Democrat leads Lucas County elections board

1/27/2005

Democrat Diane Brown was elected chairman of the Lucas County Board of Elections yesterday on a unanimous vote, replacing Republican Bernadette Noe.

The vote came two days after the board deadlocked over who should lead the governing board.

Ms. Noe, a Republican, stepped down Monday just before fellow Republican Jill Kelly was promoted from deputy director to director and assumed control of the day-to-day operations of the elections office. State law prohibits a county elections board chairman and director of that county's elections office to be of the same political party.

Still unfilled is the post of deputy director of the elections office, which must be filled by a Democrat. Ms. Brown and fellow governing board member Paula Ross said they are continuing their search for someone to fill that position.