Elections board refers probe to prosecutor

Some whose names are on Randy Walter's petitions said they didn't sign them.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Board of Elections has referred to the county prosecutor an investigation of irregular nominating petitions in a congressional race that could result in criminal charges.
The board took the action Monday after two circulators of petitions for Randy Walter, an independent candidate for the 17th Congressional District seat, would not answer questions.
Georgene Mummey of Poland and Patrick Vannetti of Howland were subpoenaed to testify as part of the board's investigation. Kelly Pallante, elections board director, has said that 20 signatures on petitions filed by Mummey and 28 by Vannetti don't match the signatures of those on record at the Trumbull and Mahoning counties elections boards.
Mummey and Vannetti are officials with RDW Company, a Canfield-based real estate development company owned by Walter. The company's Web site lists Mummey as RDW's sales/leasing manager and Vannetti as its controller/certified public accountant.
Fifth Amendment
Vannetti invoked his Fifth Amendment on all questions except acknowledging he is 37 years old and lives on Coral Street in Howland Township.
The Fifth Amendment protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
At the urging of his attorney, J. Gerald Ingram of Youngstown, Vannetti declined to answer questions posed by James Saker, an assistant county prosecutor, such as where he is employed, his educational background, if he has any felony convictions, if he was paid to circulate petitions, and if he knows Mummey.
Mummey was on hand but refused through her attorney, Michael McGee of Warren, to go into the elections board's meeting room. She also would not answer questions, pleading the Fifth Amendment.
McGee argued that if Mummey wasn't going to answer questions, there was no reason to appear to testify.
Saker countered that state law requires a person subpoenaed before a board to appear, although that person can invoke the Fifth Amendment.
Saker said he will discuss with county Prosecutor Dennis Watkins the issue of not appearing when subpoenaed.
Board member Craig Bonar expressed concern that Mummey's failure to appear before the board set the wrong precedent.
Saker said the allegation of irregular signatures could lead to criminal charges because of other information the prosecutor possesses. He would not elaborate.
In a separate action, the elections board will meet July 11 to discuss the certification of Walter's petitions.
Signatures
A 17th District candidate must have 1,844 valid signatures to appear on the November general election ballot. Walter filed 3,460 to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Niles Democrat.
Some of those whose names are on Walter's petitions said they didn't sign them.
Charles Lowry of Liberty Township said he never signed a petition for Walter. On the petition, it incorrectly states that Lowry lives in Mahoning County. Liberty is in Trumbull County.
Also, Lowry said he would never sign a petition to get Walter on the ballot because his son, Patrick, works for Ryan in the congressman's Warren office.
Lowry said he was not at his home April 25, the date he supposedly signed the petition.
Three other Lowry names are on a Walter nominating petition. Annie Lowry of Goleta Avenue, Patrick Lowry's sister-in-law, said she, her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Laura, didn't sign the petitions.
She said when she signs her name on official documents, she uses her full name, Mary Ann. She said she's never heard of Walter.
Also, her daughter hasn't lived at the Goleta Avenue address on the nominating petition for the past six years.
The petitions that have the Lowry names on them were circulated by Mummey.
yovich@vindy.com
Vindicator politics writer David Skolnick contributed to this story.