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

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

Background

{¶ 2} Tom Bernabei has a history as a member of the Democratic Party stretching back 40 years. Most recently, Bernabei, running as a Democrat, won a four-year term on the Stark County Board of Commissioners in November 2012.

{¶ 3} Bernabei gave…