Brunner paves way for Aey to run as write-in

YOUNGSTOWN — Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner ruled today that David P. Aey is eligible to run for Mahoning County sheriff as a write-in candidate.

In a four-page letter, Brunner wrote that Aey isn’t barred from running for the seat even though he was disqualified from the March Democratic primary for the same position.

The elections board voted 2-2 on Sept. 9 on certifying Aey as a write-in candidate and left the tie-breaking decision to Brunner.

Brunner wrote that an October 2007 Ohio Supreme Court decision makes Aey eligible to run as a write-in.

The county elections board will meet later this week to determine if Aey of Boardman meets the qualifications to run for sheriff.

Sheriff Randall Wellington of Youngstown, a Democrat, questions whether Aey has the post-secondary education requirements to seek the job. Aey’s attorneys produced transcripts last week that show Aey with 60 credit hours, more than enough to qualify as a candidate.

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