Joplin City Council censures Ryan Jackson

Joplin City Council voted to censure Councilman Ryan Jackson following a hearing this evening.

The vote was 8-1, with only Councilman Keenan Cortez voting against it. Cortez' vote appeared to be a statement favoring a stronger punishment rather than support of Jackson, who voted for his own censure.

Jackson came under fire after making social media comments (shown below) after the city council election about defeated transgender candidate Matthew (Ellie) Wolsey, who goes by Ellie.

After a KSNF/KODE report on Jackson's comments, he threatened to reveal personal information about station employees.

During the council meeting, Jackson said he apologized to reporter Dustin Lattimer.

"I spoke out of anger and it was not correct," Jackson said. Jackson said there were a lot of things going on and he lashed out at Lattimer.

"That doesn't make it right."

The hearing began with 10 speakers asking that the hearing be held and Jackson either removed from office or censured. Some concentrated on Jackson's comments about the LGBTQ community, including those he made to KSNF/KODE for the story, while others stressed his attempts to dox the KSNF/KODE employees.

Following the public comment portion of the hearing, Cortez noted this is not the first time Jackson's comments have caused problems and accused him of "bigoted speech," noting that he referred to Joplin's homeless as "thugs and bums."

"Here we find ourselves again," Cortez said.

Cortez finished by making it clear where he stood.

"I believe for this council member I will not be satisfied with any outcome unless it involves censure or removal from the council."

Councilman Joshua Bard said his biggest problem was with Jackson's actions toward the media.

Jackson defended himself, saying, "Nothing came of that," but Bard wasn't having it.

"It makes you look bad and it makes {the council} look bad, if we let that happen."

Councilman Josh DeTar agreed with Jackson's contention that he had freedom of speech. "But you also have consequences."

Newly-minted councilman and Mayor Rob O'Brian reminded Jackson of the importance of dealing with "the community we serve and the community we want to be."