TRUMBULL COUNTY Board asked to look into contributions

Former Commissioner Joseph Angelo called the allegations 'dirty politics.'
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Republican member of the Trumbull County Board of Elections has asked that the board and the elections board staff look into campaign contributions he says are illegal.
Craig Bonar, chairman of the county Republican Party, said he asked the elections board to look into whether Mayor Michael O'Brien and former county Commissioner Joseph Angelo -- both Democrats -- falsified campaign finance reports, but he was told it will have to wait until after the Nov. 8 general election.
Bonar said he asked for and received records related to the investigation by Victor V. Vigluicci, a special Trumbull prosecutor, when Vigluicci investigated the two for possible campaign irregularities from 2000 to 2003 for O'Brien and 1999 to 2002 for Angelo.
The allegations
Bonar said his viewing of the records indicates O'Brien listed at least one company as a contributor to his campaign when only individuals are allowed. Bonar said he found between 12 and 15 examples relating to Angelo doing the same thing.
He said their election campaign reports only listed individuals as donors, but the documents show contributions coming from companies. If this is so, it would constitute falsifying campaign reports, he said.
He added that this is the kind of violation found in the campaign of Sheriff Thomas L. Atliere a several years back that resulted in him paying a $5,000 fine.
Bonar said Elections Board Chairman Nick Melfi told him the matter should be discussed at an elections board meeting at which a representative from the county prosecutor's office can be present.
Melfi confirmed that he wanted to wait until after the Nov. 8 board meeting to look into the matter.
"If it's a question of one check, then I'll have to wait and see what it's about," O'Brien said Tuesday afternoon. "If the board of elections has any questions, they can call me through the normal process."
Angelo said he believes Bonar's allegations are "all political" and an indication of the way the Republican Party in the county and across Ohio operates. "Instead of finding their own candidates, they try to tear down the Democrats. It's dirty politics. I'm old news. I'm not even in office anymore," he said.
The elections commission voted to impose $1,875 in fines against O'Brien in September. It said his campaign violated election laws from 2000 to 2003 while he was a county commissioner by receiving $2,035 in campaign contributions that were deposited into the joint personal checking account with his wife, Louise, or the personal savings of his son Dominic.
The elections commission has not had a hearing on potential campaign finance irregularities against Angelo.
runyan@vindy.com