Investigation begins in Youngstown 7th Ward council race

Elections board reviews allegations against candidate of trading low rents for votes

YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Board of Elections staff is raising questions about the residency of five of the six people living at a Mount Vernon Avenue house, including the stepdaughter of Amber White, an independent candidate for Youngstown council's 7th Ward seat.

"We're concerned because they're all new (registrations), and it's not a big house," said Tom McCabe, elections board director, about 2354 Mount Vernon Ave.

Five of the six people living at 2354 Mount Vernon Ave., the same street where White resides, registered between Oct. 5 and 10.

Oct. 10 was the deadline to register for this election.

One of those residents is Christine Lewis, White's stepdaughter, who unsuccessfully tried to get on the ballot as an independent candidate in the 4th Ward. Lewis still owns a house at 36 N. Glenellen Ave. in the 4th Ward, according to the county auditor's website.

White said those at that house are family and that Lewis has since moved back to her North Glenellen Avenue home after a sale of the property fell through.

"These are people who work, and I doubt any of them will vote," she said.

McCabe said the board will send certified letters to the six residents at the house and the board is expected to have a hearing on residency.

"We still need to follow up on that," he said. "Something seems a little off on that one."

White is challenging Councilwoman Basia Adamczak, the Democratic incumbent, who filed a complaint with the elections board about voter registration issues at 2354 Mount Vernon Ave. and 2803 South Ave.

Republican Josie Lyon also is running for the seat.

Adamczak said: "The constituents have a right to know. This is bigger than the election. It's for the ward and the city. I want the residents to be aware so they're not blindsided or bamboozled."

Lyon said: "I am hoping the board of elections would be transparent in how they handle this situation. Every campaign should be looked at for integrity."

She added: "It should be brought to light because voters have the right to know that candidates campaign fairly."

The board of elections also investigated questions raised in two complaints -- filed by Adamczak and by Christopher Travers, who is supporting Lyon -- about the residency of those living at 2803 South Ave., where White said she and husband, John, used to reside until a few months ago.

McCabe said he looked into the residency complaint at the South Avenue house and while the location is "shady," it's also "temporary housing for very transient people" and it's quite likely that only six people currently live there.

"We think we're at a dead end with that," McCabe said.

White said the board investigation shows that "everything is looking on the up and up" for the South Avenue issue.

There is a police report with a resident at 2803 South Ave., which was issued a zoning violation for too many tenants, telling an officer that she is paying "very low" rent there in exchange for voting for White.

White insisted she hasn't offered anything of value for anyone's vote.

"Every little thing I do to help people, I'm attacked," she said. "I'm a threat because I help people. Why is this getting put on me?"

White added: "I'm going to have to defend myself against these f---ing accusations in the newspaper. This is f---ing ridiculous. One f---king person has said some ridiculous s---. How do you know they would vote for me? You don't know who anyone is voting for? I can't control where someone is registered. I'm going to correct all these accusations. I have literally done nothing wrong. I'm upset."

The board of elections lists 13 registered voters at 2803 South Ave., including five who registered between Oct. 6 and 10. Those five and another person who listed the South Avenue home as their address have asked for absentee ballots, McCabe said.

Because of the property's transient nature, it's highly unlikely that 13 residents live there, but the board can't purge voters for four years.

Of those 13 residents, only one has ever voted, according to board records.

Emmett Nelson, who registered Oct. 10 and lives at 2803 South Ave., said he is backing White and is getting nothing in return. He's never voted before.

"Since I came out of the federal Bureau of Prisons, I can count on her," Nelson said. "I met her and she helped me rent at 2803 South Ave. She's been a very wonderful help to me. It's been great knowing her."

Nelson was convicted in 2018 on a federal offense of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Nelson and White said 13 people don't live at that South Avenue property.

Nelson, who said he's lived there for about three years, said there are five other residents.

Nelson also said he doesn't recall the Whites ever living there.

Amber White listed that as her residence when she filed as an independent candidate for the 7th Ward seat in May and said she's since moved.

The city's housing code enforcement division issued a notice of violation on Oct. 13 to the house, owned by Donald Dempsy Jr., because it is "being used as a room and board facility, but is zoned" mixed-use community "and this is not allowed in this zone district."

Nelson said Dempsy recently gave the tenants 60 days to move out.

Dempsy couldn't be reached Wednesday to comment.

White said she and her husband are interested in purchasing the house and getting it properly zoned if Dempsy can get it cleaned up and pay the $15,526 in back taxes owed.

A police report shows that an officer spoke Oct. 16 to Shannon Demar, who lives at the South Avenue house. The officer asked if she was given low rent in exchange for voting for White, and Demar said yes.

Election board records show Demar isn't registered to vote at the South Avenue house and has never voted. White said Demar lives there, but isn't being truthful and Demar is going to be leaving with the rest of the tenants.

Election board records show Demar's daughter, Shayla, lives there. White said that is no longer accurate. Shayla used to date White's brother and "I kicked them both out," she said.

White added: "I can't control who the hell votes. This is not fair to me. I've had so many people tell me about rumors and lies."

"When you have 13 registered voters and five register right before the deadline and ask for absentee ballots, it raises red flags," Adamczak said. "Everyone is entitled to a fair and just election. A person can't stay there with low rent in return for voting for Amber for council. If it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck."

White said Adamczak filed the complaint because "she's not getting any traction and this is her last, final attempt to come after me. I want to give people the representation she isn't giving them."

Also, Amber White was convicted in 2012 on two counts of aggravated possession of drugs and a count each of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine.

White said her record was sealed in late 2021.

White said her brother's house was raided and there was residue of heroin and crack cocaine found in his house as well as prescription drugs.

White said she was at her brother's house and took the blame for him.

"It was a stupid idea and I regret it, but I'm not ratting on anyone," she said.

John White, who serves as his wife's treasurer, has multiple felony convictions.

White said she and her husband have a "lucrative business" that includes towing vehicles, auto body work and repossession as well as owning commercial properties.

Her pre-general campaign finance report shows she has given $11,580 in cash to her council campaign.

White said the money given to the campaign isn't literally cash, but are referred to as cash transfers from her bank account.

She and her husband gave $29,348 to her unsuccessful write-in mayoral campaign in 2021.

dskolnick@vindy.com