ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — A recent report by WBNS-TV, channel ten in Columbus has stirred confusion and panic among Ross County voters regarding Isaac Oberer’s candidacy for Sheriff. The station erroneously reported that Oberer, whose name was incorrectly cited on air as “Isaac Oliver,” has been removed from the November ballot. This misleading information has been compounded by the fact that 10TV cited the Board of Elections as their source, despite the Board’s decision to keep Oberer on the ballot as of July 10.
Conflict of Interest and Legal Proceedings
The report’s inaccuracies are particularly troubling given the context of the ongoing legal battle involving Oberer’s candidacy. Traci Hatfield-Heness, the Board of Elections official in charge of the office, is the daughter of Jim Hatfield, who has filed a lawsuit aiming to overturn the Board’s decision. On August 8, Jim Hatfield initiated a suit against the Board of Elections in the Court of Common Pleas, seeking to prevent Oberer from appearing on the ballot. Hatfield was caught lying under oath about colluding with Oberer’s opposition, Sheriff George Lavender and committed perjury.
In response to the impending election deadlines, a preliminary restraining order was issued by the judge on August 23. This order temporarily prevented the Board from certifying the ballot with Oberer’s name, setting the case for a hearing today, on August 29.
Public Revelation and Legal Maneuvering
The general public was largely unaware of the lawsuit and restraining order until this week. The first significant confirmation came from the Guardian on Wednesday, after inquiries with the Clerk of Courts. Oberer’s campaign stated they were informed only through media calls and had no intention of intervening in the legal dispute. The lawsuit, while targeting the Board of Elections, does not involve Oberer directly as a party.
County Prosecutor Jeff Marks, tasked with defending the Board’s decision, argued that the suit should be dismissed, asserting that the Board had acted correctly. The case has attracted additional legal attention from Derek Myers, who filed a “motion to intervene” on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. seeking to represent the electorate’s interest in the matter. Myers contends that the voters, who would be directly affected by the decision, should have a voice in the proceedings.
Judicial Proceedings and Media Missteps
At 8 a.m. on Thursday, Myers filed a brief arguing for his inclusion in the case. By 11 a.m., Jim Hatfield had filed a motion opposing Myers’ entry into the case. Myers responded to this opposition at 11:30 a.m., further advocating for the voters’ right to be represented in the legal proceedings.
READ THE DOCUMENTS YOURSELF:
Jim Hatifield’s Request for a Restraining Order and Supplementary Request
The Judge’s Ruling for an Order
The County’s Response to the Lawsuit
Derek Myers’ Motion to Intervene
Jim Hatfield’s Opposition to Myers’ Involvement
Derek Myers’ response to Hatfield’s Opposition filling
The judge reviewed all motions at 1 p.m. and, as of end of business on Thursday had not yet issued a ruling. The Clerk of Courts confirmed to Myers that no final decision had been made and that the judge would require additional time to deliberate — most likely a few days, the clerk said. In fact, that phone call was recorded and is included in this story for readers to hear themselves straight from the Clerk of Courts.
Despite these developments, 10TV’s report inaccurately suggested a conclusive decision had been made, causing unnecessary alarm. The station’s reliance on the Board of Elections as a source, while the Board was not the definitive authority on the matter, contributed to the misinformation.
The Board of Elections was closed by the time the TV story aired, leaving no opportunity for immediate clarification. 10TV was asked for comment but said all of their news managers had left for the day after 5 p.m.
The Clerk of Courts has since confirmed that a final ruling on the case will be forthcoming in the next few days.
The Guardian will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
