BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON -- Mayor James Mills filed a racial discrimination complaint Sunday against the city of Lebanon with the Dayton chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The organization requested Monday that the state attorney general's office seek a court order against plans to swear in Councilman-elect John McComb at tonight's meeting until it investigates the complaints of racism.
Mr. Mills said Monday he thinks the purpose of the city's special recall election last month was to remove him from the mayoral seat because he is African-American. A reorganization of council, which could include voting for a new mayor and vice mayor, is on tonight's council agenda.
"We feel that the recall of (Councilwoman Mary-Ann) Cole was reprisal for her support of me as mayor," Mr. Mills said. "I feel that they couldn't get to me until they got to Mrs. Cole."
Mark R. Weaver, deputy attorney general, said the discrimination complaint will be forwarded to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. The attorney general's office also will review the allegations to see whether they should be sent to the secretary of state's office, which investigates charges of election impropriety or illegality, Mr. Weaver said.
The recall of Mrs. Cole placed Mr. Mills in the minority of a 4-3 split on council.
Throughout his six months as Lebanon's first African-American mayor, he said he has been excluded from some of the ceremonial duties, such as ribbon-cutting events. He said he think council members intend to "dump" him from the mayor's seat.
Reporters Kym Liebler and Janice Morse contributed to this report.
