GIRARD — John White, who filed to run for Youngstown mayor, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and had his case for two felonies bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury.

White faces charges of disrupting public service and domestic violence after a May 2 arrest at a Liberty home he owns with his wife, Youngstown Councilwoman Amber White, I-7th Ward, after he allegedly caused damage and acted violently.

Amber White, who is the alleged victim, called 911 on May 2 to say her husband was angry over an article that day in The Vindicator that states his eligibility to run as an independent candidate for Youngstown mayor is being questioned. She told police he asked her to run for mayor and when she refused, he became angry and violent — and this wasn’t the first time.

Amber White told police that her husband damaged their Liberty house at 1162 Tibbetts Wick Road, including throwing a crockpot with food at her that ended up going through the front window, threw all of their car keys onto the garage roof, grabbed their juvenile son from her and threatened to “burn the house down as well as burn the vehicles.” While talking to a 911 dispatcher, Amber White told police her husband grabbed her cellphone and threw it into a watery ditch.

Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey D. Adler revoked John White’s bond — he posted 10% of a $12,500 bond after his arrest — on May 7 for having contact with his wife, which is prohibited under the terms of his bond.

When White appeared Wednesday in court to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, Adler agreed to recall the bond “with the condition of no contact. We’ve had this conversation before. No contact means no contact, whatsoever, none, through a third party, through electronic means, anything, alright?”

White agreed.

Adler said, “If you violate these terms I’ll have to revoke your bond again.”

In a May 8 post on Facebook, John White said, “I realize my behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional. I am truly sorry for any discomfort or upset that I may have caused. I am committed to correcting my past discretions [sic] and working on becoming a better person. So I will be seeking professional counseling to assist me in learning to be more respectful in my interactions with the public and my personal life. Please accept my heartfelt apology. I am hopeful for the opportunity to rebuild your trust and support.”

The Whites own the Liberty house — owing $4,445 in back property taxes with at least $3,125 of it delinquent — and rent a Youngstown house at 2739 Mount Vernon Ave.

John White has more than 35 criminal convictions, according to various court documents, with felony convictions including receiving stolen property, aggravated assault, breaking and entering and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to prison for the latter three convictions.

As in 2021, John White’s eligibility is questioned as it relates to a city charter provision for mayoral candidates.

The provision reads: “The mayor shall be an elector and resident of the city for the five years immediately preceding the mayor’s election, and not less than 30 years of age.”

White registered to vote Feb. 5, 2021.

It will be up to the Mahoning County Board of Elections to determine his eligibility. The board will rely on a legal opinion from Youngstown Law Director Lori Shells Simmons.

When White attempted to run in 2021 for mayor as an independent — as he filed to do this year — Jeff Limbian, then the city’s law director, ruled June 12, 2021, that White wasn’t eligible to be a mayoral candidate based on his interpretation of the city charter and state law. The board of elections agreed with the decision on July 6, 2021, and didn’t certify White to the ballot.

The other reason White wasn’t certified was because he voted in the Democratic primary after filing as an independent for mayor. Voting in a partisan primary after filing as an independent in Ohio disqualifies a candidate from running.

Kenneth D. Myers, White’s attorney in the mayoral issue, wrote in a May 5 email to Shells Simmons that his client is eligible to run and his candidacy wouldn’t violate the city charter.

Shells Simmons said her office is preparing an opinion.