Petition errors threaten to halt Wilson's race

An elections official said he's interested in the candidate's seat but isn't showing favoritism.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
LISBON -- Problems with Charles A. Wilson Jr.'s nominating petitions for the 6th Congressional District seat threaten, in a worst-case scenario, to disqualify him from the election.
It's quite possible that the issue will end up in court.
Wilson, a state senator considered the Democratic front-runner in this race, filed his nominating petitions Monday with the Columbiana County Board of Elections.
Among the 12 counties in the sprawling 300-mile-plus 6th District, Columbiana is the largest in terms of population and therefore collects nominating petitions from candidates for the seat.
Wilson's petitions had 96 signatures, all from Belmont and Scioto counties. Congressional candidates need 50 valid signatures from registered voters in their districts to get on the ballot.
John Payne, Columbiana County's elections board director, sent Wilson's original petitions to the county election boards in Belmont and Scioto to determine the validity of the signatures.
Invalid signatures
It was determined that 43 of the 96 signatures were from people who don't live in the 6th District. Portions of the two counties are in other congressional districts.
Jason Wilson, Wilson's campaign manager and son, said the petitions were passed around at political functions in the two counties.
Wilson said the campaign checked with the Belmont elections board and was told there weren't problems with the validity of the signatures. But that wasn't the case.
When asked why no one noticed that about 45 percent of those who signed his father's petitions don't live in the 6th, Wilson initially blamed the Belmont elections board for not doing a better job.
But he eventually acknowledged it was the campaign's fault.
After speaking to elections board officials in Scioto and Belmont, Payne told Wilson's son that it appears 53 signatures were valid.
"That was a little too close for our comfort," Wilson said.
When Wilson asked for options, Payne said a state election law would permit the campaign to write a letter to the Columbiana elections board asking that the original petitions be withdrawn and a new set be submitted.
Wilson's campaign did just that Thursday.
But it turns out the state Legislature passed a law in late 2002 that overturned that election provision.
Advisory from 2003
An advisory was given to elections officials from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office in February 2003, said James Lee, an office spokesman. Payne said he receives so many advisories from the office that it's sometimes difficult to remember all of them.
Candidates are not permitted to withdraw petitions after filing them and "no alterations, corrections or additions may be made to a petition after it is filed," according to state law.
On Thursday, the filing deadline, Wilson's campaign submitted a letter asking that the first petitions be withdrawn and replaced by a second set with about 110 signatures on them. Payne honored the request.
"You can't do that anymore," Lee said.
When Payne learned that, he had the second set of petitions returned to Wilson's campaign. The Columbiana elections board will meet Wednesday to certify the nominating petitions of May primary candidates, including Wilson's, Payne said.
"The bottom line is he has enough signatures, and he'll be certified next week," Payne said of Wilson.
If the board certifies Wilson's petitions, a protest can by filed by Feb. 27 requiring the board to hold a hearing on the matter, Lee said. If the board upholds Wilson's eligibility after the hearing, protesters could seek relief from the court of appeals.
Interested in seat
Payne said that he is interested in the state Senate seat should Wilson win the 6th Congressional race but that he is showing no favoritism toward the candidate.
While acknowledging he gave Wilson's campaign incorrect advice, Payne said it's the responsibility of candidates to properly file petitions.
skolnick@vindy.com