Monday, May 19, 2003
One official said it's the latest in a long line of false accusations against him.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
McDONALD -- The village's attorney said he'd be happy to address complaints against him, if he knew specifically what they were.
William Roux, legal representative for the village, said he's not seen a copy of anything filed by Mayor James Border with the Ohio Elections Commission about possible campaign violations.
"I welcome the opportunity to see the papers and would be glad to address them," Roux said. "I'd be happy to have a hearing, too. But I haven't seen them."
Border, who won the Democratic nomination for mayor in the election, said he sent information to the commission, based in Columbus, and plans to fill out a formal complaint soon.
What happened
The issue centers on fliers placed in mailboxes of village residents just before last week's primary election. On one side, the flier reads, "McDonald cannot afford another four years. Vote for a new mayor on May 6th."
The other side features a signed letter dated May 23, 2002, from council to Border, saying the village's personnel problems "were created and/or caused because you are not doing your job. ... The crux of these significant personnel problems is you, Mayor."
"It was bogus," Border said. "It was a terrible thing to happen."
Border said he and other residents saw Roux distributing the fliers; Roux flatly denies the claim.
Roux said the situation is just the latest in a long line of false accusations against him from Border.
"And he needs to understand there are consequences for false accusations," he said.
Nothing on the fliers indicates who created or distributed them.
Norma J. Williams, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, said no complaint was filed with the local office since the Ohio Elections Commission would directly handle complaints.
The seven-member commission oversees political party spending, campaign finance, and corporate political contributions and investigates cases of unlawful campaign practices.
Information returned
Betty Springer, secretary for the commission, said the information was received but it was returned because it did not meet the requirements under the Ohio Administrative Code for the commission to act on it. The information did not include a specific claim of violation under the administrative code.
"And the commission can take no action without the proper affidavit of complaint," Springer said.
She added nothing prohibits Border from resubmitting the required information.
slshaulis@vindy.com