Board of elections certifies petitions; 5 GOP central committee petitions found invalid

Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com

The Highland County Board of Elections met Monday morning to certify ballots for the 2012 primary election. While all county office races were certified, five petitions for candidates for the Republican Central Committee were found to be invalid.

According to the board of elections, petitions in races for Highland County coroner, treasurer, recorder, prosecutor, sheriff, engineer, clerk of courts, 91st District House representative and both races for Highland County commissioner were certified.

However, five candidates for Republican Central Committee were not certified, including: Richard Counter in Greenfield North; Fred Boggess in Liberty Northwest; Jeff Duncan in Penn Township; Peggy Hite in Union Township; and Winona Swayne in Hillsboro Southwest-A.

According to the Highland County Republican Party website, there are 31 seats on the committee.

Boggess had been running against Tara Beery for the seat. In the remaining four races, the central committee will make appointments.

Central committee chairperson Richard Counter said that following the election, the central committee will make the appointments.

Counter said that six signatures are required on the petition for the central committee, and the board of elections can find the petitions to be invalid for a number of reasons. Counter said his petition was not certifiable because he forgot to sign it.

The petitions that were certified Monday were for the March 6 primary race and will then go on the general election ballot in November. Counter said that the current terms end in 2012, and those who are on the ballot would take office in 2013.

Highland County Democratic Party Chairperson Dinah Phillips told The Highland County Press that instead of requiring their central committee candidates to file petitions, they filed a "declaration of candidacy."

"That eliminates them having to pick up a petitions and carry it around to get it signed," said Phillips, who is also a member of the Highland County Board of Elections. "The declaration of candidacy indicates you want to be a member of the central committee, for whatever precinct you live in, and then all you have to do it file it."

Phillips said that, "normally we don't have more than two people," but if two people should file on for the same precinct, they would appear on the ballot for voters to decide.

"That eliminates them having to pick up a petition and carry it around to get it signed," said Phillips, who is also a member of the Highland County Board of Elections. "The declaration of candidacy indicates you want to be a member of the central committee, for whatever precinct you live in, and then all you have to do is file it."

Phillips said that, "normally we don't have more than two people," but if two people should file on for the same precinct, they would appear on the ballot for voters to decide.

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