Meghan Gallagher, Lucas County Republican Party central committee chair for the faction led by embattled chairman Jon Stainbrook, filed a motion Jan. 12 with the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the Lucas County Board of Elections and the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee. In addition, Gallagher filed a verified complaint for statutory damages injunctive and declaratory relief.

According to court documents filed by Anthony DeGidio and Scott Ciolek, attorneys for the plaintiff, the suit seeks temporary and permanent injunctions, relief and attorney fees.

The lawsuit claims that more than $25,000 in damages has occurred due to the Jeff Simpson faction filing its documentation and is seeking that the Lucas County Board of Elections pay those damages and costs as well as be ordered to not certify the officer rosters.

The suit also seeks to restrain the BOE and the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee from acting in any capacity that may further the “illegal removal of LCRP central committee members.”

The basis for the case is that Gallagher, as a representative of the Lucas County Republican Party, disputes the Simpson faction being considered an organized party.

The suit claims that the Dec. 21 meeting could not be considered an “organizational meeting,” and that under law, “Meghan Gallagher is the de jure and de facto chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party Central Committee until any rogue faction proves otherwise in a court of law.”

In addition. the filings said that Board of Election members Patrick Kriner and Lynn Olman cannot participate in BOE votes relating to disputing factions when they are members of those factions.

The filings claim that if the injunctive relief is not granted the plaintiff will be “irreparably harmed.”

“In this instance Gallagher seeks to protect her title to office and force the BOE to limit its actions to those provided under the law. Each illegal act that occurs injures Gallagher in her title and her duties as well as her party,” the suit states.

The Board of Elections voted to certify the officers rosters of the two opposing factions of the Lucas County Republican Party on Jan. 12.

The rosters will be sent to the Ohio Republican Party and the party’s state central committee must meet within 30 days to decide which group is the recognized Lucas County Republican Party.

The board said the Ohio Revised Code gave them no choice but to forward the two lists and said the issue is a private matter to be solved by the party.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 7:02 pm and is filed under Breaking News, Community, Politics.
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