By Marilyn McConahay
Record Herald Writer
Courtesy of the Weekly Record Herald, Printed September 16, 2011
TIPP/MILTON – Due to rejected petitions from the Miami County Board of Elections, the only candidate running for mayor of West Milton is a man who’s a newcomer to politics.
Tipp City council would also have had three newcomers in their candidate pool, if not for another questionable petition.
In West Milton, the board in August disqualified filing petitions for two mayoral candidates and one council candidate. Mayor Pat Grim, who replaced Ray Moore in 2010 and council member Deb Miller had filed to run for mayor, but the board rejected them for errors on their petitions. Grim and Miller then filed protests to get back on the ballot.
Board of elections director Steve Quillen said this week that Grim used the word ”full” term rather than “unexpired” term in her petition, which made it incorrect.
“She also made no office designation; it should have specified ‘mayor,’” Quillen said.
Quillen said that Miller, who will remain a council member with two years remaining on her term, failed to sign a statement of acceptance on the back of the petition, as did resident Robert Mast, who was filing to run for a council seat.
Grim, Miller and Mast re-filed before West Milton’s deadline of 75 days preceding the election, which differs from the state’s 90-day deadline. However, the Board of Elections ruled that they could not re-file for the same position, and none of them filed a protest against the decision for the courts to decide, so they are off the ballot.
Following those rejections, the lone candidate for mayor of West Milton is Michael Coate III, who filed just before the Aug. 26 deadline.
Grim said she is okay with the situation. “It is what it is. I was in a hurry and messed up my petition. But, it’s okay. I’ve been on council long enough,” Grim said.
She said the last two years serving on council have been very stressful. “So, I’m actually a little relieved. Besides, someone very good will be
serving as mayor,” she said, referring to Coate, whom she said is her grandson.
Running for West Milton vice mayor are Milton council member Jason Tinnerman and resident Kathy Utz.
In the race for one West Milton council seat are incumbent Donald C. Edmonds, Fredric M. Francis, Scott Alan Fogle and Ora Ashley.
In Tipp City, Paul Lee’s petition to run for city council also was disqualified on Aug. 22 because of signature irregularities. Lee, owner of Lee’s
Garage, filed a protest on Aug. 26 that was rejected on Sept. 1. In his protest, Lee argued that petitions for four other candidates – Dee Gillis, Mike McDermott, Mike McFarland and John Kessler – didn’t show a statement required by city charter that “if elected, I will serve” and therefore
their petitions should be denied.
Lee’s situation arose when a petition he was having circulated for signatures to run for the office was signed by someone other than the person circulating it.
Council member Joe Gibson, an attorney, provided a letter to the Board of Elections detailing this discrepancy when requested by board staff. He informed the board that fellow council member Bryan Budding was circulating the petition at a restaurant and asked him to sign it. While looking at the petition, Gibson noticed it had been signed by another person, Jordan Phipps, who works at Lee’s business. The petition is required to be signed by the circulator, who was Budding.
“It was not my intention to have Mr. Lee kicked off the ballot. I was, and I am ethically bound as an officer of the Court to disclose the information I provided when necessary,” Gibson said, “As with any citizen, it is unfortunate that Mr. Lee was not certified as a candidate. He is an active and supportive member of the community.”
Lee is not commenting on the situation at this time regarding any further actions he may or may not take to try to rectify the situation.
However, he did say that none of this is personal against any of the other candidates, but that it’s a problem with the city’s charter requirements.
“After talking with (council member) George Lovett, who is an attorney, I believe my petition should have been challenged. I just feel it should have been across the board,” Lee said.
With Lee’s disqualification, running for three Tipp City council seats are Gillis, McDermott, McFarland, Kessler and George Lovett. Gillis, Kessler and Lovett currently serve on the city council.
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