LUCAS COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Husted rejects GOP's election board nominees

6/24/2014
BLADE STAFF
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    Ben Roberts

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    Ben Roberts

    COLUMBUS — Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted today rejected the two Republican nominees for vacant seats on the Lucas County Board of Elections.

    Kelly Bensman
    Kelly Bensman

    Mr. Husted declined to appoint Ben Roberts, 45, of Maumee, and Kelly Bensman, 37, of Toledo, who were recommended by the Lucas County Republican Party for the party's two seats on the elections board. He said both were not qualified because they had either contributed to or perpetuated the culture of dysfunction that he said affected the elections board.

    RELATED CONTENT: Secretary of State Husted‘‍s letter to Jon Stainbrook

    Mr. Husted has not yet ruled on whether he will appoint the Democratic nominee for their vacancy, former Toledo school board member and party treasurer Brenda Hill.

    State law requires the Republican Party to now name two more nominees.

    The three vacancies exist because Mr. Husted removed three board members due to what he called instances of dysfunction and neglect of duty.