WARREN — The Trumbull County Board of Elections will have a June 1 investigatory hearing into an allegation that Jason Miner falsely used the address of a house destroyed in a fire on nominating petitions to get elected as a Republican central committee member.

The board voted 4-0 Wednesday to have the hearing based on a May 11 complaint from James Walker of Belvedere Avenue in Warren.

Also at the meeting, the board certified the results of the May 5 election, which included Miner being elected as the Republican central committee member for Warren 5F. He ran unopposed and received 29 votes.

Walker’s letter states Miner falsely used an address on Burton Street of a house that caught on fire and was subsequently demolished. Miner “was aware of this fact when he submitted the petition” and “knew (it) was false,” Walker wrote.

Miner said his house burned in a fire in December, but his family is planning to rebuild there.

Regarding residency under Ohio Revised Code, it reads “that place shall be considered the residence of a person in which the person’s habitation is fixed and to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.”

While the property on Burton Street is inhabitable, Miner said it is his mailing address — he picks up mail at the post office — and he intends to return there after it is built.

Miner said he is renting a place in the same precinct to which he was elected.

“This is perhaps one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard,” Miner said. “I didn’t choose to have my house burn down. Only James Walker would try to capitalize on my house burning down. It’s an extremely petty thing.”

If the elections board chooses after the June 1 hearing, it can forward the investigation to the county prosecutor’s office.

Walker requested the board “determine whether any false address was used knowingly on the petition and accompanying filing,” and “take any action required by Ohio law, including rejection of the filing if the petition fails to comply with statutory requirements, and referral to the appropriate authorities if the board finds evidence of election falsification,” and disqualify Miner.