Mahoning Board of Elections Hires Attorney to Defend Decision to Keep Anti-Drilling Charter off Ballot

We previously mentioned on the blog that the Mahoning County Board of Elections voted unanimously to block an anti-drilling community bill of rights from going on the Youngstown ballot for the fifth time.  The board rejected the charter because they feel it violates state law giving sole authority to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to oversee permitting of oil and gas activity.

Now the board has hired an attorney to defend that decision.

From the Youngstown Vindicator:

The Mahoning County Board of Elections hired outside legal counsel to defend its decision to not put an anti-fracking charter amendment on Youngstown’s Nov. 3 ballot. 

The reason for hiring John Keller, an attorney with the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, is because the board’s Aug. 26 vote conflicted with the legal opinion of the county prosecutor, who serves as the board’s attorney. 

“The opinion differed from what the board decided,” said Mark Munroe, board chairman and head of the county Republican Party. “Because of a conflict, we’re hiring outside legal counsel.” 

The board met Tuesday and declined a request from The Vindicator to vote on making the opinion, in letter form, public.

Read more by clicking here. 

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