Mayor Whitfield Delivers Check to City Hall

This weekend, Frank Whitfield hand-delivered a cashier’s $956.67 check to Elyria City Hall. The gesture, he emphasized, is not an admission of wrongdoing, but a demonstration of his ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and the public trust.
After reviewing both the Auditor’s report and campaign records, Whitfield stands firm in his belief that there was no misuse of city resources. “I remain confident in how we conducted ourselves,” he noted. “But to avoid any appearance of impropriety — and to prevent this matter from distracting from the important work ahead — I’ve chosen to resolve it directly and move forward.”
As the youngest mayor in Elyria’s history and the first Black mayor in Lorain County’s 200-year history, Whitfield’s tenure was marked by both groundbreaking leadership and intense scrutiny. “I took on the role of Mayor to serve and to give, not to gain,” he said. “Anyone who worked closely with me knows how diligently I worked to operate above board and hold myself and my team to the highest standards of integrity.”
Should the ongoing review conclude — as Whitfield expects — with no findings of wrongdoing, he has requested that the City retain the check and use the funds to support Elyria residents. “I gave everything I had to this city, and I continue to want nothing but its success,” he shared. “My integrity is intact. My reward comes from Jesus. And my service will always speak louder than speculation.”

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