Clerk of Courts Candidate Kevin Coughlin Threatens to Sue Board of Elections

The Summit County Board of Elections is looking into whether former state Sen. Kevin Coughlin violated campaign procedures during his run for Stow Municipal clerk of courts.

The board decided he could not run as a nonpartisan for clerk and Coughlin is prepared to go to court, according to WKSU.org. 

Last week, the board said it was looking into whether Coughlin violated procedure by not forming a local campaign committee or filing a treasurer designation, reports the Akron Beacon Journal. 

Despite the bump in the road, Coughlin plans to continue his campaign. 

"Everybody knows I’m a Republican. But I have the freedom under Ohio law to run for clerk of court as a nonpartisan candidate without giving up my Republican affiiliation," Coughlin said in this WKSU audio interview. What they tried to say today is I don’t pass that nonaffiliation standard. The problem is that standard doesn’t exist for clerk of court. ... And so we believe  they simply disregarded that law and made a political decision.”

Related content:

• Here is a list of politicians that have endorsed Coughlin for clerk. 
• Republican Munroe Falls Mayor Frank Larson and Democrat Diana Colavecchio are  also running for the clerk position in the general election.