BOARDMAN Teen asks to be back on ballot

The primary is 11 days before the teen-ager turns 18 years old.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A 17-year-old son of a Boardman trustee, who was removed as a Republican precinct committee candidate because of his age, is asking the 7th District Court of Appeals to overturn the decision.
The Mahoning County Board of Elections, based on the advice of the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, disqualified the candidacy March 14 of Tyler M. Miller of Sheridan Road because he does not turn 18 until May 18, 11 days after the Republican primary. Miller, a son of Boardman Trustee Kathy Miller, wants to run for committeeman of Boardman Precinct 50.
Those who turn 18 years old before the November general election are allowed in Ohio to vote in May primaries -- but not for issues or elected races that are determined in the primary such as precinct committee members -- and are considered qualified electors, said Carlo LoParo, secretary of state spokesman. Only qualified electors are permitted to run for political office in the state.
Not eligible: "This individual would not be a qualified elector in the primary for precinct committeeman because the primary vote resolves the candidacy of that race and he will not be 18 years old at that time," LoParo said. "A 17-year-old who will be 18 by the November election can run for office [for positions determined in a November election] and run in a primary election if the primary is simply a nominating process. A 17-year-old, however, is prohibited from running in an election where the candidacy will be resolved at that election."
Miller's argument is he is a qualified elector under state law because he is permitted to vote in the May primary and thus is permitted to run for Republican precinct committeeman, said Don L. Hanni Jr., his attorney. Hanni's son, Mark A. Hanni, is challenging GOP Chairman Clarence Smith for control of the Republican Party.
"The statute isn't specific to precinct committee races," Hanni said. "It's a question that should be litigated. It isn't a life-or-death situation. The chairmanship isn't going to turn on this one seat. But it's an interesting legal issue and I cannot find any precedent on this."
Those elected to Republican precinct committee seats are the only people eligible to vote for GOP chairman. Mark A. Hanni and Smith have candidates in most of the 312 committee races.
skolnick@vindy.com