The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

September 7, 2012

Solicitor doubts election law was violated

By Sandy Scarmack Herald Staff Writer

MERCER COUNTY — Democrats who are accusing the Great Stoneboro Fair Board of improperly removing a political billboard last week made good Thursday on their threat to file a formal complaint with Mercer County’s election office.

Fred Hlusko, president of the Northeast Democrats of Mercer County, wrote a two-page complaint alleging that the fair board and its vice-president, Donald Barbour, “violated federal election laws, protection of free speech and tort law under the Uniform Commercial Code.”

County Solicitor William Madden said he thinks the group is “looking at the wrong people” to redress any wrongdoing and doesn’t see any evidence of an election law violation. He said he thinks the issue is best resolved in civil court.

“If they paid for something and didn’t get it, the problem is with the guy who sold it. If it was improperly destroyed then they need to hire an attorney and pursue that in civil court,” Madden said.

Hlusko said his group contacted General Outdoor Advertising, owned by David Urey, and paid nearly $500 for him to produce and display a message of support for Missa Eaton, the Democrat running against incumbent Republican Mike Kelly for the Third Congressional District. The group independently supported Eaton and she had nothing to do with placing the advertising, Hlusko said.

The billboard was on Route 62 near the main entrance to the fair.

According to the complaint, the ad was put up on August 30 and covered with a tarp then torn down the next day. Hlusko said he exchanged words with Barbour and said Barbour told him the sign was on “his” property and he could take it down if he wanted to and that he had the support of the fair’s board of directors.

Barbour didn’t return a call seeking a comment.

Ron Carkin, president of the fair board, said previously that fair officials already planned to take down the billboard because it had fallen into disrepair and its owner was “three or four years” behind on the rent.

Urey has since made current any money owed to the fair board and has said he will work to do whatever the Democrats want. Carkin didn’t return a call to The Herald Thursday.

Hlusko’s complaint alleges that the committee owned the message posted on the board and that its “political free speech” was stifled.

The Northeast Democrats filed a report with Stoneboro police in an attempt to have destruction of property charges filed against Barbour and the fair board. According to District Justice Neil McEwen no charges were filed as of Thursday afternoon.

Madden said he will be responding to the complaint today.

Text Only
Local News
  • Vote totals change Tuesday

    Mercer County completed scanning 337 absentee ballots Friday morning which have been added to Tuesday’s vote totals posted on the county’s website, said Jeff Greenburg, Mercer County’s elections director.

    May 25, 2013

  • IUs could control special ed funding for cybers, rep says

    A state lawmaker has proposed that all special education services for cyber school students be funneled through the state’s regional educational intermediate units.

    May 25, 2013

  • Prosecutor doesn’t want kids to testify in person

    A man accused of raping three young children while he babysat them was “ready to go forward” with his preliminary hearing Thursday but the prosecution put the brakes on, arguing that the children shouldn’t have to testify in the man’s presence.

    May 24, 2013

  • Hearing in fatal shooting case delayed

    More than 20 family and friends gathered Thursday outside the Farrell district court of Judge Ronald Antos to support the man accused of shooting Andrew T. Walko to death on May 13.

    May 24, 2013

  • Ex-PTO officers in court on embezzlement charges

    Two women accused of stealing more than $35,000 from the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization turned themselves in at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Hermitage police station.

    May 24, 2013

  • Urban decay creates hazard for schoolkids

    Sharon schools Superintendent John Sarandrea shook his head Thursday afternoon as he surveyed a partially collapsed building across the street from Musser Elementary School.

    May 24, 2013

  • Voters choose 4 newcomers, unseating 2 board members

    Sharon residents likely will be seeing four new faces at school board meetings starting in December.

    May 23, 2013

  • Plan for Speedway station gets nod from commissioners

    Alan Baldarelli asked whether he could appeal Hermitage commissioners’ decision to approve a land-development plan for a Speedway gas station and convenience store, but did not say whether he planned to appeal.

    May 23, 2013

  • PTO officers charged with theft

    Hermitage police on Wednesday charged two officials of the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization with stealing more than $35,000 from the organization between May 2012 and March.

    May 23, 2013

  • Memorial Day events

    Area communities announced their Memorial Day commemorations for 2013.

    May 23, 2013