A Somali man who was elected as a city councilor in the state of Maine has stepped down from his position just days after officially taking office following his indictment on a felony charge and an investigation over his residency in the district he served. Iman Osman, who was the city councilor of Lewiston for mere days, stated in his resignation letter addressed to Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline and City Council President David Chittim that he did not arrive at his decision to leave the post lightly.
“For the betterment of our community and in the best interest of our city, I believe it is time for me to step aside,” Osman’s letter said. “I hope my resignation serves as a call to action for those who remain — an opportunity to reflect on the values of respect, inclusivity and kindness that should guide our public service.”
The Somali man’s resignation comes after a grand jury indicted him on December 1, 2025 for allegedly stealing two guns between November 15, 2023 and October 11, 2024, a local news organization reported. Osman has pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment in Lewiston District Court. Osman is also the subject of a probe looking into his residence, as the address that he claimed to be his was found to be condemned in October 2024.
According to Fox News, the Lewiston City Council voted 6-1 for Osman to be investigated for his residency. The only vote against launching the investigation was Osman himself. The Somali man stated in his letter that he was the victim of “racial opposition” during his campaign for city council, claiming he was hit with “vicious personal attacks” while he served in office.
Kiernan Majerus-Collins, the attorney representing Osman, spoke with local media saying he thinks the current national rhetoric concerning the Somali community is what led to an increase in the backlash against Osman. “The fact that the Trump administration is targeting Somali and Somali Americans across the country, absolutely played a role in ginning up the kind of hatred and threats of violence that ultimately forced him to conclude that he could no longer serve in public office at this time,” he told the press.
Osman wrote in his resignation letter that he felt it was in the best interest of Lewiston that he step down from the position. “For the betterment of our community and in the best interest of our city, I believe it is time for me to step aside. I hope my resignation serves as a call to action for those who remain — an opportunity to reflect on the values of respect, inclusivity and kindness that should guide our public service.”
A report from WV News revealed that Osman won the Ward 5 City Council position in an election held on November 4, 2025, beating incumbent Councilor Eryn M. Soule-Leclair by a total of 35 votes. He was the first Somali-American man to ever be elected to the council. He was officially sworn into office on Jan. 5, 2026. Osman was also a member of the Lewiston School Board.
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