Incumbent Struthers judge kicked off May primary ballot, appeal hearing scheduled
Incumbent Struthers Municipal Court Judge, Dominic Leone has been removed from the May primary ballot following a meeting with the Mahoning County Board of Elections Tuesday afternoon.
During the meeting, the Board voted unanimously to remove Leone from the ballot. Attorney and former Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman, Dave Betras tells 21 News Leone was just one signature short of being eligible for the ballot.
Leone originally was considered eligible to appear on the ballot, but since then, certain signatures have been deemed invalid.
Affidavits were then provided to the Board, which proved those signatures to be valid, but according to Betras, some of those affidavits were later considered to be invalid, putting his signature count at 49 of the required 50.
Leone has since appealed this ruling and another hearing will be held on March 1 regarding this appeal.
Youngstown First Ward Council Candidate Dionne Lacey's appeal was heard at Tuesday's meeting, but according to Betras, she's still not going to be on the ballot due to a lack of signatures. She had 19 of the required 25.
Leone would have run against fellow Democrat, James Melone and Republican, Jennifer Ciccone. Lacey would have run against fellow Democrat and incumbent First Ward Congressman, Julius Oliver and Republican Tracey Randall.