Sandusky official with troubled past seeks county seat

Update 2 p.m., Tuesday: A Sandusky city commissioner who wants to run for county commission this fall claims he'd still be in prison if the Register's reporting about his sex offense convictions is correct."If what the Register wrote was accurate ... I'd still be in jail or would have gone to prison..." Lockhart wrote Monday in a post at Facebook below a link to a Register news story about his decision to be an independent candidate for a county commission seat. "Would I not be in prison if it was true?" he asked in another post. But Lockhart, 44, was convicted, according to court documents, and he was sentenced to 90 days of incarceration. Lockhart has not credibly refuted information in the news story that cited the court records showing he was convicted in 2001 on sexual imposition and importuning charges involving a child. He pleaded no contest to the charges. Lockhart allegedly offered a child $40 to remove her underwear and "engage in sex with him" at a former Milan-area dance club, according to court records. Lockhart was 27 at the time; the victim was 14. Lockhart was initially charged with two felonies — compelling prostitution and corruption of a minor — before agreeing to a plea bargain on the misdemeanor offenses, according to court records. In addition to denying the accuracy of the court records, Lockhart also appears to be attempting to distance himself from comments he made during a Sandusky city commission meeting last month after a super-majority on the commission voted to ban smoking in city parks."If this is passed I will support the repeal of Issue 8," Lockhart told other commissioners during the meeting in April, referring to the city's tax levy approved by voters in 2014 by a nearly 2-1 margin. Issue 8, which raises about $2.6 million annually, has been credited with spurring economic growth in the city and helping it regain a solid financial footing.On Monday, in a social media post on the Register's Facebook page, Lockhart said he does not want to repeal Issue 8. Lockhart has refused to state what he contends is not accurate in the Register's reporting, and he's refused to stop making unsubstantiated claims at the newspaper's website and at social media. There were some rough exchanges between Lockhart and others at the Register's Facebook page, including one with a person who said h/she manages the Facebook page Protecting Our Children Against Predators. "So, Mr. Lockhart are you saying that you are not a convicted sex offender?" the person asked Lockhart. "You don't get to just go have a normal life after victimizing a child. People don't forget that. At least most don't anyway." The city commissioner fired back. "First, let's get one thing straight. My name is Greg Lockhart and I comment as Greg Lockhart. I don't hide the fact of who I am. You on the other hand are some anonymous person using a made up name. Post your real name and then we can begin to have a conversation.""I run a support page for children victimized by people like you," the person replied to Lockhart. "...my real name should not matter, however. It was a simple question that has one of two answers, yes or no. I (don't) see why you would be on your defensive. These are serious concerns."Lockhart's sex offense convictions do not require him to register with the sheriff's office and he was not classified as a sex offender or predator after being convicted. Update 6:15 a.m., Tuesday: Sandusky city Commissioner Greg Lockhart is contending information in this news article is not accurate, but he failed to specify what is incorrect."The Register is being dishonest about my history and has continued to write partial truths or half-truths," Lockhart posted in the comments section below this article, without providing any detail or specific information to substantiate his complaint.Court records show, among other things, that Lockhart was convicted on sexual imposition and importuning charges in 2001 involving a 14-year-old child. He pleaded no contest to the charges.Lockhart allegedly offered a girl $40 to remove her underwear and "engage in sex with him" at a former Milan-area dance club, according to court records.Lockhart has made similar complaints about the accuracy of past news reports without providing details or presenting information substantiating the claims, or refuting the court record. He was contacted early Monday afternoon for comment prior to the publication of this article.In a voicemail, the Register asked Lockhart if he was concerned the sex offense convictions would be problematic for his campaign to be an Erie County commissioner, and whether statements he made recently in support of repealing the city's popular Issue 8 tax could hurt his campaign. He did not return the call.He posted his complaint in the comments section of this story at 8:49 p.m. Monday. *Posted 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 7SANDUSKY — A Sandusky city commissioner with prior sex offense convictions involving a 14-year-old girl filed on Monday as an independent candidate for Erie County commissioner.Greg Lockhart's decision to run for office comes just two weeks after he told other city commissioners he would support repealing Issue 8, the city tax levy approved by residents by a nearly 2-1 margin in 2014.Other city commissioners and many residents