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Summit County Republicans and Lorain County Democrats are suing after Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose blocked nominees to their local boards of elections.

In early March, on the county board of elections and put the BOE under administrative supervision. LaRose also halted the appointment of Sharon Sweda, a former Democratic county commissioner, to the Lorain County elections board.  

The executive committees of both county parties have gone separately to the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn LaRose鈥檚 decisions.

On March 3, LaRose and prevented Williams鈥� reappointment, citing failures in removing dead voters from the rolls, an alleged 鈥減olitically charged environment鈥� and other management issues.

In a filing with the Ohio Supreme Court, the county GOP argued that Williams was fit to serve, saying the board had been proactive in addressing the issues LaRose cited.

The party鈥檚 attorneys also submitted an affidavit from Williams alleging LaRose鈥檚 move was 鈥減olitical retribution.鈥� Williams had organized a fundraiser for a potential primary opponent as LaRose prepared his 2018 bid for secretary of state, according to the affadavit.

鈥淭he Secretary of State鈥檚 March 3rd Letter fails to allege any acts of personal misconduct by me,鈥� Williams said in the affidavit. He alleged LaRose 鈥渉arbors political animosity鈥� after the two had butted heads over the years. 

In a court filing, attorneys with the Ohio Attorney General鈥檚 office, which is representing LaRose in his capacity as secretary of state, denied the affidavit鈥檚 allegations.

On Monday, the Ohio Supreme Court approved the Summit County GOP executive committee鈥檚 request to depose LaRose and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Grandjean. Those depositions are scheduled for March 26, according to an attorney for the executive committee.

Also on March 3, LaRose rejected the Lorain County Democratic Party executive committee鈥檚 appointment of former commissioner Sharon Sweda to the county board of elections.

In a letter explaining his decision, LaRose wrote Sweda appeared to have 鈥渦sed her Lorain County official email account in furtherance of her bid for re-election鈥� and 鈥渕ay have directed subordinates to directly or indirectly campaign for her while on county time.鈥�

in October 2020 that Sweda had used her county email address to discuss her campaign. She told the newspaper that she had replied to campaign-related emails quickly from her iPhone, without first making sure she had switched to a personal email account.

In its court challenge, the Lorain County Democratic Party鈥檚 executive committee included an affidavit from Sweda saying LaRose appeared to draw upon on allegations made by a former political opponent of Sweda鈥檚 鈥� in particular, that she had directed subordinates to campaign for her.

鈥淭o date I have never been charged, convicted, or otherwise found in violation for misusing public resources or violating 鈥極hio Ethics and Campaign Laws鈥� by the Ohio Auditor or any other public official with jurisdiction to investigate or pursue such alleged violations,鈥� Sweda said in the affidavit.

Sweda denied forcing subordinates to work for her campaign on county time, saying in the affidavit that two Lorain County Port Authority employees had helped her campaign while on furlough.

鈥淭hey volunteered for my campaign on their own time and on their own volition 鈥� not because I 鈥榙irected鈥� or in any way pressured them to,鈥� she said in the affidavit.

In a response on behalf of LaRose鈥檚 office, attorneys for the Ohio Attorney General鈥檚 office wrote the secretary of state had received a 258-page packet 鈥渇rom a third party鈥� containing Sweda鈥檚 emails. The attorneys argued LaRose鈥檚 decision was well within his authority.  

鈥淏ecause the county boards of elections administer elections in Ohio, it is crucial that members of those boards be free from any lapses in judgment relating to campaigns and elections to be judged competent to serve,鈥� attorneys for LaRose鈥檚 office wrote.

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