Elections board hires investigator

Attorney to look into personnel matter involving board employee

WARREN -- The Trumbull County Board of Elections has hired an attorney to investigate a personnel matter involving a board employee.

Curt Ambrosy will be paid $200 per hour to investigate the matter, said Elections Board Director Stephanie Penrose. She would not say what the personnel matter is, however, there is just one pending before the board.

That involves election specialist Kalliopi Karapetsas, who was suspended with pay Feb. 25. Penrose has declined to say why Karapetsas is on leave except it's a "personnel matter."

Penrose confirmed the day Karapetsas was placed on leave she is the employee who checked a copy of the nominating petitions of Marco Flaminio that contain marks on two printed names that do not appear on the original petitions he filed Feb. 19. It's a matter the elections board is reviewing.

Penrose would not say if Karapetsas' suspension is related to Flaminio's petitions.

The board rejected his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Warren's Third Ward city council race Feb. 25 after one of his opponents protested Flaminio's petitions were invalid because they contain double and printed signatures.

The board determined the petitions contained double signatures -- when one person signs two names -- and rejected the petitions they initially certified Feb. 5. The board revisited the paperwork after Greg Greathouse, also running for the nomination, filed his protest.

The board also reorganized this week after Republican member Ron Knight and Democratic member Diana Marchese were reappointed to new four-year terms by their county political parties.

The board kept Penrose, a Republican, as director and Ron Massullo, a Democrat, as deputy director. Also, Mark Alberini, a Democrat, remains chairman of the board that also includes Republican Kathi Creed.

rselak@tribtoday.com