Board invalidates petitions

3 write-in bids for political committee posts dismissed

2/28/2014
BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Three Toledo residents who were seeking to be certified as write-in candidates in the May 6 primary election came up short Thursday when the Lucas County Board of Elections ruled their petitions were invalid. The candidates were vying for a spot on one of the county political party central committees, which represent the precincts.

The denied write-in filings were from Democrat Farran Davis, 4032 Overland Pkwy., and Republicans Dennis Lange, 2116 Scottwood Ave., and Cynthia Champer, 2504 Scottwood Ave.

Meghan Gallagher, elections director, said the three petitions were rejected because the candidates had previously submitted candidate petitions for the party central committees that had missing information or not enough signatures to qualify, which are considered fatal flaws. She said that the petitions were ruled invalid by the elections board, which disqualified them from filing as write-ins.

“These individuals filed candidate petitions by the filing deadline, but they had fatal flaws,” Ms. Gallagher said, pointing out that the elections board had already ruled them invalid. “Without informing the board, they returned to declare themselves write-ins. But you can’t do so after the board has already disqualified them.”

Board Chairman Ron Rothenbuhler, and board members John Irish and Jon Strainbrook voted unanimously to dismiss the write-in petitions. Board member Anthony DeGidio was absent.

Petitions from two other candidates, Democrats Shaun Enright, 738 Clark St., and Dennis C. Duffey, 8144 English Garden Ct., Monclova Township, were also reviewed by the election board on Thursday. Their write-in petitions were approved because the candidates noticed errors on their petitions before the board reviewed them, Ms. Gallagher said. Since the board hadn’t yet ruled on their petitions, Mr. Enright and Mr. Duffey were allowed to withdraw those petitions and file as write-ins.

In all on Thursday, the elections board approved 27 write-in petitions from candidates throughout Lucas County. There are 451 candidates vying for positions on the central committees, which represent the Democratic, Republican, and Green parties, Ms. Gallagher said. Lucas County has 352 precincts.

Contact Federico Martinez at: fmartinez@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.