ELGIN — A citation the Elgin mayor received from the Union County Sheriff’s Office in July has left the town divided. The question remains — what happens next?

The city council has opted to wait to make any decisions, according to JT Thorne, council president. He said the council will not have any discussions about the charges until Mayor Stanley “James” Johnson has been arraigned or formal legal proceedings have begun.

“As of right now the city council has no comment,” Thorne said.

Johnson was cited in lieu of lodging at the end of July on charges of fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct for his role in a fight on July 8 at Elgin Station Bar and Grill, 52 N. Eighth St., according to a press release from the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office conducted interviews and investigated the incident before citing Johnson on July 28.

The case was then forwarded to the Union County District Attorney’s Office for review.

The city council’s decision also extends to public comments. Residents were informed during the council’s regular session on Aug. 8 there would be no discussion of the charges or the situation during the meeting. The council president said the council was following the recommendation of the city’s attorney.

However, any residents who would like to express their opinions may reach out to Thorne directly.

Elgin City Administrator Brock Eckstein said he believes the council is doing the responsible thing by being patient and waiting for the arraignment.

He said city employees will continue to work hard for the residents of Elgin regardless of who sits on the council or holds the position of mayor.

“We’ll be here working hard and doing projects for the community,” he said.

The League of Oregon Cities, which lobbies on behalf of cities and provides training and advice, could provide no help for Elgin in this case. Kevin Toon, the league’s communications director, said the LOC was not able to comment on the matter.

The people of Elgin seem to be of two minds.

Many residents have voiced their support of Johnson, saying he has brought a new energy to the city and is working to make Elgin better.

Others, however, are upset with the mayor’s behavior and feel the lack of communication on the situation flies in the face of what Johnson campaigned on — transparency.

Johnson was elected mayor in November 2022 with 60.8% of votes. He was sworn into office in January 2023.

Some residents have broached the topic of resignation. However, the city council president said he believes it is too early to have that discussion.

Residents who would like to share their opinions with the Elgin City Council should reach out directly to the council’s president, JT Thorne. He may be contacted at 541-786-9797 or councilor2@cityofelginor.org.