Mahoning elections board suspends indicted deputy clerk

By David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — A 38-year-old deputy clerk at the Mahoning County Board of Elections, indicted on a felonious assault charge, is on unpaid administrative leave until his case is resolved.

The board chose to suspend Michael Kurt Welsh of Boardman from his job Wednesday when it was discovered he had been indicted Oct. 2 by a Portage County grand jury.

“We have an important job at the board of elections and we don’t want any distractions,” said Bob Wasko, the board’s chairman. “It’s a tough and challenging election. He’s on administrative leave and we’re moving on.”

Welsh started working full-time at the elections board in February with an annual salary of about $35,000, according to elections officials.

The Portage County Sheriff’s Department, the law enforcement agency that arrested Welsh, couldn’t provide a report to The Vindicator about the incident Wednesday.

Welsh’s indictment stems from a July 5 incident in which he “knowingly cause[d] serious physical harm to another,” according to his indictment.

The incident happened at a concert at the Nelson Ledges Quarry Park.

Welsh has called in sick to work Tuesday and Wednesday, said Thomas McCabe, the board’s director.

Welsh is to be arraigned Nov. 20 in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

“He’ll contest [the charge] very strongly,” said George G. Keith, Welsh’s attorney.

Welsh could not be reached to comment.

skolnick@vindy.com