Strip club petitions found to be invalid

The petitions aim to put
strip-club restrictions on the ballot for a vote.

ASHLAND, Ohio (AP) — An ex-convict illegally gathering petitions against strip club regulations in central Ohio turned in 15 signatures from dead residents, people who weren’t registered to vote, and people who no longer lived in the area, Ashland County officials said.

An obvious clue for officials was a petition with the name of longtime Common Pleas Judge Robert Henderson, who is deceased.

Petition gatherers turned in nearly 375 signatures in support of letting voters decide whether to overturn a law that places restrictions on strip clubs. Passed earlier this year, the law forbids the touching of dancers and limits the hours that sexually oriented businesses without liquor licenses can operate.

County elections officials were validating signatures given to them by the secretary of state’s office when they noticed the problems.

Convicted felon

Officials said the petitions were filed by Alicia Bonner of Cleveland, who court records showed had been convicted of passing bad checks, robbery, cocaine trafficking and possession of criminal tools. It is unlawful for convicted felons to collect signatures.

The Vote No on Issue 1 Campaign, which is gathering signatures to get the issue on the ballot, was unaware of Bonner’s background, said spokeswoman Sandy Theis.

The faulty signatures could bring a fifth-degree felony charge.

A spokesman for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said Thursday he was not yet aware whether signature problems arose in other counties during the verification process.

The Vote No on Issue 1 Campaign, previously known as Citizens for Community Standards, agreed to go by the new name as part of a settlement that will result in the dismissal of a lawsuit from the conservative Citizens for Community Values. CCV supports the strip-club restrictions and had accused Citizens for Community Standards of trademark infringement.

Ashland is about 70 miles northeast of Columbus.