Lucas County Board of Elections picks Kaczala as director

Lucas County Board of Elections chairman Ron Rothenbuhler, left, swears in Dan DeAngleis as deputy director of the board, and Gina Kaczala as the new director, during a board of elections reorganization meeting at One Government Cente today. Exiting the room are outgoing director Meghan Gallagher and board member Jon Stainbrook.

The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Lucas County Board of Elections chairman Ron Rothenbuhler, left, swears in Dan DeAngleis as deputy director of the board, and Gina Kaczala as the new director, during a board of elections reorganization meeting at One Government Cente today. Exiting the room are outgoing director Meghan Gallagher and board member Jon Stainbrook.

The Lucas County Board of Elections has a new director today. By a 3-1 vote, the board replaced the former director, Meghan Gallagher, with Gina Kaczala, formerly the board secretary.

Both are Republicans.

Gina Kaczala

Republican Tony DeGidio joined Democratic board members John Irish and Ron Rothenbuhler in electing Ms. Kaczala.

Voting in opposition to the appointment was Republican member Jon Stainbrook, who is chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party. The two-year term pays an annual salary of $85,595.

Dan DeAngelis, the deputy director, was retained as deputy director.

The vote is the latest evidence of Mr. Stainbrook’s isolation on the board since his falling out with both Ms. Kaczala and Mr. DeGidio, whom he recruited to be on the election board.

In December, the board voted by the same 3-1 margin to pay leave time to Ms. Kaczala that was denied by Ms. Gallagher.

Ms. Kaczala was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for county auditor in 2010.

Last October, Mr. Stainbrook announced a complaint against Ms. Kaczala for insubordination. In April, Ms. Kaczala accused Ms. Gallagher of intimidation. Nothing came of either complaint.