Struthers school board member accused of fundraising for mayor in city hall

STRUTHERS

Struthers Law Director Dominic Leone has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, claiming Ron Carcelli, a Struthers school board member, solicited political contributions to Mayor Terry Stocker’s golf outing while in City Hall.

A section of Ohio elections law, referring to political contributions states, “No person shall solicit a contribution from any public employee while the public employee is performing the public employee’s official duties or is in those areas of a public building where official business is transacted or conducted.”

Funds from the annual Terry Stocker golf outing go to the Committee to Elect Terry P. Stocker.

Carcelli told The Vindicator on Friday, he walked into the law director’s office and asked Leone’s secretary, Catherine Miller, if Leone would sponsor a hole at the mayor’ golf outing, which took place last Saturday.

Miller signed an affidavit included in the complaint, stating that Carcelli approached her during business hours while she was conducting city business and solicited contributions to the mayor’s golf outing.

When questioned by The Vindicator, Carcelli said Miller is a family friend and claimed he did not ask for money because he merely asked for sponsorship of a golf hole. Carcelli acknowledged, however, it costs $100 to sponsor a hole.

Stocker similarly claimed asking for sponsorship of a golf hole did not count as asking for money.

Read more about the situation in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.