Elsmere City Council passed a motion to remove Serena Owen from her council position at their March 11 meeting.
Councilmember Gloria Grubbs made the motion to begin Owen’s removal due to unlawful neglect of council duties, citing concerns from other council members and Elsmere residents. She insisted the decision is her own and has no bearing on the mayor or the city attorney.
“This issue is very difficult to go forward with, but at this point it’s going to be necessary,” Grubbs said.
City council passed the motion by unanimous vote. City Attorney Greg Voss will issue a 30-day notice to Owen and allow her time to schedule a public hearing if she so chooses. The matter will be included on the agenda for April’s caucus meeting.
Elsmere City Council previously discussed the possibility of removing Owen at their March 4 caucus meeting. The issue was first brought to the council by Eric Bunzow, Elsmere resident and employee with the Kenton County Board of Elections.
Bunzow has been clashing with Owen over her waiving council pay and her absence at council meetings. Owen has attributed her inability to attend meetings in person to safety concerns as Bunzow carries an unloaded gun into the Council Chamber.
“Using me as an excuse has been very childish when I stand here with an empty gun, yet she has come to my place of employment multiple times and there was no issue,” Bunzow said.
Owen requested virtual meeting attendance on grounds of ADA accommodation throughout the last months of 2024. The council voted against the request at their Jan. 7, 2025 caucus meeting. Owen has not been present at any Elsmere meetings since she was elected to the council for 2025-2026.
The city has offered various safety measures to Owen, including protective plexiglass around her seat in the Council Chamber, a bulletproof vest and police escort between her car and the chamber. At the March 4 caucus, Mayor Marty Lenhof informed the council that the protective glass option would cost $17,000 and virtual meeting attendance would also cost a lot of money.
All council members were in favor of removing Owen during their caucus discussion.
“We’re here for the will of the people, and apparently the people have spoken,” said Councilmember Justin Wade.
“The people say, ‘Hey, your job is here. You get paid to do a job. You don’t show, you don’t go to work, you don’t have a job,’” said Councilmember Joanne Barnett-Smith. “I vote no.”
Removal of an elected member requires an unanimous vote from the council. Grubbs maintained that they should follow procedures and acknowledge Owen’s right to due process.
