Wellington questions eligibility of one of his challengers for sheriff

Wellington questions eligibility of one of his challengers for sheriff

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Sheriff Randall A. Wellington is questioning the eligibility of one of his challengers while the other failed to turn in required paperwork that could jeopardize his status as a candidate.

Wellington of Boardman filed a formal one-page objection today with the county board of elections stating David P. Aey of Boardman, a former sheriff’s deputy, shouldn’t be on the March 4 Democratic primary ballot.

State law requires sheriff candidates to, among other things, have at least two years of “supervisory experience as a peace officer at the rank of corporal or above” or to have “served at the rank of sergeant or above in the five-year period ending immediately prior to the qualification date.”

Aey says he served as a field supervisor between June 2003 to November 2006 for the U.S. Marshals Service’s Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force thus giving him the required “supervisory experience.”

Wellington appointed Aey to that position, but contends it wasn’t one of authority.

The state law doesn’t address if holding a position of federal authority is considered “supervisory experience.”

Aey said the job had him holding supervisory responsibilities on the county and federal levels at the same time.

“I’m the most qualified guy to file in the last couple of elections for sheriff,” Aey said. “I don’t see this as a problem.”

Also, Rick Alli, an ex-Youngstown police sergeant and short-lived chief of law enforcement operations for the attorney general, filed nominating petitions to run for sheriff.

Sheriff candidates are required to submit a variety of documents when they file nominating petitions for the job. Alli didn’t turn in that paperwork to the elections board by today’s filing deadline saying he was unaware he had to do so.

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