Barberton politics just took a sharp turn. On Tuesday, City Council voted 6-2 to start the formal process that could remove Mayor William "Bill" Judge from office, quietly setting in motion a rare and high-stakes local showdown.
In a brief but decisive move, Council President Shorter Griffin introduced a motion to "consider the removal" of the mayor and to bring in independent legal counsel to draw up written charges, according to Cleveland.com. The motion passed 6-2, and council immediately scheduled a special meeting with an executive session for 6 p.m. that same night, the outlet reported. The meeting was streamed on YouTube so residents could watch the drama unfold in real time.
What the charter requires
Under Barberton's charter, council can remove a mayor for gross misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance, but the process is tightly controlled. Any removal has to clear a two-thirds vote, and the mayor must receive written notice of the charges at least 15 days before a public hearing. Section 3.03 also guarantees the mayor the right to be heard, present evidence and question witnesses, according to the City of Barberton. If the office is declared vacant, the charter says the council president steps in as acting mayor or council can appoint another member to serve out the term.
Next steps and local reaction
During the meeting, Ward 4 Councilwoman Emily Beck went a step further and openly called on Judge to resign. Several other council members declined to explain their votes on the record, Cleveland.com reported. Judge, a Democrat who has led Barberton since 2011 and secured a fourth term in 2023, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the outlet. Because of the charter’s notice rules, any public hearing on formal charges would be at least two weeks away from the date those charges are formally served.
The special meeting is only the opening round in what could be a weeks-long process. Independent counsel must first draft the formal charges, then serve them on the mayor, and only after the 15-day notice period required by Section 3.03 of the City of Barberton can council hold a public hearing. Residents can follow along through council livestreams or by checking agendas on the city’s website, including the City of Barberton City Council page, which posts meeting details and links. Hoodline will update this report as official filings or notices are published.
