Doofus candidate runs as a democratic candidate for Congress for a seat he’ll never win. Drops out after the primary and before the general. In this case only one candidate files, and the Board of Elections thinks they have to host an election to confirm one candidate at a cost of half a million:
Steven Fought, the Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District, was surprised to learn he was the only person to file petitions for the race when the previous candidate, Corey Foister, dropped out.
“I looked at the vacancy in this district and thought the people deserved a choice,” Fought said.
Foister’s decision to leave the race was prompted by a job opportunity out of state. Had he waited an additional 17 days to withdraw, the Democratic Party would have been able to appoint a replacement candidate. Instead, state law requires that a special election be held, even though Fought’s name will be the only one on the ballot.
That me ans an election that costs taxpayers $500,000 will almost certainly reveal what is already known, that Fought will be opposing Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, in the November election.
Fought may cruise to victory in the Democratic primary, but he faces a much more difficult challenge on Nov. 8. The 8th District, which includes Butler, Preble, Darke, Miami, Clark and a portion of Mercer counties, is one of the most GOP-friendly districts in Ohio….
Local officials tried to reduce the cost of holding an election with just one person on the ballot.
Jason Baker, Clark County Board of Elections director, said initially he looked for some way to hold the special election without going to the expense of opening every precinct.
“Unfortunately the Ohio Revised Code says differently,” he said. “Here in Clark County we will have 50 of 51 locations that will be open. Regardless of how many candidates are on the ballot you have to have a full-blown election for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s one, two or 50 (candidates).”
Early voting in the special 8th District Democratic primary has already started at the board offices.Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, who runs Ohio’s elections, considers this one to be a waste of time and money.“I hope the legislature will change the law to avoid this problem in the future,” he said in a written statement.
Source: From the Dayton Daily News, 2016-08-22: Candidate: Election cost not his fault [1]
Same thing happened in Montgomery County about 6 years ago in 2010. Single candidate made it on the ballot because my petitions were ruled invalid. Candidate dropped out. Three candidates filed, and instead of opening every precinct, Elections Director Steve Harsman opened 4 remote polling places [2] to pick a dem to run against Mike Turner. The candidates were Joe Roberts, the party endorsed putz of a 25 year old, Guy Fogle – a former broadcaster and this idiot.
Roberts won with nominal votes, and then got crushed by Turner. He left town with bills behind.
Trying to decipher Ohio election law and what changed is above my paygrade- but, there is precedent for not opening every precinct in a contested election, nevermind this uncontested one.
If this proves to be possible, I should get a Whistleblowers award for saving the state money. If it is impossible, I’ll be suing for holding an illegal election. Cheers.
The entire system is a sham and this country was sold to the highest bidder starting with NAFTA, district remapping and unlimited free speech cash. People do deserve a choice but have given up and what does 2016 offer us? Two of the shadiest, most deceitful and dishonest characters serving their almighty pimping corporate interests protected by an elaborate fairly tale propaganda mainstream media of lies. I love this great nation but have no tolerance for the pathetic nepotistic pathological and compulsive fabricators who through various non transparent and shady techniques gets elected into public office only to enrich themselves. I’m not wasting one dime on this faux democracy since it is now a plutocratic Oligarchy Empire who often engages in genocide. We do not need another Clinton or Bush in the WH. I’m going fishing on election day. Do you sense that I’m not a “satisfied customer” with our political climate? One other thing I’m fed up with “fake Wars” especially the profit seeking type and the tax payer footing the bill.
This was brought forward by a senator from the state senate. His last name I believe is LaRose. I believe he is a Republican.
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA131-SB-347
Keep up the good fight, these are just one more reason for investigation of the corrupt system in place and thank you for your persistence to see justice through and you made us aware.