GOP treasurer to fill position on Trumbull board of elections

On the third ballot, Ron Knight edged Norma Williams 25 votes to 24.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Republican Party Treasurer Ron Knight has been selected to fill a position on the Trumbull County Board of Elections being vacated this spring by longtime board member Nettie Ashelman.
The party took three votes before choosing Knight over four others Monday night at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Warren. Knight will begin his four-year term starting March 1, when Ashelman will step aside after 30 years.
Knight, of Nicklaus Drive Northeast, Warren, is also a member of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center Governing Board.
Tonight's meeting
Trumbull County Democrats will meet tonight to select a replacement for Nick Melfi, board chairman, who will be stepping down March 1 after 10 years on the board. Democratic Party Secretary and Trumbull County deputy treasurer Barbara Katzenberger is the only person known to be interested in that position.
Craig Bonar, Republican Party chairman, said three ballots were required to reach a selection. On the first two ballots were Norma Williams, former elections board director; Kati Creed, state central committeewoman and first vice president of the county party; and Knight. On the third ballot, Knight edged Williams 25 votes to 24.
State Sen. Tim Grendell of Chesterland, R-18th, a candidate for Ohio attorney general, was guest speaker for the event.
Bonar said Knight understands the election process and especially campaign finance laws. "He has vigor and will be studious. He's interested in the [election] process."
Bonar said Knight also served as supplemental help for the board of elections for the five to six weeks leading up to the last general election, which helped him to understand the workings of the new touch-screen voting system.
runyan@vindy.com