Challenge to judge's petitions is dropped

9/2/2005

A Toledo resident dropped his protest yesterday with the Lucas County Board of Elections in which he claimed a Republican candidate for Toledo Municipal Court had insufficient signatures on her candidacy petitions.

Albert Flores told elections officials that he was withdrawing his protest regarding Judge Lynn Schaefer at the request of Lourdes Santiago, a Democrat trying to unseat Judge Schaefer in the general election.

But Mr. Flores urged elections officials to review their own practices and procedures and eliminate any "semblance of impropriety or illegality." He was referring to his own charge that Republican elections board employee Dennis Lange circulated petitions for Judge Schaefer, then reviewed the signatures as a board employee. Board officials told Mr. Flores they take his concerns seriously and would be reviewing their practices.

Judge Schaefer, who faces no other protests of her petitions, said she was relieved the matter was dropped so she can continue focusing on her campaign.

A hearing also had been scheduled yesterday on a similar protest regarding Toledo Municipal Court candidate Robert Christiansen's petitions. It was continued at his attorney's request until Sept. 12.