Husted calls for two BOE dismissals

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted broke the tie in an early election day dispute with the Montgomery County Board of Elections Friday.

He also wrote in a letter to the board obtained by 2 NEWS that he is beginning the process of removing board members Dennis Lieberman and Tom Ritchie.

Lieberman and Ritchie, both Democrats, voted against a new state directive making early voting hours consistent statewide.

Gregory Gantt and Kay Wick, both Republicans, voted along party lines in support of Husted's initiative.

After two hotly debated sessions Friday, the board deadlocked in their vote about whether to continue to allow weekend voting hours in Montgomery County.

Husted has the power and exercised it to break that tie and insist that Montgomery County stay in line with the new directive on early voting that does not include a weekend schedule.

We caught up with Dennis Leiberman Friday night.  He said, "My first thought was this is crazy.  I've been on the board for ten years and It's not uncommon to have disputes on the board, that's why you have a Secretary of State who then votes to break the tie."

Lieberman believes retaliation plays a part.  Lieberman believes he and Ritchie were singled out for a past incident involving Husted.  "Acting on a Republican voter's complaint he didn't live in the district, we did an investigation and found out he didn't live in the district and Tom Ritchie and I voted that he didn't live in the district and therefore he could not run for the Senate."

We tried to reach Husted Friday night, as well.  He did not return our calls. 

Ritchie and Lieberman must now attend a hearing Monday morning in Columbus to try and stop their dismissal.