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WARREN -- The Trumbull County Board of Elections rejected a request from Geo Kuriatnyk, who lost the Niles mayoral race by 48.8%, for a recount because he filed it past the deadline.
The board certified the results of the recent election Nov. 21, which meant any protests must come within five days of that, said Director Stephanie Penrose, who spoke to the county prosecutor's office and the Ohio Secretary of State's Office about it.
With that fifth day being this past Sunday, when the board office was closed, Monday was Kuriatnyk's deadline. He filed the recount request Wednesday.
The board ruled 4-0 Friday that Kuriatnyk's request wasn't timely.
Kuriatnyk said he went to the board Nov. 25 and 26, last Saturday and Sunday, to file his request, but the office was closed. He said he was out of town Monday and Tuesday, and returned Wednesday.
Kuriatnyk also contended state law doesn't count holidays and weekends in the five days and his request was timely.
But there is no provision in Ohio Revised Code 3512.02, the law for application of recounts, that mentions any delays in the five-day requirement for holidays and weekends.
Kuriatnyk said he didn't expect to win with a recount but wanted one for transparency.
"What is the board worried about?" he said. "Why are they concerned? Let's see the results. It won't change the outcome, but they should be transparent."
Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, a Democrat, beat Kuriatnyk, who ran as independent, 3,763 to 1,295, or 74.4% to 25.6%.
"It wasn't close," Mientkiewicz said of Kuriatnyk. "It's his attention-seeking habits. It's Donald Trump Jr. It's right out of the Donald Trump playbook. Tell the big lie, offer nothing, bring nothing to the table so you're going to whine and cry. It's very expected with the type of person he is. It's more background noise from him."
Kuriatnyk said of the mayor: "He has done nothing but lie throughout his term. I don't trust him. No one trusts him. You want to talk about me being Trump? He's dishonest. What has he done for the city? He's done nothing."
Kuriatnyk also said he wasn't notified by the board of elections of its Friday meeting.
Penrose said the meeting was advertised in the Tribune Chronicle and on the board's website with an agenda. She said she is under no other obligation to notify Kuriatnyk directly.
He filed an appeal Friday with the board to its decision to deny his recount request.
Penrose said she sent the appeal to the prosecutor's office and is waiting for guidance.
CELLPHONE POLICY
The board had sought a legal opinion from the county prosecutor's office about banning the use of cellphones at the board office.
The request was made at a previous board meeting by the three members in attendance. Board member Kathy DiCristofaro didn't attend the meeting at which the request was made.
Penrose said the prosecutor's office said a ban is not permitted because the board office is a public location.
"You cannot prohibit cell phone usage or recordings at the board of elections," Penrose said while reading a part of the prosecutor's legal opinion.
Board member Marleah Campbell said Friday that the request was made because she saw two posts on Facebook of videos of board employees with people saying derogatory things about them.
If people at the office are disruptive, the board can call law enforcement officials and file charges, Penrose said.
The board agreed Friday to put up signs asking people to please refrain from cellphone usage at the board as a request and not a prohibition.