credit Issue 8 as an important milestone in the city's financial stability and renaissance. Lockhart, however, said he would support a repeal because he disagreed with a super-majority of city commissioners who approved a smoking ban in city parks.Issue 8 — a tax increase that simultaneously raised both the income and admissions tax rates — raises about $2.6 million annually for dozens of public services, including safety services, roads, parks, recreation programs and much more. Leaders representing the city government and the local business community have praised it. They contend its passage represents a united front among the city, residents and businesses working together to solve the city's financial woes, brought on by years of cuts in state and federal funding.Lockhart's decision to run for a count seat left many scratching their heads. He was elected to city commission in November 2015 but did not disclose the sex convictions and his many other legal troubles when he was a city commission candidate. The Register learned about the sex offenses after he was elected and reported about them.Lockhart's support to repeal Issue 8, his recent comments about the smoking ban and his animosity toward other commissioners have alienated him from his colleagues on the board. "I would encourage him to immediately resign from the city and devote his time to the campaign," city commissioner Dick Brady said Monday afternoon. Wes Poole, another city commissioner, said he supports Lockhart's bid to be a county commissioner. "Commissioner Lockhart has been a hardworking committed advocate for citizens of Sandusky. I look forward to hearing his message," said Poole, who voted with Lockhart against the smoking ban. Brady and Poole both declined comment on whether the sex offense convictions would hurt Lockhart's chances, and Poole did not reply when asked about what he believed were Lockhart's accomplishments as a city commissioner. Lockhart, 44, will be the third candidate for county commissioner in the November general election. He'll face off against the winner of (Tuesday's) today's Democratic primary election — former Sandusky city commissioner Julie Farrar, Huron councilman Brad Hartung or Margaretta Township trustee Tim Riesterer — and Republican Steve Shoffner, who's running unopposed in the Republican primary.Lockhart did not return phone calls seeking comment about his candidacy.Lockhart has contended the Register's reporting about the sex offenses, and other court cases against him and police reports about him, have been inaccurate. He has not provided any specific information, however, that refutes the court record cited in the Register's reporting about those issues.Editor's note: Register reporter Andy Ouriel contributed to this news story.Lockhart's lengthy legal historySandusky city commissioner Greg Lockhart has a checkered past when it comes to the local legal system.Among the more notable incidents involving Lockhart, according to court documentation:• April 2017: Lockhart failed to pay state income taxes totaling $8,100 from a dispute originating in 2011. When accounting for interest and other costs, the amount now totals $9,500.• Early 2017: Lockhart sued for $31,000 after allegedly reneging on a promise to book a popular R&B group for a concert at the Sandusky State Theatre.• Late 2016: Lockhart neglected to submit his campaign finance reports from his 2015 commission run. Lockhart violated an elections-related state law, and a state commission levied a $50 fine against him. Erie County elections board officials can't remember any other local candidate in recent memory who failed to turn in this document.• April 2016: A judge found Lockhart to be in contempt of court for failing to pay $3,300 in child support and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. Lockhart didn't serve any jail time because he ended up paying the amount in full just before his booking date.• February 2016: A special prosecutor opted against pursuing criminal charges against Lockhart after investigating a sexual misconduct allegation made against him stemming from a November 2015 incident.• November 2015: Lockhart and a woman spent a night out together before returning to his home. The woman, who drank alcohol throughout the night, said she didn't remember having sex with Lockhart. She awoke the next morning on Lockhart's couch half-naked and confused as to what happened. "She told Lockhart what he did was not proper," according to a statement from an Erie County Sheriff's Office report. "She said he told her people with political seat can get away with certain things as long as it is under the radar." But Lockhart — who, unlike the woman, wasn't drinking alcohol throughout the night — indicated she consented to intercourse.• Early-to-mid 2000s: Lockhart owed $18,000 in unpaid child support payments.• 2001: Local authorities charged Lockhart with three felonies and one misdemeanor in relation to sexual misconduct offenses involving a then-14-year-old girl. A judge convicted Lockhart of two misdemeanors — sexual imposition and importuning — after he entered no contest pleas. In June 2000, the girl told Erie County detectives Lockhart offered her $40 to remove her underwear and "engage in sex with him" at a former Milan-area dance club. Lockhart denied any sexual impropriety.Source: Register researchLockhart, Greg