Bonar: Records vindicate O'Brien

The chairman is still calling for an investigation of a former county commissioner's campaign finances.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The chairman of the Trumbull County Republican Party says further review indicates Warren's mayor did not commit an election violation.
Craig Bonar, a member of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, said last week he had asked for and received records relating to an investigation of election contributions made to Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien and former Trumbull County Commissioner Joseph Angelo.
Bonar said a viewing of the records indicated O'Brien listed at least one company as a contributor to his campaign when only individuals are allowed. He said O'Brien's election campaign reports only listed individuals as donors, which would constitute falsifying campaign reports, he said.
Monday, Bonar said he and other board of elections officials "couldn't find any violation" on O'Brien's campaign reports. The money in question from a company was not a violation of election laws, Bonar said, because O'Brien "didn't turn that check in" on his finance reports.
Quotable
O'Brien said Monday, "I don't appreciate [him] making accusations without the facts when, in fact, I did nothing wrong. Mr. Bonar is an honorable man, and I wish he would give a phone call to ask me about this issue. I know Mr. Bonar will call me for an apology for the misunderstanding."
Bonar said Elections Board Director Kelly Pallante called O'Brien and the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office to notify them no further investigation would be necessary.
Bonar said the finding would have no bearing on his desire to have the elections board look into similar questions about the campaign contributions made to Angelo's campaign.
The elections board is set to look into that issue sometime after the Nov. 8 election, Elections Board Chairman Nick Melfi said last week.
runyan@vindy.com