Columbiana board denies petition protest
The loser in the dispute says he's weighing an appeal.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A protest of an election petition filed by a candidate for the 6th U.S. Congressional district has been denied.
The Columbiana County Board of Elections took the action Wednesday after a hearing prompted by the protest filed by John Abdalla, chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic party.
Abdalla's protest was based on his claim that an address discrepancy in the petitions filed by Charles Brown, 52, of Yorkville, constitutes a falsification and Brown should not be placed on the May 7 primary ballot.
Brown is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 6th District congressional seat in the primary.
Unintentional error: Brown, a political newcomer, acknowledged at Wednesday's hearing that he may have made an error in filling out the petition, but he never intended to deceive.
"If I caused a problem, I'm sorry. It was unintentional," Brown told the elections board.
After the board's decision scrapping the protest, Brown said he was pleased and ready to begin campaigning.
Abdalla said he was disappointed and would weigh whether to appeal.
His attorney, Frank Bruzzese of Steubenville, said the decision could be appealed through Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, the 7th District Court of Appeals or the Ohio Supreme Court.
Protester's goal: Abdalla wanted the election board to declare Brown's petitions invalid because the home address Brown listed on the documents didn't match the home address on file with election officials.
The two addresses must match, according to Ohio law, Abdalla contended.
On his petitions, Brown listed his address as being in Yorkville, Belmont County, which is where he has been living for about a year.
But his home address on file with election officials was an old one and showed him living in Rayland, Jefferson County.
Both Belmont and Jefferson counties are in the 6th District.
Brown said the address discrepancy was an oversight. He simply had not re-registered after he moved. He has since done so, he said.
Election board officials declined to comment on their decision after the hearing. They said they will issue a written decision soon.
Brown is a former coal miner and serves as regional vice president of a legal services business in Brilliant.
He will be pitted in the primary against incumbent Ted Strickland.
of Lucasville and Lou D'Apolito of Boardman, both of whom are Democrats.