Election board errors cause disqualification of candidates

YOUNGSTOWN — A mistake by the Mahoning County Board of Elections cost candidates for Youngstown mayor and city council president their eligibility to run as independents.

Some board employees were under the incorrect impression that an independent candidate for a Youngstown citywide race needed only 25 valid signatures on nominating petitions to be eligible.

They actually needed at least 138 valid signatures, an amount equal to a minimum of 1 percent of the total votes cast in the previous gubernatorial general election.

Because of the mistake, the board today disqualified Joe Louis Teague of Alameda Avenue as a candidate for council president.

“It was not my fault,” he said today. “I did what I had to do. I feel I’ve been shafted.”

Teague said he is considering suing the board.

Board members were apologetic. But members said they are bound by state law to disqualify candidates who don’t meet the minimum signature requirement — regardless of incorrect information provided by their employees.

Cecil B. Monroe of Highlawn Avenue was going to be disqualified today as a Youngstown mayoral candidate.

But he withdrew his nominating petitions and plans to run as a write-in against Mayor Jay Williams.

Because Teague refused to withdraw his candidacy, he is prohibited from running as a write-in for council president, board Director Thomas McCabe said.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com