Lorain Ward 5 Councilwoman JoAnne Moon said she did nothing to deserve a verbal attack by Ward 7 Councilman Cory Shawver during an Oct. 4 closed-door executive session.
Moon spoke about the incident in further detail, recounting the exchange in a news conference Oct. 22 at Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.
Moon did not disclose details about the closed-door session at the end of Council’s regular meeting that night.
But she said Shawver used a gender slur against her and told her to get out of the meeting, making her feel disrespected and intimidated.
Moon asked for respect as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
“I don’t want anyone else to have go through this,” she said.
Calling a woman names or putting hands on a woman “is so disrespectful,” she said.
Moon said she was getting up to leave Council’s executive session as the two had their exchange.
Moon said she did not want her Oct. 22 meeting too long, but wanted people to know what she was going through and how bad it was.
She also suggested Council have more specific rules to govern behavior because city employees have protections such as union contract provisions and civil service consideration.
On Oct. 18, Lorain Council voted 10-0 to issue a verbal reprimand to Shawver.
He apologized to Moon at her home and issued a written apology to Moon and Council.
Moon has posted a video of the Oct. 22 press conference on her Facebook page.
She warned her listeners repeating the phrases used in the Council executive session could be offensive.
Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Nov. 1, at City Hall.