TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Tensions were running high Tuesday morning at the Lucas County Board of Elections meeting after less than a month ago, the Secretary of State's Office released a scathing report on the board, its organization and staff.
During Tuesday's meeting, a response to the secretary's consultant report was delivered to the board members by director Megan Gallagher, addressing issues such as fiscal management structure and operations, which were outlined in the report.
"Of the 21 full-time staff [members] the board currently has, only five have ever been reviewed. That is definitely an area I believe we should focus on," said Gallagher.
The lengthy response to criticisms addressed and accepted, however, was overshadowed by the fallout between Republican board members Jon Stainbrook and Tony DeGidio.
Stainbrook has filed a complaint with the secretary of state arguing DeGidio should be removed from the board because of an ethics investigation and his lack of an established residence in Lucas County.
"I've said for months, that I've reported it to many different places that he does not live in Lucas County, by his own admissions that he didn't live in Lucas County, and so I asked him to get an apartment - he wouldn't do that," said Stainbrook.
DeGidio fired back by claiming Stainbrook has a conflict of interest because of his relationship with the director.
"I've known them for many years. There's no doubt they have a relationship," said DeGidio.
It is a claim Stainbrook denies.
"When someone doesn't live in Lucas County and you call them out on the carpet, what do you expect him to say?" said Stainbrook.
DeGidio says he is not surprised by the attack.
"This is what happens when you don't agree with Jon, you get attacked," DeGidio said.
DeGidio says the only reason he is now taking heat from Stainbrook is because he supports removing Gallagher from the board.
"It's funny. All these things that are getting raised against me immediately started happening when it became clear that I would probably vote to oust Megan Gallagher," said DeGidio.
Arguments were also made by two Democrat board members. At the end of the meeting, board member John Irish motioned to fire the director and deputy director, but it did not receive a second.
Board Chairman Ron Rothenbuhler said he will give the director and deputy director one more month to create a new organizational chart to clearly define both job descriptions.
"Then I'll gladly support a motion that both of them can't make it. I'll be the last one to do that. I'm offering them as much time as I can allow," said Rothenbuhler.
