DELAWARE — Several Republican leaders are calling for Delaware County Board of Elections member Melanie Leneghan to resign following comments she made after a hearing that removed her from the May primary ballot.
In response, Leneghan — also a Republican — told Delaware Source she will not step down.
Ohio Sen. Andrew Brenner urged local officials to call for Leneghan’s resignation in a text message sent after Delaware Source’s April 10 reporting, which quoted Leneghan comparing her voter residency hearing to “a Black man in the South going up against the KKK.”
In a 2-1 vote on April 10, the Delaware County Board of Elections canceled Leneghan’s voter registration, finding she is not a legal resident of Delaware County. Democrats Ed Helvey and Peg Watkins voted in favor, while Republican Steve Cuckler voted against.
Leneghan filed a writ of mandamus with the Ohio Supreme Court on April 13, asking the court to overturn the Board of Elections’ decision.
Early voting for the May 5 primary began April 7.
Brenner, state Rep. Beth Lear, Delaware County auditor candidate Don Rankey and Knox County Republican Party Chairman Fred Dailey said Leneghan’s April 10 comment was “appalling” and called for her immediate resignation.
Delaware County Commissioners Jeff Benton, Gary Merrell and Barb Lewis did not respond to requests for comment.
Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Patrick Grubbe said he did not receive Brenner’s text and declined to comment.
Delaware County Treasurer Ken O’Brien said he was aware of the situation but had not followed it closely.
“I can’t really call for an action one way or another,” O’Brien said.
“But I do think the central committee’s executive committee should look at the issue and follow up on what should or shouldn’t happen.”
Reaction to Leneghan’s comments
Brenner said Leneghan has the right to appeal the board’s decision but should resign regardless of the court’s ruling.
“I found that quote appalling and a complete lack of understanding the history of the United States,” Brenner said.
Brenner said multiple officials agreed with his position, though he did not specify who received the text.
“I can [say] that state senator candidate and current state representative Beth Lear is also saying the same thing [as me],” Brenner said. “She did call me about it, and we spoke.
“I have talked to a couple of the other elected officials, they also want to see her gone but nobody actually replied to me on the text message.”
Former Delaware County treasurer and current auditor candidate Don Rankey echoed Brenner’s call for Leneghan’s resignation and expressed disappointment about not hearing from other Delaware County officials.
“I asked [on social media] all the other public officials in Delaware County to denounce it, and it was crickets,” Rankey said.
Rankey said he saw Brenner’s Facebook post about the issue the day after the April 10 hearing.
“To me, it’s just really disappointing that our Delaware County Republican Party, as well as our Delaware County elected officials which are all Republicans, have sat on the sideline and watched this story unravel,” he said.
Leneghan’s response
Leneghan dismissed the criticism and said those calling for her resignation do not have authority over the Board of Elections.
“None of them have anything to do with the Delaware County Board of Elections. The executive committee of the party statutorily appoints that position,” she said.
Leneghan also accused Brenner, Lear and Rankey of “weaponizing the government to punish political opponents.”
“I would suggest to Andy Brenner, that instead of continuing to spit in the face of Ohio voters by skirting term limits and applauding and contributing to a serious threat to our democracy, that he might want to focus on something else,” Leneghan said.
Defending her remarks
Leneghan reiterated the board’s April 10 decision was “a violation of election integrity,” which is what prompted the mandamus filing with the Ohio Supreme Court.
“So, when I say I was like a Black man in front of the KKK — I was,” she said.
“The KKK is a racist, biased group and these two [Democrats on the board], who are biased heavily against Republicans, they were told to vote on the outcome.”
State Central Committee race dynamics
Leneghan also confirmed that three other candidates — Janine Baker, Andrea Dalton and Cathi Nelson — are running for the same Republican State Central Committee seat in support of her.
“We need the right people in these seats, it’s important,” she said.
Baker, Dalton and Nelson are all listed as candidates on the May 5 ballot.
It is not illegal for multiple candidates to run in support of another candidate, provided there is no agreement for compensation or exchange of services.
Dalton and Nelson also signed Leneghan’s petition to appear on the ballot.
Below is Leneghan’s candidate petition, which is a public record; Nelson is the fifth signature and Dalton is the eighth.
Brenner expressed his distaste for the three women running against, but in support of, Leneghan on the ballot.
“[Leneghan] even sent out an email to the [Delaware County] Republican Central Committee, [saying they were] recruited to run against her so she could split the anti-Leneghan vote,” Brenner said.
“I mean, who does that?”
Knox County dispute
Leneghan previously voted to uphold a vote that removed her fourth opponent, Knox County resident Rebecca Nourse, from the Republican State Central Committee race.
The Knox County Republican Party Chairman Fred Dailey said he sent Leneghan a cease-and-desist letter on April 10 over a campaign mailer that referenced “Knox County Republican PAC.”
“I received a direct mail piece from her, and in that direct mail piece [Leneghan] implied that she was endorsed by the Delaware County, Knox County, Holmes County and Coshocton County Republican PAC,” Dailey said.
“They put PAC at the end, which is a distinction that she thinks allows her to say that since she’s not saying it was the Republican Party.”
Dailey said the Knox County Republican Party endorsed Nourse, not Leneghan.
“It was just solely for the purpose to deceive voters by putting PAC at the end of the county party name,” Dailey said.
Below are images of the mail pieces Dailey received. Credit: Fred Dailey
Dailey said he filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s election integrity office.
He added that while Leneghan has the right to appeal the Board of Elections decision, he believes she should not serve on the board or state central committee.
