With the City of Lewiston facing crises on multiple fronts, from homelessness to gun violence and drug addiction to lingering questions over how charitable funds for mass-shooting victims were distributed, residents are now asking the same question: Where is the leadership?
That question has only intensified as the controversy surrounding Councilor-elect and School Committee member Iman Osman continues to grow.
[RELATED: Lewiston Residency Scandal Explodes as Citizen Prepares Challenge Against Councilor-Elect Osman]
Osman’s shifting residential history, including addresses linked to a federal drug investigation and properties currently condemned, has raised doubts about whether he was legally qualified to run for office and, by extension, now occupy the seat to which he was elected earlier this month.
Compounding this question is the fact that, last week, his firearm was reported stolen from his unlocked vehicle in an area of the city long known for repeated gun violence.
Now, a Lewiston resident is preparing to sue the city, arguing that Osman provided an inaccurate address and was ineligible for the ballot.
City Hall Quiet — Especially the Mayor
Despite the mounting concerns, Lewiston’s top elected official has remained conspicuously silent.
When The Maine Wire visited City Hall last week, the mayor’s basement-level office was closed, blinds drawn, and the door locked. After repeated knocks, a staff member briefly emerged, followed by the city’s communications officer, who discussed an executive session planned for that evening.
But the mayor himself did not appear.
Upon leaving the building, this reporter later saw Mayor Carl Sheline exiting through the back door in his best effort at stealth.
Emails Go Unanswered
The silence continued into Friday, when The Maine Wire sent the mayor an email asking direct questions about his appointment of Osman to the School Committee, the ongoing residency issues, and whether the public deserves an update on the situation.
Mayor Sheline did not respond to the email below:
Subject: Media Inquiry – Request for Statement on Iman Osman Matter
Dear Mayor Carl Sheline,
My name is Jon Fetherston, and I am a reporter with The Maine Wire.
I am writing to request comments regarding City Councilor and School Committee member Iman Osman and several recent developments that have raised public concern.
As you are aware, Mr. Osman’s address of record, 210 Blake Street, was the site of a federal drug investigation in October that resulted in an arrest on methamphetamine charges. Additionally, we have learned that a firearm was reported stolen from Mr. Osman’s vehicle over the weekend. There are also ongoing questions about Mr. Osman’s residency and whether his campaign filing address accurately reflects where he resides.
Furthermore, Lewiston code does not allow a person to live in a condemned building, yet the city has apparently permitted a school committee member and councilor-elect to list such an address as his residence.
Given Mr. Osman’s position as an elected official on both the City Council and School Committee, many residents have expressed confusion about the city’s silence on these matters. I am reaching out to provide you with an opportunity to address these concerns.
Specifically, I would appreciate your response to the following:
- Is the city aware of the federal investigation at Mr. Osman’s address of record?
- Has the city verified Mr. Osman’s residency for the purposes of his elected positions?
- Does the city believe a public statement addressing these matters would be appropriate?
- What, if any, steps is the city taking in response to these developments?
- Did you know Osman was not a Ward 5 resident when you appointed him to the school committee?
I am working on a deadline and would appreciate a response by 9:00 a.m. Monday morning. I understand this is short notice, but given the public interest in this matter, any statement from your office would be important for accurate reporting.
If you prefer to discuss this by phone, I am available at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Residents Want Answers. City Hall Offers None.
Lewiston residents have watched their city struggle through overlapping challenges:
– A widening homelessness crisis
– Ongoing gun violence
– A community still recovering from the October 2023 mass shooting, and how the Maine Community foundation distributed the money intended for victims.
As these issues converge , while one of the city’s elected officials faces a potential legal challenge, Lewiston’s leadership has offered little public reassurance.
The mayor’s refusal to address questions about Osman has heightened frustration at a moment when transparency is in short supply.
If the Mayor Won’t Lead, Who Will?
Lewiston has reached an inflection point. Its residents are demanding leadership, clarity, and accountability.
Instead, they are watching their mayor avoid the very questions the public is asking.
If the mayor won’t step forward to lead Lewiston through this crisis, many are left wondering who will.
