BUCYRUS—The Crawford County Board of Elections conducted a hearing into challenges made by sitting Councilman-At-Large Mark Makeever and Steve Pifer (former councilman) that Kurt
Fankhauser committed fraud when he listed his home address within Ward 2A. Fankhauser is mounting a campaign against Incumbent Sis Love for a seat on the Republican Central Committee.
The Board (made up of two Democratic representatives and two Republican representatives) voted unanimously that Fankhauser does indeed reside where he stated on the paperwork he completed to register to vote for seeking a seat on the Central Committee.
This victory clears the path for Fankhauser to run against Love.
In a phone call with Crawford County Now, Fankhauser said that when asked under oath, Makeever admitted he did go onto Fankhauser’s property without permission to take pictures. He did obtain utility records from accounts belonging to Fankhauser. At the hearing, Makeever also told the Board of Elections he plans to run for Mayor of the city of Bucyrus.
Fankhauser expressed his thanks to the Board of Elections for their work.
Fankhauser said that he felt the bid to disqualify him from becoming a candidate was an 11th-hour “witch-hunt.” To disqualify him from opposing Love.
According to Fankhauser, Prosecutor Matt Crall went so far as to ask Fankhauser under oath about his dog tag registration.
Fankhauser told CCN there is a shift happening in the party. He said he believes Makeever used his political influence on utility employees to give him information.
In a letter to the Board of Election from Fankhauser’s counsel, they indicated crimes they say were committed by Makeever. Attorney Brian Stewart told the Board in part: “This Board should also be concerned by the nature of these complaints.”
In a recent news article in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, one of the complainants, Mark Makeever, claimed to be in possession of a water bill belonging to Mr. Fankhauser, which our client did not provide to him. This begs the question of what means Mr. Makeever used to obtain personal information belonging to our client. Moreover, Mr. Makeever claims that he has a picture of Mr. Fankhauser’s electric meter, which we have reason to believe would have required trespassing onto our client’s property to obtain. These troubling details would be additional grounds – beyond the clear Ohio case law – to appeal any ruling adverse to Mr. Fankhauser.”
Fankhauser said he is exploring potential criminal charges against Makeever as well as a civil lawsuit.
Crawford County Now reached out to Mark Makeever, who declined to comment on the hearing, saying he accepts the Board’s decision. He also confirmed that he is running for Mayor of Bucyrus.
Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing story.