Ohio secretary of state chooses Kathi Creed to resume as board of elections member

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has selected Kathi Creed of Liberty to resume her position as a Republican member of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

Husted, in a letter to Trumbull County Republican Party Chairman Randy Law on Thursday that was obtained by The Vindicator, said he was anticipating that the county party’s executive committee would recommend someone for the position at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“Unfortunately the executive committee meeting called for that purpose last night adjourned before a recommendation could be made.

“The Trumbull County Republican Party has had ample opportunities to get this right,” Husted continued. “I cannot allow the dysfunction within the Trumbull County Republican Party to create dysfunction at the Board of Elections.”

Creed, a former party chairwoman, held the elections board seat during the most recent three-year term, which expired Tuesday.

Because there was no resolution to the question of who would serve in the position by Thursday morning, the board had to have its meeting Thursday with only three official members.

The board reappointed its current director, Stephanie Penrose, and current deputy director, Alan Shaker, to remain in their positions. It also selected Mark Alberini to remain as board chairman.

Creed was recommended for the position by one faction of the Trumbull County Republican Party led by central committee member Kevin Wyndham. Law recommended himself for the position, which pays $14,652 annually.

The board of elections disagreement is one of a series of controversies that have plagued the party in recent months, including legal action between Law and Farmington Township Trustee Martha Yoder and attempts to remove people from their leadership positions.