Should a Wooster man looking to run for state representative as a nonpartisan candidate be allowed on the ballot after engaging in partisan activity?
That’s a question the Wayne County Board of Elections will have to answer when it holds a hearing 10:30 a.m. April 5 to hear from Stephen Spoonamore about why he voted on a Democratic Party ballot minutes after filing petitions to run as a nonpartisan candidate in the District 1 state representative race. Scott Wiggam is the Republican nominee, having defeated David Kiefer in the primary, and no Democrat filed to run for the seat.
Spoonamore’s status was raised during Monday’s Board of Elections meeting. Director Julie Leathers told members Jean Mohr, Betsy Sheets, Sue Donohoe and Charlie Hardman there were some concerns …show more content…
Spoonamore collected more than 800 signatures on his part petitions. These have not yet been checked because staff is working on closing out the primary election, Leathers said. He filed his petition to run at 11:03 a.m. March 14, the last day for nonpartisan candidates to file, and minutes later he walked into the absentee voting room outside the board office, requested a paper ballot to vote in the Democratic Party primary.
As board members Mohr and Sheets, both Democrats, and Donohoe and Hardman, Republicans, mulled their options, Leathers said Craig Curtis was in attendance and wanted to share some information about Spoonamore and party affiliation.
Curtis shared information he gathered from Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ website and from the Medina Gazette website. Spoonamore is listed as a host of a few events for Sanders, like organizing phone banks to call Iowa voters, leading canvassing efforts in Ohio and serving as caucus chairman for Sanders in the 16th Congressional
That’s a question the Wayne County Board of Elections will have to answer when it holds a hearing 10:30 a.m. April 5 to hear from Stephen Spoonamore about why he voted on a Democratic Party ballot minutes after filing petitions to run as a nonpartisan candidate in the District 1 state representative race. Scott Wiggam is the Republican nominee, having defeated David Kiefer in the primary, and no Democrat filed to run for the seat.
Spoonamore’s status was raised during Monday’s Board of Elections meeting. Director Julie Leathers told members Jean Mohr, Betsy Sheets, Sue Donohoe and Charlie Hardman there were some concerns …show more content…
Spoonamore collected more than 800 signatures on his part petitions. These have not yet been checked because staff is working on closing out the primary election, Leathers said. He filed his petition to run at 11:03 a.m. March 14, the last day for nonpartisan candidates to file, and minutes later he walked into the absentee voting room outside the board office, requested a paper ballot to vote in the Democratic Party primary.
As board members Mohr and Sheets, both Democrats, and Donohoe and Hardman, Republicans, mulled their options, Leathers said Craig Curtis was in attendance and wanted to share some information about Spoonamore and party affiliation.
Curtis shared information he gathered from Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ website and from the Medina Gazette website. Spoonamore is listed as a host of a few events for Sanders, like organizing phone banks to call Iowa voters, leading canvassing efforts in Ohio and serving as caucus chairman for Sanders in the 16th Congressional