TRUMBULL ELECTIONS BOARD 2 commissioners have 2 weeks to submit list of small donations

Commissioner Angelo said he would continue looking for the list of small donors.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Board of Elections will give county commissioners James G. Tsagaris and Joseph J. Angelo Jr. an additional two weeks to hand over the names of people who have bought tickets to their campaign fund-raisers.
If they don't comply, the board will refer the matter to the Ohio Elections Commission, the board decided Tuesday.
"All correspondence will be sent to the Ohio Elections Commission to work with them, not us," said board member Pat Sebastiano.
Candidates are required by state law to keep lists of people who buy fund-raiser tickets or donate less than $25, even though these records do not normally have to be given to the elections board, officials say.
Who provided lists
Commissioner Michael O'Brien, Auditor David Hines and Warren Mayor Hank Angelo all complied with a public records request filed in mid-September to provide lists of small campaign contributors over the last several years.
Rep. Daniel J. Sferra of Warren, D-64th, wrote to the board of elections that he accepted no donations under $25.
In response to the request, commissioner Angelo sent in another copy of campaign reports that were previously filed.He said he had the lists of small donors when he made out those reports.
"I just have to see if I can find it," he said.
Tsagaris' campaign treasurer, William Watson, wrote to the board that he did not keep lists of small donors because he was not aware that it is required.
Board officials say, however, that Tsagaris and Watson attended a meeting in 2001 at which the requirement was explained.
Tsagaris said that Watson is seriously ill and is expected to remain in the hospital until later in the week.