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Local News

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Christopher taking ballot fight to court
Diamond Mine Direct
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Steve Christopher of Forest filed a complaint with the state's highest court Friday seeking to force Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to place his name on the primary ballot as a Republican candidate for Ohio attorney general.

Christopher has been told by Brunner's office he didn't have enough valid signatures and because of this was not certified for the primary ballot.

But Christopher, who practices law in Hancock and Hardin counties, maintains he collected well beyond the 1,000 valid signatures necessary to be certified for the ballot.

He has accused Brunner's office of losing and failing to send thousands of signatures to various county boards of elections to be validated.

"The Secretary abused her discretion and acted in clear disregard of the law by not sending Mr. Christopher's petition to the board of elections for verification and by not certifying Mr. Christopher's candidacy for the Republican nomination," wrote David Langdon, an attorney for Christopher, in the complaint filed Friday with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Brunner's office has denied Christopher's allegations that signatures were lost or mishandled. The office said Christopher circulated petitions in 44 counties and obtained a total of 788 signatures, 638 of which were validated by county boards of elections.

But according to Friday's complaint, Brunner's office issued Christopher a receipt on Feb. 18, indicating he had filed 2,750 signatures.

Mark Lucas, a spokesman for Christopher, said copies were made of all the petitions filed with Brunner's office on Feb. 18.

Court action was taken after Christopher's attorney and Brunner's office were unable to come to a resolution this week, Lucas said.

If placed on the ballot, Christopher would face former U.S. Sen Mike DeWine in the Republican primary on May 4.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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2 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
barbara diemer wrote:
petitions
“ Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is incompentent. Vote her out of office. ”
Monday, March 15, 2010 7:17:58 PM
jeff wrote:
something is fishy
“ IF, as the article states, copies were made of ALL petitions prior to turning them into the State, and he has a receipt for 2,750 signatures from the State, then why isnt Brunner admitting a mistake was made and allow him on the ballot? This situation smells.......fishy. ”
Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:36:17 PM
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.