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Campaign sign causing tense moments in village
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - November 12, 2009)
Campaign sign causing tense moments in village
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Although voters spoke in the Nov. 3 election in Burton Village, clandestine talk in the village apparently sought to change the outcome.
Brian Johnston, president of the village's board of public affairs, appeared before Village Council Monday, charging that "back-room deals" were being made to oust recently elected Councilman Craig Ronyak.
"As a resident, this matter disappoints me," Mr. Johnston said. "As president of the BPA, this matter angers me."
Calling Mr. Ronyak an "honorable man" who had won the most votes in the seven-way race for four seats on council, he said other candidates in the race were now conspiring to take Mr. Ronyak's seat from him.
Mr. Johnston said the conspiracy revolved around candidate Sue Fisher, who finished fifth in the race, and an election sign Mr. Ronyak had erected in the village.
The sign, he said, stated "Re-elect Ronyak." While Mr. Ronyak had been appointed to council this year and not elected by voters, Mr. Johnston said, you could consider him being elected by council to the post. "It's not a big deal," he said.
However, he said, others saw it as an opportunity to remove Mr. Ronyak by bringing charges of campaign violations. He said discussions revolved around having him sanctioned for the infraction and being thrown off council.
That talk was directed to Ms. Fisher, who the conspirators said would be in line to take Mr. Ronyak's position on council as the next highest vote getter, according to Mr. Johnston.
Mr. Johnston called on council to reveal who was behind the conspiracy.
Ms. Fisher, who was in the audience, told council she did not want any part of the plan. However, she said, she was approached about the opportunity to take Mr. Ronyak's seat.
"The voters made their decision and I will not stand in any person's way from being on council," she said.
She said when she previously served on council from 2000 to 2004, she had brought professionalism and integrity to the position. She said she now was insulted that someone would suggest she would use a technicality to win a seat again. "I have absolutely no intention of filing a complaint," she said.
She said she was "very disappointed" that members of the board of public affairs and council would put her in an "uncomfortable position."
Council President Judy Beaumier said she was unaware such discussions had taken place and encouraged council to go into executive session to discuss it.
However, Councilwoman Linda Swaney said the matter may not be appropriate under the law for a closed-door meeting.
Councilman Darren LaForce said he also was unaware of the talk. He said council should refer the matter to village Law Director Todd Hicks and the Geauga County Board of Elections.
Mr. Johnston said the matter would not be handled at the local level, but could be brought before the Ohio Election Board. Being a law-enforcement official, Mr. Johnston said, the matter may fall under conspiracy laws and should be referred to state law-enforcement officials for possible criminal charges.
Mr. Johnston said the discussions may have arisen over Mr. Ronyak's support for the public affairs board. "I'm tired of this back-door stuff and it's got to end," he said.
Mr. LaForce said he believed the matter was of such importance that whichever council member was behind it should resign. "It should be more than an apology, the person should resign," he said.
Councilman Gerald Rouge said he had no knowledge of the conspiracy and added that Mr. Ronyak simply made an "honest mistake." But, he said, he did not believe the conspiracy was a crime or that someone needed to resign.
Councilman Jeff Coleman said he was the person who spoke to Ms. Fisher. But, he said, he did nothing more than make her aware of Mr. Ronyak's infraction. "I just said, "I want to make you aware of something," he said.
He said he spoke with her at a chance meeting at the Geauga County Credit Union. "It had nothing to do with the BPA," he said.
Ms. Fisher said Mr. Coleman told her that he got the information from Curt Johnson, another member of the public affairs board.
Mr. Coleman said now that the village had conducted its "Salem witch hunt" it was time to move on to village business. "I have no intention of resigning," he said.
Mr. LaForce said he would not drop the issue and planned to investigate further.
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