MOUNT VERNON — Three potential Mount Vernon City Council candidates’ petitions were denied after incorrectly filling out the forms.
The Knox County Board of Elections voted unanimously to deny three petitioners from being on the May Primary ballot after not stating which seat they wanted to run for, just listing city council.
The petitioners are Republican Samantha Ramsier, Democrat Joseph Noonen and Republican Nicholas Hartley.
The Knox County Board of Elections comprises two Republicans and two Democrats. The current board members are Adam Gilson, Jeff Gottke, Joyce Skocic, and Korey Kidwell.
The board consulted the county prosecutor Chip McConville, Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Elections Manual for guidance on the decision, board director James Blazer said.
Because the board denied the petitioners and no other races are contested, there won’t be a May primary for city council. However, voters can expect contested races for Mount Vernon City Council in November.
May 6 issues only election
Since there won’t be a primary, the May 6 election will be issues only. You can find the questions and issues here.
“Each of those who have been accepted will be nominated in the fall ballot,” Blazer said.
As of Thursday, it’s unclear if an independent or write-in candidate has filed for the third-ward seat, leaving the candidacy seat vacant.
Blazer said independent candidates can still file for the open seat by May 5, and write-in candidates can file by Aug. 25.
Per Ohio Revised Code, those three petitioners cannot file as independents or be write-in candidates to run in the same race.
“You get one bit of the apple,” Blazer said.
Blazer said the board of elections staff held an in-person candidate information session on how to fill out petitions.
“We had my staff available to answer questions candidates might have (had),” Blazer said.
Petitioner frustrated, confused on being denied
Ramsier received a call from the board of elections staff, letting her know she won’t be on the ballot for city council.
The news left her frustrated with the board.
“The fact this has happened to three candidates should be enough evidence that it’s an interior issue at the board of elections,” Ramsier said. “They need to make a vote to allow all three of us to run?”
Ramsier later said the board of elections “needs to make it right and allow all three petitioners the chance to run for council.”
Blazer said when petitioners submit forms to the board of elections, staff do not assist them because it “would be deemed a favor to them, or vice versa.”
Thus, staff cannot check petitions before submission.
Noonen disagrees with Ramsier, saying if he couldn’t handle the small-scale politics of the petition process, he’d likely not be suited for the large-scale politics of leadership and policymaking.
“The city council deserves a candidate committed to and capable of mastering both the little ‘p’ and the big ‘P’ elements of politics,” Noonen said. “That is why I am not appealing the decision.
“I would be known as the candidate who was not able to complete a petition properly but framed an argument on appeal, which landed his name on the ballot. That would not be appealing to voters who hold elected officials to the highest standards of excellence.”
Noonen thanks the board of elections and staff who are “holding candidates responsible for details because you have to be passionate about the mission of where you work.”
Attempts to reach Hartley via email were unsuccessful.
According to board chair Adam Gilson, petitioners had till Feb. 21 to request reconsideration of the board’s decision.