In a letter dated August 13th, Secretary of State Jon Husted declares the Lucas County Board of Elections placed on administrative oversight.
"Since becoming Secretary of State, my office has devoted an inordinate amount of time to mediating the personal and political squabbles of the Lucas County Board of Elections," writes Husted. "In Lucas County, the internal board culture is dysfunctional. The underlying operational culture is divisive and threatening."
Husted continues, "The Board is unable to meet minimum operational standards we expect as we prepare for a presidential election."
Just last week the B.O.E. failed to agree on where to allow early voting. In fact, the state has already had to break four tie votes this year.
Now with the state's oversight in place until further notice, two outside election officials titled "Special Masters" will take over day-to-day operations of the B.O.E. The officials will be one from each party.
The Director and Deputy Director will retain their titles, but be required to clock in and clock out daily by phone with the Secretary of State's office and automatically forward all e-mails there.
"I am loathe to take this action," Husted writes. "With the General Election less than 90 days away and voting to start for military and overseas voters in less than 45 days, immediate measures must be taken to provide a reasonable level of assurance that the election in Lucas County will be administered in a professional manner."
B.O.E. Chairman Democrat Ron Rothenbuhler could not be reached for comment.
Republican Jon Stainbrook released a statement saying, "We have bent over backwards to work with the Democrats to no avail. We will continue to deliver fair, accurate, honest, and transparent elections for the citizens of Lucas County."
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:56 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:56:34 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Lake Township residents are remembering the twister that ripped through their area almost three years ago. The Oklahoma tornado victims are on the minds of those in Lake Township who suffered deaths and damage in 2010.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:48:46 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:13 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:13:01 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
Local charities are organizing to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. The Red Cross is accepting donations at redcross.org. For more information, go to 13abc.com.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:11:35 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened 14 years ago.
Tuesday, January 8 2013 3:17 PM EST2013-01-08 20:17:40 GMT
"Today, I am announcing my decision not to seek election as Governor of Ohio in 2014," said Ted Strickland, former Governor of Ohio. "In many ways, this has been a very difficult decision. I look back
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced Tuesday that he will not run for that office in 2014.
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a law that gives distressed communities the ability to choose an emergency manager or other remedies to fix their finances.
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a law that gives distressed communities the ability to choose an emergency manager or other remedies to fix their finances.
Thursday, December 13 2012 6:27 PM EST2012-12-13 23:27:52 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - State senators on Thursday cast largely symbolic votes supporting a bipartisan plan to change the way Ohio draws political maps. The Senate passed the measure almost unanimously
State senators on Thursday cast largely symbolic votes supporting a bipartisan plan to change the way Ohio draws political maps.
Monday, December 10 2012 4:06 PM EST2012-12-10 21:06:28 GMT
The presidential election is over so now Toledo voters can turn their attention to the mayor's race.Mayor Mike Bell (I) has not announced whether he'll run for re-election but some challengers are close
The presidential election is over so now Toledo voters can turn their attention to the mayor's race.Mayor Mike Bell (I) has not announced whether he'll run for re-election but some challengers are close
President Barack Obama has arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a trip to visit a suburban Detroit auto plant.
President Barack Obama has arrived at a suburban Detroit auto plant for a visit geared to the economy and his administration's tax standoff with congressional Republicans.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:03 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:03:08 GMT
Heartbreaking photos are coming out of Moore, Oklahoma after a tornado flattened much of the town Monday, killing dozens.
The Governor of Oklahoma says an untold number of people are still missing following the Moore tornado. Emergency crews continue the search for survivors. At least 24 were killed including nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:48:46 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:11:35 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened 14 years ago.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:53:28 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled two house fires on the east side of Toledo Tuesday. A home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue was firebombed. Three adults and two children made it out safely. Firefighters also put out a house fire in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue near Starr Avenue.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:30 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:30:27 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:15 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:15:41 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:13 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:13:01 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
Local charities are organizing to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. The Red Cross is accepting donations at redcross.org. For more information, go to 13abc.com.
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