State ex rel. Richards v. Stark Cty. Bd. of Elections (Slip Opinion)

{¶ 1} This is an expedited election case in which the relators seek a writ of prohibition to prevent respondents, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and the Stark County Board of Elections, from placing the name of intervening respondent, Francis H. Cicchinelli Jr., on the November 2015 ballot as an independent candidate for mayor of Massillon. We deny the writ.

Background

{¶2} Cicchinelli has a long history as a Democratic Party candidate and officeholder in the city of Massillon. This history includes serving 14 years as a Democrat on the Massillon City Council and six terms as the Democratic…