Hearing today in federal court on Aey sheriff candidacy

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David Aey

YOUNGSTOWN — A hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. today before U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus concerning a lawsuit in which David P. Aey is asking the federal judge to restore his name to the March 4 Democratic primary ballot for Mahoning County sheriff.

The hearing will be in the Thomas D. Lambros United States Federal Building and Courthouse, 125 Market St.

Aey is seeking a temporary restraining order barring the county board of elections from removing his name from the ballot.

Aey filed the federal lawsuit in response to the Feb. 14 Ohio Supreme Court decision that ordered the board to remove Aey’s name from the ballot.

The state supreme court granted a request from Sheriff Randall A. Wellington to have Aey removed from the ballot because he lacks the two years of peace officer experience at the rank of corporal or above, which state law requires of candidates for sheriff.

In the federal lawsuit, Aey maintains the state law is an unconstitutional prior restraint on his free speech rights and is contrary to the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.