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Youngstown native is appointed director of the Franklin County Board of Elections
COLUMBUS
Ed Leonard, the new Franklin County Board of Elections director and a Youngstown native, said: “Much of the foundation of my public service were lessons I learned while I lived, worked and obtained my education in” the city.
“You had good people in Youngstown, and you had the stories of [political] corruption,” said Leonard, 51, who grew up on the North Side. “The reason I got into public office is I wanted to restore confidence in government.”
Leonard grew up on Lora Lane – his childhood house as well as the homes on either side have since been burned down – near Crandall Park. He graduated from Ursuline High School in 1983, and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Youngstown State University in 1987. Leonard was a commissioned officer in the Army after completing the ROTC program at YSU.
The ninth of 11 children, Leonard said, “Growing up in Youngstown, I learned it was important that people keep an eye on you to make sure you do the right thing, and not to do things that get you in trouble.”
His mother lives in Girard, and he has siblings who still reside in the Mahoning Valley.
Leonard earned a law degree, graduating in 1990 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and served four years on active duty as an Army lawyer. Leaving as a captain, he moved to Columbus in 1994.
In 1996, Leonard, a Democrat, unsuccessfully ran for Franklin County treasurer. But he was hired two years later to serve as the county’s deputy elections director, leaving that job in 2001.
He later served as in-house counsel for the county’s clerk of courts and treasurer. In January 2007, Leonard was appointed by county Democratic precinct committee members as treasurer, replacing Richard Cordray, who was elected two months prior to state treasurer.
Leonard was elected to four-year terms in 2008 and 2012, but lost the Democratic primary by 3 percentage points to a political unknown.
A number of Franklin County incumbents were defeated in the Democratic primary.
Under state law, the terms of county treasurer’s don’t end until September of the following year so Leonard could have remained in that post for another year.
Instead, Leonard’s last day as treasurer was Friday. He starts today at the board of elections.
Leonard beat out seven other candidates for the elections director job.
The position opened after Director William A. Anthony Jr., who was also the county Democratic Party chairman, resigned both jobs last month, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Anthony is accused of signing time sheets for an ex-employee – she faces charges of theft in office and tampering with documents – he knew wasn’t working, according to the newspaper.
“I’m dedicated to doing the job right,” Leonard said.
“They’ve had their challenges, but they do things right at the board of elections.”