11 Write-In Candidates Approved for the November 4, 2025 General Election
Geauga County Board of Elections (BOE) Special Meeting - August 28, 2025
Meeting Info - Special meeting on August 28, 2025 at 9:30 am in the BOE Conference Room at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 004 (Basement), Chardon, OH, 44024. Attendance was in-person only, which is a departure from the BOE’s typical practice of offering both in-person and virtual public attendance. An agenda was provided in advance. Observer Note: As previously reported, the board is in favor of live-streaming and potentially recording meetings for greater transparency, but needs to finalize technical logistics, determine funding responsibility, and ascertain a recording retention policy.
Public Comment Policy - The Board of Elections typically responds to questions about agenda items throughout the course of their meetings. Those exchanges are documented below as they occur.
Attendance: Present were:
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Board Chair - Dennis Pavella
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Board Member - Janet Carson
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Board Member - Richard Piraino
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Board Member - Joan Windnagel
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Deputy Director - Nora McGinnis
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Office Administrator - Scott Daisher
Director Michelle Lane was absent
County Representatives: Zach McLeod, Information Security Manager, Automatic Data Processing (ADP).
Others: One member of the public, this Observer, and Ohio Secretary of State Regional Liaison Dustin Russell.
Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 9:47 am.
Minutes - None presented.
Payment of Bills - Invoices totaling $931.51 were approved, and included:
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$545.72 to Triad for forms
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$203.87 to Verizon for emergency cell phone contract
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$123.00 to Karlovec for newspaper ads notifying the public of the new BOE location. Reviewer Note: Karlovec publishes the Geauga Maple Leaf and Chesterland News.
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$58.92 to Quill for kitchen supplies
Report from ADP/Auditor’s Office - Mr. McLeod reported the following regarding ongoing work by ADP in BOE’s space in the Geauga County Office Building (GCOB):
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Fire Suppression System - He has no new information to share regarding the quotes for waterless fire suppression systems, which are required by the Secretary of State to protect voting/election equipment. The quotes cover two phases: 1) fire suppression for the programming room, large storage room, and ballot room, and 2) the rest of the office/work areas.
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Server Room Progress - The sealing work is complete, and they are awaiting approval by the fire marshall.
Poll Sync - Mr. Daisher explained that prior to each election, they prepare each poll pad by manually installing the latest IOS update, changing passwords and downloading the election file. This process typically takes a total of 8 days to complete. The Board voted 4-0 to use security grant funds to acquire Poll Sync, a KNOWink software product that automates the updating process, completing the task in only 3 days.
Mr. McLeod indicated that ADP has given conditional approval, requiring use of multi-factor authentication and Crowd Strike.
Middlefield Township, Unexpired Term Ending 12/31/2027 - In response to Middlefield Township Trustee Sophia A Porter’s resignation, the board voted 4-0 to place the unexpired term of her seat on the November 4, 2025 ballot. Observer Note: Ms. Porter's July 17, 2025 resignation letter was initially received by the Geauga BOE on Thursday, August 21, 2025 (two business days before the Monday, August 25 filing deadline for write-in candidates). It was flagged by ADP as a potential security threat, evaluated, then released to Geauga BOE the following day. No explanation was provided regarding the 1 month delay in notifying the BOE of the vacancy. There was discussion that the delay denied interested citizens the opportunity to file as a candidate for that office. This Observer clarified that there is no defined time frame for informing the Board of Elections of a vacancy in local elected office.
Write-In Candidates - The board voted 4-0 to approve 11 write-in candidates, as follows:
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Burton Village Council - Kevin Freeman
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Chardon Local Board of Education - Sharon Madger
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Chester Twp Trustee - Jamie Alves, James Brandon Davis, Juli Anne Mazzurco and Michael J Petruziello
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Claridon Twp Trustee - Eric Brindo, Dewain Hall, Elizabeth Savel and Zackary Sipan
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Middlefield Twp Trustee - Unexpired Term - Dave Hauser
The board noted that many aspects of the Intent to be a Write-In Candidate form are confusing, resulting in errors that require legal review. They said the form prompts the candidate to enter a city or village when many reside in a township. The described the field where candidates are prompted to enter the state, district, county, etc.” as ambiguous. These concerns were relayed to Secretary of State Regional Liaison Dustin Russell.
The board noted that their current practice is to have the list of write-in candidates available for voters to view upon request. Mr. Daisher will explore whether the list of write-in candidates may be more prominently displayed.
Surface Pro Update - The board voted 4-0 to spend about $150.00 to update a tablet that had been stored and unused. Per Mr. Daisher, the device is about 4 years old and will be used for ADA Assessments.
Ballot Quotes - The board reviewed 3 ballot printing quotes for the General Election, voting 4-0 to select Phoenix Graphics based on their excellent service and performance in the 2025 Primary Election.
Equipment Allocation - The board voted 4-0 to allocate equipment to polling locations as follows:
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Sites serving multiple precincts will receive 1 DS200 scanner per precinct
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Standalone sites will receive 2 DS200 scanners
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Each polling location will receive 1 Express Vote to aid voters with disabilities
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An additional DS200 was allocated to the Bainbridge Library location
Russell Township Community Center - The BOE had hoped to locate Russell A, Russell C and Hunting Valley Village voting precincts in the new Russell Township Community Center. After considering parking limitations, it was decided that Russell A and Hunting Valley Village voters would be served from the Russell Town Hall and only Russell C voters would be served from the new Community Center. Postcard notifications will be sent to voters impacted by the change in polling location. Observer Note: Russell B votes at the West Geauga Library.
Executive Session - At 10:46 a.m. the board unanimously voted by roll call vote to enter into Executive Session under ORC 121.22(G)(6) for the purpose of discussing security matters. Mrs. McGinnis and Mr. Daisher were invited to join. Upon re-entering regular session at 10:57, the board voted 4-0 to approve security requirements as recommended by staff, subject to review by the county prosecutor’s office.
Deputy Director’s Report - Mrs. McGinnis reported:
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The security checklist is being updated.
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Training on the new OPEX mail opening machine is being scheduled.
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She has ordered envelopes with the new return address.
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She met with the Chardon post office but they are unable to arrange twice daily delivery and pick up of mail.
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Secretary of State LaRose is scheduled to tour their new space later that day.
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The drop box will be installed in its new location by mid-September.
Mrs. Carson recommended meeting with Sheila Bevington, Clerk of Courts, to ensure the shared drive remains clear during the election cycle.
Mrs. Windnagel recommended staff take steps to ensure the USPS mailbox at the former office location is not used by voters.
Mr. Daisher noted they have a “good stack” of absentee ballot requests. He explained that the applications are entered daily and that status is updated daily at 7:00 pm.
Mrs. Carson opined that it would be more cost effective to build a new storage facility to house voting and election equipment instead of retro-fitting their GCOB space with a waterless fire suppression system.
Updated Certified Candidate Report - The board instructed staff to upload an updated list of certified candidates to the website.
Public Comment: During the course of the meeting, this Observer asked numerous clarifying questions and the board responses are reflected in the report.
The meeting adjourned at 11:35 am.
Next Meeting: The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2025 at 9:00 am.
Observer: Shelly Lewis
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: September 11, 2025
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