COLUMBUS — The Ohio Elections Commission fined Drenda Keesee’s campaign $50 for violating election laws during the March 19 primary election.
The OEC ruled in a review held this morning at the OEC’s office in downtown Columbus.
Fredericktown resident Margaret Ann Ruhl filed the election violations complaint in March. The two-count complaint alleged that Keesee knowingly printed and distributed political literature that does not identify who paid for nor who distributed the printed material.
The second count alleged Keesee’s campaign used four fictitious names as a committee name.
Ruhl restated her complaint, saying, “Ms. Keesee did not follow the rules. Basically I am here to appeal to you that she did violate the rules and regulations.”
Ruhl added that she felt Keesee additionally violated the rules by calling herself a commissioner when she had not yet been voted in.
Keesee won the Republican primary for the commissioner term starting Jan. 3, 2025, defeating incumbent Thom Collier and challenger Bob Phillips. She is currently unopposed in the Nov. 5 General Election.
Write-in candidates must file declarations of intent by 4 p.m. Aug. 26.
OEC Executive Director and staff attorney Phillip E. Richter recommended the $50 fine.
An OEC commission member questioned why fine Keesee at all since she took corrective action and the campaign is over. Richter responded that there were multiple election violations, and $50 is the standard fine.
The maximum fine is $500.
The commission did not address Ruhl’s comments about Keesee calling herself a commissioner or mention Knox County Media LLC, DBA Mount Vernon News.
Ruhl named Knox County Media in the complaint, stating that the company knowingly distributed political advertising without the proper identification required by Ohio law.
