Allen County Sheriff’s Race Controversy

Allen County has a definite drug problem. It has a definite gang/drug related shootings on a regular basis. Lately it isn’t uncommon to hear gun fire during the late night/early morning hours of the day.

Two candidates are running as independents. Both candidates are Republicans. Both served with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department but resigned to run for Sheriff. In the beginning the race was about the candidates and their plans for the County. Finally a race about the real issues. At least until now.Sam Crish bought a home so he could run. He lives in Allen County and his candidacy was filed and accepted. His family remain at Indian Lake (out of county) so his son can finish his senior year there. His opponent has recently gone completely negative harping on this issue while ignoring the real problems.

The problem has been dealt with through the Board of Elections and Secretary of State. No complaints were ever filed to protest this. So now Hoverman simply slanders in the court of public opinion hoping to steal votes. If anyone should know what it means to follow the rules… he should. Instead he continues these accusations. Sam Crish appears to be a very capable and competent candidate who has a real interest in solving the crime problems in the area. His opponent seems stuck in park on a dead issue.

Lima News:

Crish said he moved to Logan County after his father, also a longtime deputy with the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, left law enforcement. He returned in 2006, shortly after his father’s death. He bought the house when he decided to run for sheriff.

“I wanted my children to be near their grandfather and of course I wanted to be close to my dad and therefore, with the sheriff’s knowledge, I moved my family to Indian Lake. Upon my father’s passing I decided to move back to Allen County,” Crish said.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, a candidate must be a resident in the county and live there for at least one year. Crish has those two covered.

But it also says, in chapter 3503.02, section D, that: “The place where the family of a married person resides shall be considered to be the person’s place of residence; except that when the spouses have separated and live apart, the place where such a spouse resides the length of time required to entitle a person to vote shall be considered to be the spouse’s place of residence.”…

Board of Elections Director Keith Cunningham said he was aware of anonymous complaints about Crish’s residency and has spoken with the Secretary of State’s Office about them, but as far as he’s concerned, it’s a dead issue for his office.

“Without some exceptionally compelling reason, we take all documents filed with us as true and accurate under penalty of law,” Cunningham said. “We have to assume what he says on that petition is accurate.”

Cunningham said the deadline for someone to file an official complaint has come and gone. So the only way Crish’s candidacy can be challenged now is through the courts.