CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — In a significant turn of events, Jason West, a candidate for Commercial Point Mayor, has been officially removed from the ballot following allegations that he failed to meet Ohio’s one-year residency requirement.
The decision was reached during a special meeting of the Pickaway County Board of Elections held on Tuesday afternoon in Circleville. West, who initially declared his candidacy for mayor on August 9, has been embroiled in controversy since the Guardian revealed evidence suggesting that he may not meet the mandatory residency condition for mayoral candidates.
During the meeting, West acknowledged that he did not dispute the facts presented by two individuals who contested his candidacy. These allegations aligned with information previously reported by the Guardian, further deepening the scrutiny surrounding his candidacy.
West, whose initial declaration listed his residence as 178 Rosewood Loop SE in Commercial Point, faced challenges to his residency status by a concerned citizen and the current mayor of the village. Both parties contended that West had not met the Ohio law requirement of residing in the village for at least 12 months before running for mayor.
The controversy escalated as the Guardian conducted an independent investigation, uncovering additional concerning details. Public records indicated that West resigned from the village council in July 2022, with plans to live in Arizona and Washington for an extended period. Water bill records, obtained through a legal loophole for media showed that West rented his village house to a local firefighter, with utilities in the firefighter’s name until West’s return in June of this year.
Furthermore, West’s voter registration history revealed that he had registered and voted in the November 2022 election in Pima County, Arizona, as a registered Republican. His voter registration remained active in Arizona while he also sought office in Ohio, raising further questions about his eligibility to run for Commercial Point Mayor. He also voted in Arizona in 2022.
The Pickaway County Board of Elections, tasked with evaluating the evidence presented against West, convened the hearing on Tuesday. Their unanimous decision to remove him from the mayoral ballot has impact on the race for mayor. Current Mayor, Allan Goldhardt will run unopposed.
West, after the board’s decision, publicly accepted their ruling but refused to answer question by the Guardian why he voted in Arizona.
