Jonathan Schumm attends city council meeting; council members show support
Nothing about child abuse case is said during evening meeting
By Tim Hrenchir
tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com
Two Topeka City Council members at Tuesday evening’s meeting showed support for embattled Councilman Jonathan Schumm, who faces a child abuse charge and an ouster action.
Councilwoman Sandra Clear spoke to Schumm and compassionately put a hand on his shoulder before the meeting in council chambers.
Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz admonished a Topeka Capital-Journal reporter for attempting to question Schumm during a break, asking him to “be respectful.”
Schumm, 34, appeared subdued at Tuesday’s meeting of the council, on which he has served since being elected in April to represent southeast Topeka’s District 4.
Tuesday’s meeting was the council’s first since Schumm and his wife, Allison, 32, were charged Nov. 19 with one count each of aggravated battery and, as an alternative, abuse of a child, as well as four counts of endangering a child.
As a result of the Nov. 19 charges, a civil action was filed against Schumm, citing violence to a child in the Schumm household. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor initiated an ouster proceeding to first suspend and then remove Schumm from the city council.
A hearing in the ouster case is scheduled for Dec. 11 before District Judge Franklin Theis.
No one said anything about the cases during the 45-minute public portion of the meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Governing body members then spent one hour meeting behind closed doors in an executive session.
Afterward, Mayor Larry Wolgast told reporters he had no problem with Schumm taking part in the meeting because Schumm continues to serve as the legally elected representative of his council district.
Schumm showed up early to Tuesday’s meeting, where reporters from The Capital-Journal and a TV station approached him separately beforehand asking to speak with him. Schumm declined both times, telling the Capital-Journal reporter, “No, but thank you.”
When the reporter later posed a question during a break, Schumm didn’t reply.
Schumm spoke two words during the public portion of the meeting, saying “here” when roll was called and whispering “no” when Mayor Larry Wolgast asked if he wanted to say anything during announcements near the end of the meeting.
He took part in all five of Tuesday evening’s governing body votes, each time flipping the switch to vote “yes” on matters that were each approved by that body.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (785) 295-1184 or tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com.
Follow Tim on Twitter @timhrenchir.