Ohio law makes demands on sheriff candidates

Ohio law makes demands on sheriff candidates

The Ohio Supreme Court and U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus both got it right regarding David Aey’s eligibility to run for sheriff of Mahoning County.

The Supreme Court issued a 5-1 ruling that Aey did not meet the supervisory experience requirements set forth in state law because he never held the rank of corporal or above in a law enforcement agency. The justices said that the Mahoning County Board of Elections “abused its discretion” in placing Aey’s name on the ballot over a protest filed by Sheriff Randall Wellington.

We’ve had our differences in recent years with Wellington and would have welcomed a strong, qualified challenger in the sheriff’s race. But those who criticize Wellington for challenging Aey’s place on the ballot are wrong. If the sheriff doesn’t question someone’s playing fast and loose with the law — even the election law — who should? If anyone is subject to criticism, it would be Aey for trying to stretch his resum√© and the law to meet his own needs.

Likewise, those who criticized the Ohio Supreme Court for allegedly denying voters the right to vote for any candidate they choose are directing their displeasure at the wrong people. These were not “activist judges” intent on getting between the people and a candidate. They were judges clearly reading the law as it was written.

It’s a big job

Arguments can be made that the Ohio law setting requirements for candidates is imperfect, and perhaps it should be amended. But it is not unreasonable to ask that a man or woman who seeks to operate a countywide police department, a jail, provide service and security to the courts and oversee a multimillion dollar budget should have a bona fide college degree and have held a rank that reflects a minimum of supervisory responsibility.

For a candidate to suggest that he should be the county’s sheriff absent those minimum qualifications belies either a sense of entitlement or an arrogance that in itself should be enough to frighten voters.

Aey’s appeal of the state court’s ruling to a federal court was another long stretch. As Judge Economus stated, the U.S. Supreme Court “has long recognized that states retain the power to regulate and control their elections through the establishment of ballot access requirements.”

And, indeed, Ohio has educational, professional certification and experience requirements for numerous other elective offices that make perfect sense. Obviously judges and prosecutors and the attorney general have to be lawyers before they can run. And, for instance, the county engineer has to be a certified engineer, which should be of some comfort to motorists when they drive across bridges.

The days when any political hack could run for sheriff, win and pin on a badge and strap on a revolver are gone — and good riddance.