WARREN — Not only will Michael Philip Walton not be an independent candidate for the 64th Ohio House District seat, but the Trumbull County Board of Elections forwarded his nominating petitions to the state’s Public Integrity Division to investigate for potential election fraud.

The board voted 3-0 Tuesday to send Walton’s petitions to the division, which is under the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, because of several questionable signatures.

Board Director Stephanie Penrose said: “They looked fraudulent. A lot of the same handwriting, not just husband and wife, but whole families. We also can’t determine that (some of) the circulators even exist.”

Knowing that he wasn’t going to be certified, Walton formally withdrew Monday as a candidate for the seat before the board could vote Tuesday.

Penrose said her staff determined that of the 625 signatures submitted by Walton, only 185 were valid. He needed 417 valid signatures to qualify for the Nov. 3 election.

That 29.6% rate of valid signatures on petitions is remarkably low for a candidate submitting that many names.

Even though Walton withdrew, the board still decided to forward the matter to the Public Integrity Division for investigation. Each petition states: “Whomever commits election falsification is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.”

Walton said he withdrew after learning he wasn’t going to be certified.

But he wasn’t aware of the falsification allegations until told by a reporter.

Walton said: “That’s concerning if true. I will fully cooperate with that.”

Walton said he didn’t circulate any of his nominating petitions and had others do it for him. Walton said he reviewed the petitions, but didn’t notice anything unusual.

“We looked at them, but I’m not going to do a forensic investigation,” he said.

A number of the petitions had what appears to be identical signatures and printed names.

Walton said: “I have no doubt they’ll do a thorough job. I have nothing to hide and I’ll fully cooperate. There was a team of people who collected signatures. There’s nothing on my end with collecting signatures. But this is indicative of the system working. If that happens with anyone who collects signatures, they should investigate. It’s nothing I condone or endorse.”

An attorney, Walton serves as the director of legal services and chief legal counsel for Trumbull County Children Services as well as a public defender in Trumbull County Central District Court.

With Walton not qualifying, the only candidate who will appear on the ballot for the 64th House seat is incumbent state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles.

Santucci said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of the 64th House District for another two years. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made through the Lake to River region, but there is still much more to accomplish.”

The district includes Warren, Howland, Niles, Weathersfield, Bristol, Champion, Farmington, West Farmington, Leavittsburg, Newton, Newton Falls, Lordstown and Warren Township.

The board voted Tuesday to certify Chris Becker of Champion as an independent candidate for the common pleas court judicial post now held by Cynthia Westcott.

Westcott had filed to run for reelection — switching her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican — and then withdrew as a candidate.

Becker is a longtime registered Democrat who ran as the political party’s nominee in 2024 for a different common pleas court seat. Becker lost by 1.34% to Republican Sarah Thomas Kovoor.

Becker will face Mary Ellen Ditchey, Westcott’s magistrate, who won the Republican primary.

COMPLAINTS

The board asked the county prosecutor for an opinion on what it should do next with a complaint it has about the residency of Jason Miner, a Republican central committee member.

The board had a lengthy hearing June 1 regarding an objection raised by James Walker to Miner listing his family’s former house on Burton Street as his residence. The house caught on fire in December and was subsequently demolished. Miner said the property is his “intended” residence.

The board wanted Miner to present evidence that the Burton Street property is his residence and gave him more time to produce it.

The board sent two letters — including one by registered mail — to Miner at the Burton Street property and both were returned, Penrose said.

Miner said Penrose has his email address and his phone number so it should be easy to contact him.

The board is considering issuing subpoenas to require Miner to provide the evidence he promised to give, Penrose said, and will wait until it gets advice from the county prosecutor’s office before proceeding.

Miner said his family recently decided they likely won’t rebuild, but he is living at a home in the same Warren Precinct 5F to which he was elected. Miner said he filled out and will submit his change of address to the elections board.

Miner said: “I don’t mind talking to them, but they’ve made this into a spectacle. The board made this into a personal issue because of who I am and who I oppose. This is solely political.”

Miner has had a number of issues with Marleah Campbell, an elections board member.

Also, Miner recently filed a complaint with the board against the Conservative Club of Trumbull County and its board officers — including Campbell, its president — contending it collects dues, publishes candidate slate cards and has collected money for candidates. Miner said that either makes it a political action committee or if it is a nonprofit, it is operating in violation of IRS rules.

Penrose said Miner’s letter doesn’t provide any evidence that the club and/or its officers violated any election laws. The board asked the county prosecutor’s office for advice on Miner’s letter.