Gerberry bill would clarify sheriff candidate qualifications

YOUNGSTOWN — The amount of college needed to be eligible for a sheriff candidate — an issue in last year’s election here — would be clarified under legislation introduced in the Ohio House by state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry.

To be eligible to run for sheriff, state law requires candidates to have “at least two years of post-secondary education or the equivalent in semester or quarter hours” or “at least two years of supervisory experience at the rank of corporal or above.”

Gerberry’s bill would require sheriff candidates qualifying under the education requirement to have at least a two-year associate degree. His proposal has slightly different language regarding supervisory experience, but doesn’t change the minimum qualification.

“I want clarity,” said Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, of the bill. “It’s a little tougher, but it’s a lot more clear.”

The legislator said controversy surrounding the eligibility of David P. Aey as a Mahoning County sheriff candidate in last year’s election prompted him to seek a change to the sheriff requirement law. Gerberry was heavily involved in establishing sheriff eligibility requirements when he served in the Ohio House 20 years ago.

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