Thursday, February 9, 2017
YOUNGSTOWN
Only one candidate who filed to run in the May 2 primary in Mahoning County is likely to be disqualified.
William Cabuno of West Wilson Avenue, a political newcomer running for the open 4th Ward seat on Struthers City Council as a Democrat, is expected to be removed from the ballot when the county elections board meets Saturday.
Cabuno failed to date the declaration of candidacy part of his nominating petitions before he started collecting signatures, said board Deputy Director Thomas McCabe and board Chairman Mark Munroe.
Under state election law, that’s considered a “fatal flaw,” and the county board has disqualified candidates for that reason several times in the past, Munroe said.
Cabuno backdated the declaration at the board of elections when informed by a clerk that there was no date on his petitions as he turned them in during the Feb. 1 filing deadline.
Once Cabuno is removed, that will leave Rick Bayus of West Como Avenue as the lone Democratic candidate on the ballot for the 4th Ward seat in Struthers.
Bayus lost the Democratic primary two years ago to incumbent Robert D. Carcelli III by a vote of 446 to 315. Carcelli isn’t running for re-election this year.
May 1, the day before the primary, is the deadline for independent candidates to file for the general election.
There are no issues with the petitions of any other candidates who filed in the county for the primary that would lead to disqualifications, McCabe and Munroe said.