43
Trumbull board eliminates sheriff, commissioner candidates from ballot
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Democrat Joseph O’Grady will not appear on the March 15 ballot as a candidate for Trumbull County sheriff, the Trumbull County Board of Elections ruled Monday.
The board found that O’Grady did not meet the deadline for submitting documents showing that he meets the minimum qualifications for the office. O’Grady could still run as an independent or write-in in the November election.
O’Grady told elections board members Monday he does have the minimum qualifications, but he relied on an “old” booklet he got from the board of elections that didn’t have the right dates on it.
Board member Mark Alberini called the situation “unfortunate,” adding that the booklet O’Grady got was “not as clear as spelled out in law” and other guidance available.
Alberini said the law is “black and white,” indicating that documents needed to be turned in by Dec. 16, but O’Grady turned them in Dec. 17.
Alberini said the 2003 booklet O’Grady used was the most updated advisory from the secretary of state, even though it was 12 years old.
O’Grady said he got an anonymous phone call Dec. 16 indicating he should look into the issue, so he went to Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to ask about it.
O’Grady was supposed to provide the judge information confirming his qualifications, and the judge was supposed to turn it in to the elections board by the deadline.
O’Grady didn’t have the documentation with him Dec. 16, so the judge told him to return with the information the next day, which he did, O’Grady said.
O’Grady had intended to run in the Democratic primary. Other Democrats in the race are Sheriff Thomas Altiere and Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe.
The board also ruled that David Cook will not be allowed to appear on the ballot March 15 to run in the Democratic primary against incumbent Dan Polivka for county commissioner. Polivka also is Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman.
Cook’s petitions were ruled invalid because a number written on one of the pages did not agree with the number of petition signatures on that page. The number should have been 21, but it looked more like 20, Alberini said.
“There’s no wiggle room,” Alberini said of Ohio law relating to the matter. “It all comes down to do you feel it’s a 20 or do you feel it’s a 21.”
The board voted 3-1 to eliminate Cook, with Republican Ron Knight casting the single no vote, and Republican Cathi Creed and Democrats Ken Kubala and Alberini voting for removing Cook from the ballot.
The board ruled that the petitions of Sean O’Brien, D-63rd of Bazetta, for 32nd District state senator were valid despite failing to put the date of the election on his petitions.
Likewise, the board certified the candidacies of Democrats Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk for coroner and Altiere for sheriff and Republican Syreana R. Harris for county treasurer, despite all three listing the wrong date on their petitions for when each would take office in 2017 if they are elected.
Democrat Mauro Cantalamessa failed to check a box indicating that he was running for a full term as county commissioner, but the board ruled that the flaw was not bad enough to prevent him from being on the ballot.
The board also eliminated one liquor option from the ballot because it lacked a sufficient number of signatures. It was for the Cruise Thru convenience store at 452 Elm Road in Warren.
The board certified all other candidates and issues for the ballot.