Elections commission decides not to fine Kitchen for violation

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Elections Commission found one violation against former Youngstown mayoral candidate Demaine Kitchen for filing a late financial disclosure, but the panel waived the resulting fine.

Commission members also decided not to penalize Kitchen for taking an improper cash contribution, though they left the door open to consider a violation against former Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone.

The results followed a short meeting in Columbus Thursday that was attended by Kitchen and his attorney, Mark Hanni, and included allegations of political shenanigans by the chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party.

“It was all a diversion to discredit the Sammarone name in Mahoning County,” Hanni said.

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