Engler’s name to be on ballot after official verified signature

The school board member found the one additional valid signature he needs.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The day after disqualifying David L. Engler from appearing on the November ballot for not having enough valid signatures on his nominating petition, Mahoning County Board of Elections officials say he now has enough.

The board unanimously voted Thursday to not certify Engler as a candidate to seek re-election to a spot on the county educational service center board. Engler, of Canfield, has served on the board for six years.

Engler, a former county commissioner, needed 50 valid signatures to stay on the ballot.

He turned in petitions with 58 signatures. Based on a review by elections employees, it was determined that Engler’s petitions contained 49 valid signatures, one shy of the minimum.

But early Friday, after hearing of the petition problem, Engler talked to elections board officials. Engler showed elections officials one of the nine disqualified signatures was that of a Boardman woman who was properly registered but signed her name in a way that was difficult to read.

After contacting her by telephone, elections Director Thomas McCabe said the woman told him it was her signature.

McCabe said he will recommend Engler’s name be placed back on the ballot to the elections board when it meets in about two weeks.

There are two educational service center board seats on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Marie Dockry of Austintown also is seeking re-election. James Hall of Canfield and Keith M. Hanni of Youngstown are running for seats on the board.

skolnick@vindy.com