Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Residency Investigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lewiston council votes 6–1 to hire independent investigator into Ward 5 eligibility after contested public debate
Summary
After hours of public comment both supporting and criticizing newly seated Ward 5 Councilor Iman Osman, the council voted 6–1 to authorize the city attorney to retain an independent investigator to prepare a factual report on the councilor's residence and qualifications.
The Lewiston City Council voted 6–1 to authorize the city attorney to hire an independent, third‑party investigator to prepare a report on whether Councilor Iman Osman meets the charter's residency and qualification requirements for the Ward 5 seat.
The move followed an extended public comment period in which multiple speakers made opposing claims about Osman's residency. Several residents asked that the council investigate and release a fully transparent report; others warned that initiating an investigation after the election would further harm the Somali community and be a misuse of city funds.
Councilor Chittum, sponsor of the resolve, framed the measure as a factual inquiry: "This resolve will authorize the city attorney to hire an independent third party investigator to look at the qualifications of the councillor...to present facts, not innuendo," the sponsor said during debate. Supporters of Osman at the meeting said the allegations reflect a politicized narrative and urged the council to avoid selective targeting.
Public testimony was strongly divided. Mahidin Liba, who identified himself as a Ward 5 resident, called the spending of city funds on the probe a misuse and said Osman is "supported by everybody in the community" (public comment). By contrast, other speakers urged full transparency and a public report, and some asked the council to consider temporary steps (including asking Osman to resign) while the legal and criminal matters referenced by some speakers proceed.
The council clarified the scope: the investigation authorized by the resolve is limited to residency and charter qualification questions, not criminal indictments. After debate the motion passed 6–1. Councilors and several members of the public urged that any report produced be as transparent as legally permissible.
Next steps: The city attorney will retain an independent investigator to prepare a factual report; the council did not set a public release format in the motion but several speakers asked that the final report be made public with minimal redactions.
