The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Candidate’s endorsement claims untrue, politicians say

Motorcycist who struck 87-year-old won't be charged
11/21/09
‘Cover Up Our Kids’ expands
11/21/09
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
11/20/09
Child injured in Ohio 741 accident
11/20/09
Mayor against Waynesville income tax
11/20/09
> More headlines

By Linda Scott, Contributing writer Updated 4:47 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Literature mailed to Harlan Twp. residents claims several Warren County politicians have endorsed candidate Marcus Shelton for the township’s board of trustees.

The politicians, former Warren County sheriff Tom Ariss, state Rep. Ron Maag and former state Rep. Michelle Schneider, said they did not endorse Shelton.

All three also were shown in photos with Shelton on his Web site marcusshelton.org, but they have since been removed. Ariss said he advised Shelton to remove any reference of his endorsement from the Web site because he does not endorse any candidate.

“No, I didn’t endorse him. I think the whole thing is a misunderstanding, though,” Schneider said. “He introduced himself to me at a Tom Ariss fundraiser and told me he was getting into politics. He asked me if he could get his picture taken with me. I said he could. But he did not ask me if I would endorse him. It was a very short conversation. I think it was a misunderstanding.”

Maag said he was photographed under similar circumstances with Shelton at the same fundraiser.

“I don’t endorse anyone in a local campaign. I won’t say anything bad about the guy, though. He did not ask me for my endorsement and I didn’t give it,” Maag said.

Maag said he also believed the matter “was probably a misunderstanding.”

Shelton, who lost his bid for a seat on the Harlan Twp. board of trustees in a close race in 2006, insists Ariss, Schneider and Maag endorsed his candidacy.

“I would not have mentioned them, let alone put their endorsement on a Web site without their permission,” Shelton said.

Harlan Twp. incumbents Web Logan and Robert Curran, both seeking reelection, said they had planned to contact the Ohio Elections Commission. But their concerns, they said, may be coming too late for the commission to impact the Nov. 3 election.

“Web and I talked about it, but I think it just wouldn’t make a difference before the election,” Curran said. “There’s nothing that can be done until after the election is over. “

Candidate Mike Lumley also is seeking one of the two trustee seats on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Congratulations Marcus Shelton and good campaign Mike Lumley!

Proud harlan township voter
7:35 AM, 11/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

It is pretty bad you have to throw his personal life into running a township, which has nothing to do with him and his sister not talking to each other. Besides it takes two and their are always two sides of the story! Keep Harlan Township running strong re-elect Trustee Curran and Trustee Logan!

Dusty Vinup
9:53 AM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Yet Mr. Curran won't speak to his sister who is dying and lives in the township.

Harlan Township voter
5:20 AM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Anyone that knows Curran and Logan on a professional and personal basis, know that they are not monsters and know they care about Harlan Twp and the people of Harlan Twp. My father who was a member of our outstanding volunteer fire dept. for 20 years battled cancer for 10 months. I couldn't begin to count the number of times they called and visited him! Request the budget, voice your concerns when you have them not months and years later. The have done a great job and deserve to be re-elected!!

Dusty Vinup
11:30 AM, 11/2/2009

REPORT ABUSE

VOTE FOR CURRAN AND LOGAN

Resident of Harlan Twp.
10:27 PM, 10/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 15 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.