Columbiana sheriff candidate drops out

SALEM — Salem Police Officer Austin French has announced that he will drop out of the race for Columbiana County Sheriff.

French, who has been a city patrolman since 1999, filed to run as an independent.

City Law Director C. Brooke Zellers said that French could not run since he is a classified employee.

“As an enforcer of our laws, I feel that I must follow the law,” French said Sunday.

The county Republican party on Friday filed a formal challenge to French’s candidacy.

French said, “Clearly one party saw that I was gaining momentum, particularly in the northern portion of the county. Political operatives from that party chose to attack my character, my credibility, and threaten my livelihood. I congratulate the other party for not trying to stifle democracy.”

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