McLin and Doll to fill BOE seats

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Montgomery County Democratic party's executive board held a special meeting Monday to fill the seats of former Board of Elections members Dennis Lieberman and Tom Ritchie.

This comes after Lieberman and Ritchie were dismissed by Secretary of State Jon Husted on August 28.  Husted said they violated his directive to get rid of early voting hours on the weekends. 

On Monday, Lieberman and Ritchie filed lawsuits in federal court, claiming they did nothing wrong and asking to be re-instated.

Ohio law states the executive board must fill the two seats on the Montgomery County Board of Elections by September 12, 2012. 

The group voted using ballots at Democratic Headquarters in downtown Dayton Monday.

Five people expressed interest in the seats and gave a speech prior to the vote.

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck counted the votes.

Former Dayton Mayor, Rhine McLin, and Attorney and Centerville School Board member, John Doll, were voted to fill the seats left vacated after the firing of Lieberman and Ritchie.

McLin received the top number of votes; therefore, was awarded Lieberman's spot, whose term doesn't expire for three more years.

McLin is the Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic party, as well as the Ohio Democratic party.  She also served as a state representative, state senator and mayor of Dayton for eight years.

Doll will replace Ritchie, whose appointment ends in a year and a half.

Doll has been a labor law practice attorney for more than 30 years.  He has also served as a member of Centerville's school board for more than 20 years. 

Secretary of State Jon Husted must approve McLin and Doll before they are in fact appointed to the Board of Elections. 

If Lieberman and Ritchie win in the lawsuit, officials said they will be appointed back their seats on the Board of Elections.