*Note: This is reader-submitted. Opinions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@crawfordcountynow.com

Dear Editor,

This past Thursday, I was removed from the Crawford County Board of Elections Office and the Crawford County Courthouse. In my view, there was no committed, nor any violation of Ohio law that justified removal from a public building. Despite this, the Crawford County Prosecutor and the Sheriff of Crawford County issued what I believe to be an unjustified order for Courthouse Security to remove a private citizen from a taxpayer-owned government building. Courthouse Security felt it necessary to call another unit for the removal. Based on my video of the encounter, the responding deputy seemed unwilling to discuss the legal basis for the removal or contact to clarify the reasoning with the Prosecutor, nor Sheriff. This deputy wasn’t wearing any type of body cam during this encounter.

On December 31, 2025, I spoke to the Director of the Board of Elections regarding issues with the Office of Elections. As Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has stated “Public Records belong to the people and not the government body holding them.” My recent visit (January 8, 2026) was a new request under ORC 149.43(B)(1) to inspect records regarding the OAEO conference – a request separate from any previous fillings in 2025.

This situation raises troubling questions for the citizens of Crawford County: Why is the board of Elections withholding access to these public records? What information is being kept from the light of day? Do the employees and Board members fully understand the Ohio Sunshine Laws (ORC 149.43 and ORC 121.22), and have they completed their mandatory training?

Furthermore, under what legal authority can a peaceful citizen be removed from a public building for attempting to exercise their rights to inspect records? I believe the actions taken by the Sheriff, the Prosecutor and the responding deputies, call into question their commitment to the sworn Oath to protect our constitutional rights as citizens.

Our government must be transparent. We have the legal right to know how Crawford County is being run. I encourage all citizens of Crawford County: do not give up your right to the truth. In my opinion, the officials involved are misinterpreting the law to avoid public scrutiny. If all public records were available online to review (State of Ohio records), this would reduce or eliminate this type of scrutiny. One only needs to look at recent events in Marion and Galion to see why transparency is so vital.

Respectfully submitted,

Greg White,

Veteran/Citizen

1125 Hillcrest Drive

Bucyrus, Ohio 44820