Damschroder’s wife files for write-in spot

Move keeps option open for husband

2/22/2014
BY TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
Jill Gross,left,  a clerk at the Sandusky County Board of Elections, looks on while Rhonda Damschroder files notice of becoming a write-in candidate with her husband, Rex, at her side Friday.
Jill Gross,left, a clerk at the Sandusky County Board of Elections, looks on while Rhonda Damschroder files notice of becoming a write-in candidate with her husband, Rex, at her side Friday.

FREMONT — Rhonda Damschroder filed documents Friday to be a write-in candidate in the May 6 primary election, keeping open her husband's options to run as the candidate for the 88th House District seat in November.

Mrs. Damschroder came to the rescue of her husband, state Rep. Rex Damschroder (R., Fremont) who failed to sign the bottoms of two petition forms, accidentally disqualifying himself as a candidate for re-election.

Mrs. Damschroder, 61, is a retired kindergarten teacher and has served as Mr. Damschroder's campaign treasurer. To correct his filing mistake, the couple plans to seek voter support of Mrs. Damschroder as the Republican nominee in the 88th House District and then have her withdraw as a candidate and Mr. Damschroder appointed as her replacement in the general election.

The local parties in Sandusky and Seneca counties would select her replacement.

The document was filed with the Sandusky County Board of Elections.

Bill Reineke, Jr., president of Tiffin Ford Inc., also filed as a write-in for the Republican nomination Thursday.

Democrat Bill Young, a retired government teacher at Green Springs, is expected to submit a declaration to run as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination.

In Ohio, votes for write-in candidates are counted only when the write-in is certified by the elections board. The write-in needs at least 50 votes to get the party nomination, comparable to the 50 valid voter signatures that are required for a candidate's name to appear on the primary election ballot.

Only Mr. Damschroder filed to be on the ballot by the Feb. 5 deadline, but he withdrew and was prohibited from running as a write-in by Ohio election law.

Mr. Damschroder has apologized for his “clerical error.”

He said he plans to introduce legislation to correct the problem he ran into, to allow anyone to file as a write-in candidate, regardless of whether they had filed petitions.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.