Saturday, January 15, 2000
Complaint filed against Leis rival
Sheriff candidate may not qualify
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County Sheriff Simon L. Leis Jr. might be re-elected without opposition this year after all, if a voter succeeds in keeping the sheriff's Democratic opponent off the ballot.
Saundra Stehlin, a Democratic voter from Mack, filed a challenge with the Hamilton County Board of Elections saying that the candidate, Brian Watson, a former sheriff's patrol officer from Springfield Township, may not qualify under Ohio law to run for county sheriff.
The board of elections has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday.
Pierce Cunningham, Ms. Stehlin's lawyer, said the complaint asks the board of elections to hold a hearing, at which Mr. Watson will be asked to show that he has at least two years experience as a supervisor in law enforcement, a requirement under Ohio law.
Mr. Cunningham said the Ohio law requires two years supervisory experience at the rank of corporal or above in a law enforcement agency or, as an alternative, two years of post-secondary education.
Mr. Watson had been an officer in the sheriff's patrol for nine years until he resigned last month, his lawyer, Timothy Mara said.
The candidate, Mr. Mara said, did not rise above the rank of patrolman, but Mr. Mara said he would produce evidence showing that Mr. Watson had “supervisory duties” as a member of the sheriff's patrol.
“We'll bring along some case law to show that that is sufficient experience,” Mr. Mara said.
Mr. Mara said he has asked the board of elections to issue subpoenas to Ms. Stehlin and Mr. Leis. Ms. Stehlin could not be reached for comment Friday.
Four years ago, the Hamilton County Democratic Party was unable to find a candidate to run against the incumbent Republican sheriff. Mr. Watson was recruited by party leaders this year; and had submitted his fingerprints to the administrative judge of the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court for the background check required by law of sheriff candidates.
After Wednesday's hearing, the four-member board of elections — two Democrats and two Republicans — is likely to act on whether Mr. Watson will be certified for ballot.
If it is a tie vote, the matter will be decided by Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican.
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