Prosecutor asks high court to remove challenger

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to remove Martin Yavorcik, his challenger in the November general election, from the ballot.

Gains, a Boardman Democrat, is receiving support for his effort from the Ohio Democratic Party.

In a letter to Gains, Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern wrote the party will file legal papers with the Supreme Court supporting the prosecutor’s case.

The county board of elections rejected Gains’ complaint on May 12 to not certify the candidacy of Yavorcik.

Gains asserts Yavorcik, of Boardman, is a Democrat attempting to disguise himself as an independent candidate to challenge him in the November election rather than the March primary.

Yavorcik also said he’s confident the court will reject Gains’ “desperate attempt to thwart the democratic process.”

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