Mahoning commissioners pay to represent elections board against Gains

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners have authorized paying a Columbus law firm up to $20,000 to defend the board of elections against legal action filed by County Prosecutor Paul Gains.

Commissioners at their meeting today authorized Murray, Murphy, Moul Basile, LLP, to represent the board before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Gains, a Boardman Democrat, asked the court to overturn a decision by the local elections board that certified Atty. Martin Yavorcik as an independent candidate for prosecutor in November.

Gains had asked the elections board to declare Yavorcik’s candidacy invalid on the grounds that Yavorcik was a Democrat when he signed his official statement of candidacy as an independent Feb. 22.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.