By Jim Siegel
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Elections Commission on Thursday rejected a pair of complaints filed against Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox alleging improper use and disclosure of campaign funds.

Catherine Stoker, Fox's Democratic opponent in November, alleged that Fox filed incomplete campaign finance reports with the county board of elections. She cited dozens of instances of reports not backed up by canceled checks or receipts.

But the commission voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaint, saying that when asked to file additional documentation, the Fox campaign fully complied and therefore was within the law.

J. Michael Best, a Republican running as an independent against Fox, filed a separate complaint alleging Fox set up an unregistered political action committee to help him elect a slate of favorable county GOP Central Committee members in March.

Best argued that Fox used money from his campaign to fund Conservative Republicans for Change, which spent money on central committee races and therefore should register as a PAC.

But the commission ruled 4-1 that central committee races are exceptions under Ohio election law.

Fox was not supported by the Butler County Republican Party for re-election. In March, his allies won about 40 seats on the central committee - the group responsible for making endorsements.

E-mail jsiegel@enquirer.com