Patrolman can’t run for Columbiana sheriff

SALEM — Patrolman Austin French can’t run for sheriff because he’s a classified employee.

Law Director C. Brooke Zellers issued that ruling this afternoon.

Police Chief Robert Floor said he had received the opinion and was trying to reach French to break the news.

Zellers’ opinion was based in part on state law that says classified employees from engaging in partisan political activities.

French has been a city patrolman since July 1999. He could not be reached.

Floor said French’s could to mount a legal challenge to the opinion, resign as an officer and run, or drop out of the race.

Zellers noted in his opinion that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office had issued an opinion that the county sheriff’s race is a partisan election despite French filing as an Independent.

Perry Township Police Chief Raymond Stone is the Republican candidate and Leetonia Police Chief John Soldano is the Democrat candidate.