SIDNEY — Nine candidate petitions for the November election were rejected by the Shelby County County Board of Elections during its meeting Monday afternoon. One of the candidates is appealing the ruling.
The petition of Mandi C. Croft, 213 S. Wagner, Sidney, who was seeking re-election to the Sidney City Schools Board of Education, was rejected because it did not have enough valid signatures. The seat needs 75 valid signatures before the name is placed on the ballot.
Donnie Chupp, deputy director, said parts one to six was completer and contained 73 signatures. The remainder of the parts were missing the year of the election and was invalidated with none of the signatures counting toward the total.
“I have requested an appeal on the basis of the not genuine signatures,” said Croft Tuesday morning. “They had one signature listed as a duplicate, but it wasn’t and that leaves me one short.
“There are several that the signatures were neater or more printed,” she said. “My thoughts are if we aren’t even teaching cursive and do not have access to signatures on file and what they looked like, how can we be asked for petition signatures to match?”
According to Board of Elections Director Pam Kerrigan, said she is unaware of any appeal fliing at this time.
“Historically, there is no appeal process for a failed petition,” said Kerrigan. “The board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. At that meeting, the board will review with the petitioner reasons for the petition being rejected. (The) petitioner must submit a written request for the review by Monday, Aug. 26.”
Two other candidates seeking seats on the Sidney Schools Board of Education also saw their petitions rejected.
The petitions of Kristin Allen, 2429 Savanna Place, Sidney, and Kevin T. Foy, 660 W. Parkwood, Sidney, were denied by the board of elections. Allen’s petition didn’t have enough valid signatures because the year was not recorded for the year of candidacy, thus making the signatures invalid. Her petition was also dated July 20 and some of the signatures were dated prior to that date.
Allen had 69 or the required 75signatures.
Foy’s petition was rejected because the statement of candidacy was dated after the signatures were obtained and parts 2 to 5 were not completed on the nominating petition.
Other petitions rejected were:
• Seth Opperman, 401 Risha Ave., Anna, Anna Village Council, did not complete the nominating petition.
• Tisha Wannemacher, 1443 Lochard Road, Anna, Dinsmore Township trustee, understated both circulator statements.
• Casey Dietz, 401 Huber, Botkins, Botkins Village Council, did not complete nominating petition.
• Michael Henman, 7500 Tawawa Maplewood Road, Sidney, Fairlawn Local school District Board of Education, did not have enough valid signatures.
• Roger Schulze, 13523 Sharp Road, Sidney, Franklin Township trustee, did not complete the nominating petition.
• Dale Goubeaux, 1077 Fessler Bixler Road, Russia, Loramie township Trustee, did not complete nominating petition.
The board also accepted eight petitions which contained minor errors but still could be approved by the board.
A petition filed by Karen Sue Woodruff, 107 Island Ave., Jackson Center, for a seat on the Jackson Center Council, overstated the number of signatures on both parts of the ciculator statement. She state 25 signatures were on both statements instead of putting seven signatures on one statement and 18 signatures on the second statement. The petition was approved 3-1 with Merrill Asher voting no.
“She overstated on both sections,” said Asher. “She didn’t follow directions. It was signficantly overstated and should be turned down.”
The other seven petitons were approed by a 4-09 vote. All seven marked full term on the peition but inserted the term expiration date in the unexpired term box. Those petitions were filed by:
• Keith A. Dapore, 3270 Kaiser Road, Fort Loramie, Cynthian Township trustee
• jennifer L. Frilling, 7647 Cardo Road, Sidney, Cynthian Township trustee.
• Keith V. Gump, 2867 Tawawa Maplewood Road, Sidney, Green Township trustee.
• Kristin S. Davis, 308 N. Fork St., Jackson Center, Jackson Center Local Schools Board of Education.
• Mark R. Goubeaux, 416 E. State St., Botkins, Botkins Local Schools Board of Education.
• Matt Kohler, 306 N. Fork, Jackson Center, Jackson Center Local Schools Board of Education.
• Vernon F. Siegel Jr., 8727 Wright Puthoff Road, Sidney, Fort Loramie Local Schools Board of Education.
The board also approved 67 petitions are presented.
The August special election in Franklin Township was certified. Seventy-on people voted on election day and two absentee ballots were received. The township has more than 1,100 registered voters. A total of 6.72 percent of the voters cast their vote in August.
In other business, the board:
• Was updated on the tour of Lehman Catholic High School gymnasium for a polling location. Seven precincts, who had previously voted at the VFW, will go to the school on election day to vote. Asher said the logistics have been worked out and ready to go.
• Approved the fills that have been filed for audit.
• Learned Phillip Long, Mercer County Board of Elections, wants to visit the Shelby County office on Sept. 4 at 3 p.m.
• Approved the meeting time change from 4 p.m. to 3 p.m. for future meetings of the board.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel policy and security. No action was taken.
The board’s next meeting will be Monday, Sept. 16, at 3 p.m.
