Lorain City Council President Joel Arredondo is facing a first-degree misdemeanor charge for operating a vehicle under the influence, along with a minor misdemeanor speeding charge, after a traffic stop in the city on September 27. The 79-year-old pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on October 1 and was released on bond. A hearing in the case was scheduled for Thursday, the same day the charges remained pending in court.
According to The Morning Journal, Arredondo was cited at 6:01 p.m. on September 27 in Lorain. The paper reports he was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for OVI and a minor misdemeanor for speeding, and that he entered his not-guilty plea four days later, on October 1, before being released on bond.
Separately, WKYC reports that Lorain police stopped Arredondo after he was reportedly driving 48 mph in a 35-mph zone. That detail has not been corroborated elsewhere, and the underlying basis for the speed reading was not specified.
A Fixture of Lorain Politics for Nearly Two Decades
Arredondo has served on Lorain City Council since 2007 and was first elected council president the following year, in 2008, per the same Morning Journal report. The city's official roster, maintained by the City of Lorain, lists him as council president for every two-year term dating back to 2008/2009 through 2024/2025.
Exactly how many terms that adds up to is disputed. The City of Lorain's staff directory states that Arredondo “is currently serving his fifth term as the President of Lorain City Council,” while WKYC's reporting describes him as serving his tenth term in that role. The available records do not resolve the discrepancy between those two accounts.
Case Still Open as Hearing Proceeds
As of Thursday, the charges against Arredondo remained pending in court, the station's report notes, with no final resolution yet reported. No information on a defense attorney, prosecutor, or the specific court docket has been made available. The case's next steps beyond Thursday's scheduled hearing have not been reported.
