High court to consider GOP squabble in April

COLUMBUS - The internal party fight over a Republican seat on the Lucas County Elections Board is likely to linger for at least another month and a half after the Ohio Supreme Court yesterday set its schedule to consider the case.

The high court denied the county Republican Party Executive Committee's request that it immediately invalidate Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's appointment of Ben Marsh to the elections board and replace him with Jon Stainbrook.

Instead, the court's order maintains the status quo while both sides brief the court and present their evidence, a schedule that could mean a final decision on the merits of the case won't be reached until late April at the earliest.

The complaint filed this week maintains that the Democratic secretary of state had no authority to reject the committee's recommendation, Mr. Stainbrook, for a board vacancy in the face of a competing recommendation submitted by a faction that claims to have ousted Mr. Stainbrook as party chairman.

Ms. Brunner instead picked Mr. Marsh, a GOP lawyer and former state representative, who was not recommended by either side.

The court has given Ms. Brunner a week to respond to the committee's arguments. By the time both sides file their briefs and present their evidence under the schedule, as many as 44 days will have passed.

Justices Maureen O'Connor and Judith Lanzinger did not participate in yesterday's decision.