Elections official: FBI calling about Altiere's campaign reports

WARREN -- The Trumbull County elections board director said an FBI agent has been calling the office and asking questions about Sheriff Thomas Altiere's campaign reports.
Norma Williams said the agent has not asked for any records but has been calling to gain information about the board's investigation into Altiere's campaign finances.
Williams declined to say what questions the agent asked or to give the name of the agent.
"He has been calling since December," Williams said.
Andrew Arena, head of the Youngstown office of the FBI, could not be reached to comment Friday.
The elections board has refused to certify Altiere's election because of questions surrounding his campaign finance reports.
The elections board in December voted 2-2 along party lines on the certification of Altiere's re-election; Altiere is a Democrat.
The tie was referred to Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, who decided late last month not to certify Altiere.
Altiere also has an appeal pending with the 5th District Court of Appeals asking the court to order the elections board to certify his election. The appeals court ruled that the election's board must either certify the election or show cause as to why they haven't by March 16.