Ohio elections board OKs signatures on ex-congressman’s disputed petitions in bid to run again

Ex-congressman in Ohio has signatures to run again

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — An elections board in Ohio says a former congressman who served time in federal prison has enough valid signatures to run again for a U.S. House seat.

Director Tom McCabe says the Mahoning County board on Monday approved more than 30 disputed signatures to allow Jim Traficant (TRAF’-eh-kehnt) to make the November ballot in northeast Ohio’s 17th district.

Traficant represented the Youngstown area as a Democrat for nearly two decades before his 2002 conviction for corruption. He’s running as an independent.

Hundreds of signatures from four counties were disqualified in July. The secretary of state ordered a review by the board in Youngstown last week.

Elections officials in neighboring Trumbull County are expected to certify the total Wednesday.

Campaign coordinator Linda Kovachik says Traficant supporters overcame many hurdles and she’s elated.