wolfe’s removal from council.

Wolfe was to obstinate to resign, arguing she had “broken no laws” nor “violated any ethics.”

“I hope any and all of you who have been harassing me about resigning have nothing to hide in your personal lives that might be plastered all over social media after various records requests from the Kirtland Police Department and other communities around us have been served,” said Wolfe, according to a statement Eagle Road resident Thomas Booth Jr. read into the record at the Dec. 20 council meeting.

But all that changed in a Monday night letter Wolfe sent to Council President Jeffrey Ruple. Wolfe wrote:

“It has been clear to me since day 1 that I was not wanted or welcome as a member of Kirtland City Council. I was vocal about not wanting our City to lose our dispatch and this immediately put me the on opposite side of the Mayor. From that moment forward I was treated disrespectfully by the Mayor and certain members of City Council past and present. I was the last to be informed of any decisions and eventually not even told about meetings that concerned my ward.

“Over the past 8 months as my personal life has been dragged through the mud for all to see, I sat on Council with many hypocrites who I can only imagine are hoping what is in their personal lives does not get publicized. Simple public records requests from the KPD or other surrounding communities would certainly show many former and current City Council members are not fit for public office. And yet they sit there and judge me.

“I am appalled at those who invited the former Police Chief over to their houses, provided alcohol and drank with the Chief, and permitted him to drive all the while he was demonstrating signs of having an alcohol problem. It was totally ok then….and then they were the ones to vote against him without offering him a second chance and assistance in dealing with his disease. Not one of them came to his defense and asked him if he had a problem or needed help.

“Again, they provided alcohol, consumed it with him, let him drive home and they still sit on Council. And you know who they are. Yet nothing will happen to them. Or to the other Officers who drank alcohol at the police station. And yet you all sit there and threw the former Chief into the lion’s den as if he wasn’t a person who deserved help or the respect he earned dedicating 28 exemplary years to the City of Kirtland.

“And it WAS a witch hunt! The Mayor had it out for Chief Nosse because he was well-liked and respected in this community — unlike the Mayor who only had half the city supporting him. The Mayor just can’t handle those who have their own opinions and do not agree with him or his agenda. He will look at you with a smile on his face all the while planning to stab you in the back! You can ask any of the previous department heads what that feels like (Catania, Martz, Richards and Keifer)!

“My decision to support the Chief during the suspension hearing was not based on personal matters but on the fact that he deserved to be treated with the respect of his position until matters were decided on — something I believe all City employees deserve. I did not receive any personal gain from this decision.

“Again, as far as I have been made aware, NOTHING had happened to the other officers that broke the same department rules. That doesn’t seem fair or just to me. One department member is fired and nothing happens to the other 3! My only wish is that the entire community one day sees who the Mayor and those council members really are!

“So after much consideration, and the fact that it has been clear since day 1 that I was not welcome or wanted as a member of Kirtland City Council, as of today, as you are reading this, I am hereby submitting my resignation, effective immediately.

“I am not the type of person to hold a grudge and lord knows I have every reason to in this situation but I just want you to know that I wish nothing but the best for all of you in your personal and professional endeavors.

“God Bless the good people in this community. I wish you the best of luck!

“Respectfully,

“Kelly L Wolfe”

According to Lallo, city council must approve within 30 days, by a majority of the remaining members — at least four out of six — a new candidate who resides in Ward.

“This means that they have until April 6, 2022, to fill the vacancy,” Lallo told the Kirtland Chronicle. “My guess is that council may outline a process at tonight’s meeting or at a future meeting.”