Erie City Council candidate Jason C. Brendel was convicted in November of misdemeanor harassment and disorderly conduct involving an Erie lawyer and a nonprofit for which she did legal work.

Erie County Court records show that Brendel, a 36-year-old Democrat, was sentenced by Erie County Judge Daniel Brabender on Nov. 2 to one year probation in the case. Brendel was also ordered to continue ongoing drug, alcohol and mental health counseling, and a psychological evaluation was also mandated, according to court records.

Brendel told the Erie Times-News on Monday that he pleaded guilty to "do the right thing and move forward," largely because he wanted to run for public office.

Erie police filed the harassment and disorderly conduct charges against Brendel on July 12, alleging he made telephone calls to various people identifying himself as a representative of the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, a nonprofit organization that supports the Erie area's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Erie lawyer Alison Scarpitti did legal work for the organization.

Brendel has said he is an open member of Erie’s LGBT community.

Court records indicate that Brendel was asking people to attend events and make political endorsements on GEAE's behalf, and officials with the nonprofit asked Brendel to stop via "6-7 cease and desist letters/emails." Despite the letters, Brendel "continued his behavior," police and court records show.

Police and court records also allege that, on July 12, Brendel showed up at Scarpitti's law office unannounced and refused to leave despite being asked to do so several times.

Scarpitti, 41, said on Monday that she does not know Brendel personally, although she has seen him at various events.

"That was terrifying," Scarpitti said, adding that Brendel was not an official with GEAE and that he continues to make "disturbing" comments via social media about GEAE officials despite his conviction. Brendel, as part of his sentence, was also ordered by Brabender to have no contact with Scarpitti or two other officials associated with GEAE, Richard McCarty and William Koehler, court records show.

Brendel on Monday initially demanded to know how a reporter found out about his conviction, which is public record.

He later said GEAE officials don't like him, and want to hurt his political chances.

"The organization is a bunch of elitist LGBT members," said Brendel, who acknowledged he is participating in mental health counseling. "It's a clique, and they don't like me. ... People are trying to tear me down. I'm trying to stay focused on my life and hanging around good people."

Brendel previously told the Erie Times-News that he plans to seek a seat on Erie Council in the May 16 municipal primary. He plans to formally launch his candidacy on Tuesday during a 10 a.m. event at No Dress Code Studios, 1001 State St., Suite 1021.

Brendel said he has worked as a chef and food safety manager, and that he is working to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social humanities and social science at Penn State Behrend.

Four of Erie City Council’s seven seats, all held by Democrats, are open this year.

Curtis Jones Jr. is unable to seek re-election because of term limits, while the other incumbents whose seats will be on the ballot — Casimir Kwitowski, Jim Winarski and Dave Brennan — have not made re-election announcements.

Brendel is among four Democrats who have announced that they will run for City Council thus far. The others are Emily Crofoot, 34, a Community Health Net employee; Brad Ford, 44, a software engineer; and Adrian Ewing, 32, a small-business owner and former council candidate.

No Republican candidate has made a formal announcement.

Kevin Flowers can be reached at 870-1693 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.