YOUNGSTOWN — The aunt of Tracey Winbush told police that her niece improperly took several kitchen appliances, light fixtures, new kitchen cabinets and a central air conditioner unit from her residence.

But Winbush, a Mahoning County Board of Elections member and president of the Ohio Black Republicans Association, said the property was hers, and she gave it all away to charity.

“This is a longstanding dispute on a house I lived in for 20 years,” said Winbush, who served as President Donald Trump’s Mahoning County coordinator. “They were mine. I paid for them. I bought them, and when I left, I took them.”

No charges had been filed as of Wednesday.

Alice N. Clopton-James filed the police report Tuesday alleging Winbush took the items between Aug. 24 and Aug. 30. Clopton-James couldn’t be reached Wednesday to comment.

In the report, Clopton-James contends Winbush vacated 137 Greeley Lane on Aug. 23 and Clopton-James’ daughter took pictures of the interior of the home the next day with the items still there. Clopton-James told police that when she entered the house Aug. 30, it was ransacked and items were missing. Clopton-James told police Winbush didn’t turn in her front door keys, and there was no sign of forced entry.

The items include a stove, refrigerator, cabinets, dishwasher, air conditioner and light fixtures, which Clopton-James valued at $6,100.

Winbush said all of the items were hers, and she replaced the cabinets.

The two have been in court over the house since December 2016, and Winbush dropped an appeal in August.

Winbush said it was a “family agreement” that she would live in the house and pay off the mortgage as well as the property taxes, and she paid for improvements. When that was finished, Winbush said her aunt decided she should pay rent.

Clopton-James originally sued for $2,280 in unpaid rent and late fees.

Winbush said the case was settled for about $950. An Nov. 27, 2018, a court entry states Winbush “breached the agreement by failing to timely pay rent as required.”

Winbush said she’s moved downtown to Realty Tower Apartments, and as far as the issue with her aunt: “I’m done with it. I’m not fighting it. I’m not fighting her. I’m done. It’s been a very unpleasant experience.”

She described it as a “family brouhaha.”

dskolnick@tribtoday.com