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Cimperman Pleads Guilty To Ethics Charges

Former Cleveland city councilman Joe Cimperman (L) and his counsel Roger Synenberg (R) being arraigned in a county courtroom [Annie Wu / ideastream]

Former Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman pled guilty today to more than two dozen counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract.

As part of a plea agreement with the state auditor’s office, Cimperman will pay a $10,000 fine for the 26 first-degree misdemeanor charges. He could also face up to 6 months in jail for each count.

“I agreed with the state’s charges and I take absolute full responsibility for my actions,” Cimperman said after the arraignment in county common pleas court. “And I will be adhering to, as we move forward, to whatever the judge determines.”

Cimperman declined to answer any questions. His lawyer, Roger Synenberg, said the former councilman’s votes were open and public.

“Of course, he was not aware that what he was doing was likely to lead to these types of charges,” Synenberg said. “He wasn’t aware at the time that it was in violation, but he acknowledges that now and he recognizes now that he lacked due diligence in knowing back then that he should have done it differently.”

An investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission found that between 2002 to 2012, Cimperman voted in favor of contracts for the nonprofit design firm ParkWorks, now known as LAND Studio. His wife works there and he served on the board of trustees from 2002-2004.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office recused itself in the case. Stephanie Anderson with the Ohio Auditor’s office was appointed special prosecutor. She filed the charges by information rather than indictment in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

In a written statement, Ohio Auditor Dave Yost said the evidence in the case “reveals a clear-cut conflict of interest.”

Judge Michael Russo will decide at a hearing on May 8 whether to accept the plea agreement.

Annie Wu is the deputy editor of digital content for Ideastream Public Media.