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Secretary of state answers questions on Summit board appointment
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner found herself in the hot seat Wednesday, forced to answer questions about her decision to appoint Akron attorney Don Varian to the Summit County elections board.
Timothy Grendell, a state senator and attorney who is representing the Summit County Republican Party, began his deposition of Brunner about 5 p.m. in her Columbus office. The closed session was expected to last several hours, possibly continuing today.
The deposition is part of a challenge the party filed with the Ohio Supreme Court to Brunner's decision to put Varian — rather than former Hudson Council President Brian Daley — on the elections board.
The party suggested Daley as a replacement for Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff, who Brunner decided not to reappoint, calling him ''unfit'' to serve on the board. Brunner instead tapped Varian, who is helping an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as party chairman.
Brunner's deposition was done in private. Assistant Attorney General Richard Coglianese denied a request by a Beacon Journal reporter to attend the proceeding, saying these generally are ''private, closed,'' sessions. Grendell had approved having a reporter present.
The deposition will end up being public, though, as a transcript must be filed with the court by Friday.
Brunner had tried to avoid being deposed and to limit the scope of the questions she must answer — both requests that were denied by the court. The court Wednesday turned down Brunner's motion to forbid her deposition from being videotaped.
The court hasn't yet ruled on Brunner's latest request — that the videotape of her testimony be sealed and no copies be released. Her motion said if the Summit County Republican Party didn't plan to use the video for ''political purposes,'' then the party ''had no grounds to oppose'' her request. She went on to say that the video could be used for ''campaign advertising fodder.''
Brunner added two assistant attorneys general to the list of her attorneys on file with the Supreme Court on Tuesday and two more assistant attorneys general Wednesday. This brought the number of her legal staff for the case to six, according to court records.
Arshinkoff gave a deposition in the case Wednesday morning.
The case is on an expedited track, with evidence due Friday, the party's brief due five days after that, and Brunner's response due five days later. The party may file a reply brief five days after Brunner's response.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached
at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner found herself in the hot seat Wednesday, forced to answer questions about her decision to appoint Akron attorney Don Varian to the Summit County elections board.
Get the full article here.
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