2 file as write-ins for commissioner

12/28/2011

Two Republicans filed by Tuesday's deadline to run as write-in candidates for Lucas County commissioner.

John Marshall of 5850 Durbin Rd., Sylvania Township, and Thomas Stamos of 2638 Wicklow Rd., Toledo, filed for the party primary.

The Republican primary winner will face Democratic incumbent Pete Gerken in the November general election.

Republican Constantine Stamos is awaiting a decision from the Ohio Secretary of State on whether he will be on the ballot for county commissioner.

The Lucas County Board of Elections tied 2-2 on certifying him for the ballot.

Thomas and Constantine Stamos are brothers.

County GOP Chairman Jon Stainbrook said Thomas Stamos, a member of the county Republican Central Committee, wanted to be in the running in case his brother could not. "The party has two fantastically viable candidates that have stepped up to run against Pete Gerken," Mr. Stainbrook said.

Constantine Stamos, also of Toledo, a part-time media specialist for Memory Transfers LLC of Sylvania, was the only candidate to file for the March 6 GOP primary.

The county board of elections staff questioned his candidacy petitions because he did not turn in an original signed cover sheet.

State law requires at least one sheet of signatures to contain an original signature of the candidate.

Board of elections staffers differed on whether a sheet with an original signature had been turned in.

Mr. Marshall, a retired general contractor who spent 13 years in the Air Force, ran unsuccessfully in November for Sylvania Township trustee. He said he was a supervisor at Jeep when Mr. Gerken worked there.

Thomas Stamos did not return a Blade call Tuesday.

Mr. Stainbrook said neither write-in will run if Constantine Stamos gets on the ballot.