Kraus stays on ballot

SANDUSKY — The Ohio Supreme Court affirmed a decision by the Erie County Elections Board to approve former state Rep. Steve Kraus as a Republican candidate for the 89th District in the Ohio House, setting up a primary challenge for incumbent state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron. "The board of elections did not abuse its discretion or act in clear disregard of the applicable law when it denied (the) protest and kept Kraus on the March 2024 primary election ballot," the court ruled. It was a 7-0 ruling. Dennis Schreiner, a Groton Township trustee and a resident in the 89th District, challenged Kraus' candidacy, contending that a 2015 criminal conviction disqualified him from serving in elective office. The district includes Erie and Ottawa counties and part of Huron County. Kraus was elected to the 89th District in 2014 after he defeated former state Rep. Chris Redfern, a Democrat, in a surprise upset. He was removed from office in 2015, however, after he was convicted of theft in a court case he said was a politically motivated false charge against him. Kraus always denied any wrongdoing and wrote a book about the experience called "Checkmate, One Man's Fight Against Political Corruption," in which he documented a considerable collection of information supporting his contention that the charge against him was politically motivated. Former Ottawa County Prosecutor Mark Mulligan, who was a close ally of Redfern's, allegedly "shopped" for a special prosecutor and used the theft complaint as an "October surprise," Kraus claimed. The special prosecutor, former Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun, was later convicted of unrelated crimes and forced from office, and the visiting judge assigned the case was removed from by then Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O'Conner after the trial when it was revealed he was a friend of Redfern's. Kraus was able to get the conviction sealed last year, which he said he was advised was legally the same "as if it never happened." In December, he filed a candidate's petition with enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Schreiner challenged his qualifications, but the elections board affirmed its decision to allow him on the ballot. Schreiner appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court. The court ruled against Schreiner on Monday. "Swearingen and Scheiner got slapped down pretty hard by the 7-0 verdict from the court," Kraus said. Swearingen declined comment on the court decision but said he plans to win the March primary. "My strategy is the same as its always been in any election, to tell voters about what I stand for and to let them know about the accomplishments for the district during my time in office." The primary is March 19. Early voting starts Feb. 21.