COLUMBIANA CO. Elections panel to probe fire flier issue

The complaint is similar to one made before the election.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The Ohio Elections Commission will have a probable-cause hearing Thursday to determine whether a flier circulated on two fire department issues before last week's election violated state law.
If probable cause is found, the commission will have a full hearing.
The full commission ruled in favor of a similar complaint that fire department supporters filed and won before the Nov. 2 election against Fire Facts are Critical to Salem.
Council wants to form a fire district with Perry Township to save money. Past and present firefighters gathered signatures and put two initiative petitions on the ballot. Almost two-thirds of city voters approved each petition.
The petitions prevent the city from ending the department or joining a district without a public vote on council's plan.
Pre-election complaint
Before the election, Stephanie Ritchie, the wife of firefighter Lance Ritchie, had complained to the elections commissions about FFACTS signs. Some of the signs said that formation of the district would save the city about $600,000 a year. Council has estimated it might save about $700,000 a year, but the exact amount isn't known.
The elections commission ultimately ruled in favor of the fire department supporters that the signs were misleading.
But FFACTS sent out fliers just before the election that said the district would save about $600,000.
The handbill also states that fire district personnel will have the same training as city firefighters, all firefighters will be paid, and two firehouses will be manned at all times. Council said earlier that all basic issues would have to be settled by the board that would oversee the district.
Council has prepared legislation to begin forming the district, but has not voted on it. Under state law, the city and township would each appoint two members who would then select a fifth member.
The names of council members and Perry Township trustees were on the flier. All council members except Nancy Cope said they did not know their names would be on it. The trustees couldn't be reached.
Ritchie said Monday the second complaint was filed because much of the information in the flier was wrong, such as still using the $600,000 figure.
She said she was pursing the second elections complaint because, "This issue isn't over. This issue has a long way to go."
Council has voted to file a lawsuit to overturn the initiative petitions on the grounds they are unconstitutional.
wilkinson@vindy.com