Trending
The Washington County Board of Elections ruled Friday morning that independent Marietta mayoral candidate Anne Labes may remain on the ballot.
In a 3-1 vote at a hearing continued from Wednesday, the board denied the residency challenge of Labes.
Jon Grimm, a previous independent candidate for an at-large Marietta City Council seat who has since withdrawn, claimed Labes did not live at the Front Street address listed on her filing. Testimonies made at the previous hearings that took place Aug. 11 and Wednesday focused on whether or not Labes lived at 286 Front St. and that she might actually reside at 1160 Bethel Road, outside of Marietta city limits.
"I do not believe the candidate was a resident at the address at the time of filing," said Khadine Ritter, the election board member who voted against keeping Labes on the ballot.
"Not all of our decisions that we make are popular, but this process has reaffirmed for me the meaning of what we, the Board of Elections do," said Board of Elections member Robin Bozian as she declared her decision on the residency challenge. "But the disrespectful manner in which the candidate acted towards those who were questioning and to the board made me very distracted from the pressing matter at hand."
Regarding the disrespect that Bozian mentioned in her statement, during the hearings that took place during Aug. 11 and Wednesday, several people attending the hearing as well as those providing testimony and evidence spoke back to those questioning or bickered with the board.
Bozian went on to say that there was not enough clear and convincing evidence and testimony to convince her that Labes should be removed from the ballot. Therefore, Bozian voted to deny the residency challenge protest from Grimm. Washington County Board of Elections member Charlie Wentz agreed with Bozian's sentiment and voted to deny the protest as well.
"I was disheartened by those who thought intimidation would work within the hearing, and those who had little regard for their fellow citizens on the board," Washington County Board of Elections Chairman Dennis Sipe said before announcing his vote. "We use the same process with the voters as we do the candidates. But the protestor did not have enough evidence, so I am also going to deny the protest."
As the Friday morning meeting ended with the protest being denied, Grimm thanked the board of elections.
Labes said after the meeting that she was pleased with the result.
"I think a just decision was made; it was however unfortunate that it took several hearings to receive a result when Jon Grimm did not have credible evidence against me," she said. "I am a candidate that challenges the status quo. I am very much for the people and not the politicians. And that's just how it goes when you're fighting for change. I'm glad we can get on with this and focus on campaigning."
Labes will be challenging Republican mayor Josh Schlicher in the Nov. 7 election. Ari Gold, Labes' husband, has also filed as a write-in candidate but is awaiting for the Washington County Board of Elections to certify his filing.
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com