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Betras appointed to board of elections
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Betras
YOUNGSTOWN
Four months after deeming Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras “not competent” to serve on the county board of elections, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted appointed him to the same position.
Betras’ four-year term on the board starts March 1. The job pays about $15,000 annually with medical and retirement benefits.
Betras said Wednesday that an Oct. 7 meeting he had with Husted, a Republican, was the turning point in getting appointed to the elections board.
That meeting came a week after Husted rejected the county Democratic Party’s recommendation to appoint Betras to an unexpired term on the four-member elections board. That term expires Feb. 29.
At Betras’ recommendation, the county party recommended George Beelen, a former Youngstown State University history professor and Austintown trustee, for that unexpired term. Husted approved the recommendation.
Husted denied the appointment in a letter contending Betras committed “wrongful conduct” as treasurer for ex-Attorney General Marc Dann’s transition account in late 2006, and wasn’t qualified to serve.
Betras provided Husted with documentation at that October 2011 meeting showing he was never investigated for any criminal wrongdoing.
“I am grateful that he took the time to meet with me and engage in a frank discussion of his concerns,” Betras said of Husted. “He clearly takes his responsibilities very seriously and recognizes that I will bring the same level of commitment to the Mahoning County Board of Elections.”
Matt McClellan, Husted’s spokesman, said about Betras: “We believe he’ll be a good appointment.”
Mark Munroe, county Republican chairman who serves as the elections board vice chairman, has had issues with Betras.
But on Wednesday, Munroe said he would welcome Betras to the board, and expects him to do a good job.
The board will reorganize early next month.
Munroe said there’s discussion of him becoming the board’s chairman, replacing Democrat Robert Wasko, who’s held that job for the past 61/2 years. But nothing is final, Munroe said.
When Betras was elected county Democratic chairman in April 2009, he said he would never take a paid political job.
“I had no desire to sit on the board of elections; I had zero desire,” Betras said Wednesday. “I had a busy law practice and I had a lot to do to rebuild the party. But over time, I saw why it’s important for the chairman to sit on the board to provide balance with the Republican chairman. Also, when anyone has a problem with the board, I get called for issues like voting, deadlines to file and so many other things.”