Candidate for judge talks about mistake

Staff report

girard

Mark Finamore, a candidate for Girard Municipal Court judge, addressed a campaign committee error concerning fundraiser invitations at a press conference Friday afternoon and through an email statement.

Finamore said fundraising invitations for a recent event offered silver, gold or platinum levels of donations to his campaign.

Finamore admitted this could be seen as a violation of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, which notes candidates can’t receive campaign contributions from a fundraising event that identifies participants by the amount of the contributions.

In a statement, Finamore said he took full responsibility for the mistake. He said he has notified the Ohio Supreme Court and will send a letter explaining what happened.

He said the mistake was human error that he and his campaign committee made.

Finamore also said an anonymous call was made to a local television station about the wording of the fundraiser invitation. He said the phone call was a deliberate act to disparage his campaign.

Finamore has been magistrate in Girard Municipal Court for nearly 24 years. He is among five candidates.