Deceased voters 'aid' casino petition locally, across Ohio

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By William Hershey and Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writers Updated 12:36 AM Thursday, July 16, 2009

The signatures of deceased voters in Montgomery County and across Ohio are showing up on petitions aimed at putting a plan for four casinos on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The names of the deceased make up only a small fraction of the 850,000 signatures casino backers have gathered, but add fuel to a heated campaign.

“It’s a pattern we’re seeing all across the state and it’s outrageous,” Sandy Theis said on Wednesday, July 15. Theis works for the Columbus-area Scioto Downs racetrack, which opposes the casinos.

“I think that’s probably hyperbolic,” said Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the pro-casino Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan. Signature-gatherers are told to be on the “up and up” and if they violate the law by forging signatures they should be prosecuted, Tenenbaum said.

In Montgomery County, petitions included signatures from 23 deceased voters, including Michael Merkle, the husband of Cathie Merkle, assistant to elections board director Steve Harsman.

The Montgomery County board ruled 48,326 of 82,624 signatures — 58 percent — invalid and sent petitions with potentially fraudulent signatures to the county prosecutor’s office for investigation.

In Darke County, Becky Martin, deputy elections board director, saw the signature of her late father-in-law, James Martin, who died more than 25 years ago, on a petition.

“I said, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ It was his address and everything. They’ll just stoop low to do anything,” she said.

County boards of election are to report back today to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on the number of valid signatures. She will rule by July 21whether supporters have the required 402,275 signatures to get on the ballot. If they fall short, they get an extra 10 days to qualify.

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