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Therorist postulates conspiracy
(by Dave Lange - November 25, 2009)
COUNTY LINE, BY DAVE LANGE
Therorist postulates conspiracy
As conspiracy theories go, the one about a back-room deal to boot Burton Village Councilman Craig Ronyak out of office because of his illicit "Re-elect Ronyak" campaign signs is more silliness than surreptitiousness.
First of all, no cabal within the village of 1,400 souls has the power to boot anybody out of elected office. Secondly, ignorance is no excuse. Thirdly, people have a right to gossip about campaign violations. Fourth, get a life. And finally, ignorance still is no excuse.
In order for a political candidate to be penalized in any way for a campaign violation, such as mistakenly claiming to be up for re-election, a complaint would have to be filed with the Ohio Elections Commission. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the commission could issue a formal notice to the violator, dispatch a letter of reprimand or, in a worst-case scenario, refer it to the county prosecutor for criminal action. Even then, forcing a guilty party out of office is unlikely. The "Re-elect Ronyak" case is nowhere near the level of prosecution, and anyone who thinks otherwise would be a pretty dumb conspirator.
Mr. Ronyak's plea of ignorance in purchasing campaign signs without knowing their content and then posting them because he didn't understand the difference between being elected and being appointed to office isn't a whole lot smarter. He was appointed to the council seat vacated by Sandra Humbert last May, because nobody else applied or even volunteered to accept the $1,200-a-year position.
In order to be re-elected, you first have to be elected, which Mr. Ronyak wasn't. Claiming otherwise on campaign signs is a clear violation, and people who choose to serve in public office should not be ignorant of election laws.
Now that Mr. Ronyak has been elected, collecting 242 votes on Nov. 3 -- 25 more than any of the other six candidates for four seats -- if he chooses to run again in four years, he really will be up for re-election. But with his recent fine showing, some conspiracy theorists might believe he has higher office in mind.
Since a campaign infraction did occur, it would hardly be unusual for other politicians to discuss it. Councilman Jeff Coleman, who was appointed to a vacant council seat last January and did not claim to be up for re-election, which might account for his fourth-place finish on Nov. 3, acknowledged doing just that. In fact, he mentioned it to Sue Fisher, who finished fifth in the recent council election, but Ms. Fisher said she had no interest whatsoever in moving up to fourth with Mr. Ronyak out of the way.
The plot was thickened by Brian Johnston, president of the village's elected board of public affairs, a position that certain council members wouldn't mind eliminating. Not only did he publicly call for an exposition of the alleged conspiracy, but he suggested that it could be subject to criminal prosecution under conspiracy laws. In other words, he was conspiring to punish people for discussing the campaign violation. People who want to prosecute people for talking should find better things to do.
Then there's Burton Village Council President Judy Beaumier, who, upon hearing Mr. Johnston's allegations, called for an executive session in order to discuss the purported conspiracy behind closed doors. Fortunately, not all council members are blissfully ignorant of the Ohio Open Meetings Law.
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