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Passed up for position, Betras backs a candidate
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David Betras, Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman.
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Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted
AP
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Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann
Beelen gets endorsement for Mahoning Co. elections board
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County Democratic Party selected a man with plenty of political experience to serve on the county elections board.
After party Chairman David Betras failed to persuade the secretary of state to reconsider his refusal to seat him on the elections board, Betras persuaded the party’s executive committee members to back his candidate for the vacant post.
The committee voted Friday to recommend George Beelen of Canfield, a retired Youngstown State University history professor and former 12-year Austintown trustee, be confirmed by Secretary of State Jon Husted to fill an unexpired term on the board that ends Feb. 29, 2012.
Betras said this was “the one and only time” he will openly ask party members to support a particular candidate.
The executive committee had recom-mended Betras for the job Sept. 17. But Husted, a Republican, on Monday declined to honor the recommendation.
In a letter rejecting that recommendation, Husted cited Betras’ “wrongful conduct” as treasurer for ex-Attorney General Marc Dann’s transition account in late 2006. Husted also said Betras was “not competent” to serve on the board.
Betras went to Columbus on Friday before the committee’s vote in an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to ask Husted to appoint him to the elections board.
During the one-hour meeting, Betras gave Husted several letters, including one from county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.
In the letter, Gains wrote that he and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron J. O’Brien, who convicted Dann on two misdemeanor ethics charges, concluded that Betras “had not engaged in any illegal activity.”
When Husted refused to change his decision, Betras withdrew his name from consideration. Husted then rescinded his scathing letter denying Betras’ appointment.
“The allegations he set forth in the now-rescinded letter are without merit and are not supported by the facts,” Betras said. “They have harmed me professionally, and, most importantly, hurt my family.”
Betras said he was confident he could win a legal battle to get on the board but said that fight would be a distraction to the party’s goal of electing Democrats and defeating state Issue 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Also, Betras said that once Husted reviews the documentation he provided, Betras is confident the secretary would confirm him to a full four-year term on the board next year.
“I provided irrefutable proof that I did nothing wrong,” Betras said.
Betras was never investigated for any criminal wrongdoing with Dann’s transition account, and is upset that Husted rejected him over that, particularly because the secretary never contacted him to ask about his involvement.
After meeting with Betras, Husted said, “I am hopeful that as a result of today’s discussion and actions, we can establish a constructive dialogue with chairman Betras concerning board appointments and the effective operation of the Mahoning County Board of Elections.”
Beelen received 51 votes in beating two other candidates. John Vivo, the party’s secretary, received 10 votes, and Sam Matheny, a former elections board clerk, got three votes.
If Husted approves the new recommendation, Beelen said he won’t seek re-election when the term expires Feb. 29, and he strongly believes that if a party chairman wants to serve on the elections board, he should be permitted to do so.
Michael Morley resigned Sept. 19 to allow Betras to replace him.