Saturday, August 23, 2003
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Ed Bayus says he and his wife, embattled township Trustee Judy Bayus, have everything they need to appear on the ballot as candidates for trustee or township clerk in November.
They would be seeking positions held by Trustee Paul Moracco and Clerk Carmen Heasley. Both Moracco and Heasley have filed petitions with the Mahoning County Board of Elections seeking re-election. Lori Yanacos-Clark of state Route 46 also has filed to run for trustee.
"I feel we need to clean house," Ed Bayus said.
The deadline to file petitions with the Mahoning County Board of Elections to appear on the November ballot is 4 p.m. today. Ed Bayus said he and his wife's decision on filing petitions most likely will be made close to the deadline.
He added that he and his wife each have collected enough signatures to run for trustee or clerk.
The clerk and trustee elected in November will each have a term that ends Dec. 31, 2007. Judy Bayus was re-elected in 2001; her term ends Dec. 31, 2005.
Petitions against her
She could be removed from office in the near future, however, based on the arguments of a group of residents who contend she committed malfeasance as a trustee. The group has filed petitions in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court seeking a trial to have her removed.
No date has been set for the trial.
Ed Bayus said the decision to collect signatures for this November's election had nothing to do with the impending trial and that his wife was not available to comment. A spokesman for the state attorney general's office said Judy Bayus would not be prohibited from holding office if she is forced out of her term as trustee.
Ed Bayus noted that his wife would resign from her term if elected clerk or trustee. State law does not allow a person to hold two positions in township government at the same time.
If Judy Bayus resigns or is forced out by a judge, voters would select her replacement in an election.