News

One member of Laurelville Council has been disqualified from running in the November election after the Hocking County Board of Elections was unable to certify his petition.

 

Robert D. Bowers II of Maple Street, Laurelville, will not appear on the ballot because he wrote the wrong date at the top of his petition, according to board of elections director Lisa Schwartze.

 

“On the statement of candidacy at the top of the petition, it’s supposed to be dated and filled out before you collect signatures,” she explained. “He put Aug. 2, and started collecting signatures at the end of July.”

 

Ten petition signatures needed to be turned in for placement on the November ballot, but Bowers’ petition only listed one person who signed after the Aug. 2 date.

 

To sit on Laurelville Council after his term is over, Bowers, who is a longtime council member, will have to be recommended by Laurelville Mayor Jason Hettinger and approved by other members of council.

 

In Laurelville, three incumbent candidates had their petitions certified, including Don Kempton, Terry Martin and Colleen Rife. All were appointed to their positions by Hettinger in 2012.