OH AG Dann to Represent SOS Brunner @ April 2nd Hearing (RE: Bennett)

[mod mom]

BRUNNER TO BE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY
GENERAL MARC DANN AT APRIL 2 HEARING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY

For Immediate Release


Columbus, OH – March 30, 2007 – The state’s chief election officer, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, announced today that Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Patrick Sheeran will hear Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member Robert Bennett’s motion to temporarily restrain Brunner from moving forward with a removal hearing in Cleveland against him. Bennett is the only remaining member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections after Brunner sought the entire board’s resignation and received three out of four.
Judge Sheeran who was out of town when the motion was filed yesterday will hear the matter on Monday, April 2, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in his chambers in courtroom 6B, 369 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215.

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann will personally appear and represent Brunner at the hearing. Bennett is represented by legal counsel from Cincinnati and Columbus initially hired by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason at Bennett’s request for the board removal hearing.

Bennett’s attorneys filed suit yesterday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to enjoin the Secretary of State from proceeding with an April 2 removal hearing against Bennett and to declare the law allowing for his removal unconstitutional. By agreement of the parties the April 2nd removal hearing has been postponed until April 9.

Hearing officer William Owen, the first assistant prosecuting attorney of Delaware County, is scheduled to conduct the hearing on Brunner’s removal complaint against Bennett on Monday, April 9 at 9:00 a.m. at Euclid City Hall Council Chambers, 585 E. 222nd St., Euclid in Cuyahoga County.


--30--

Media contacts:
Patrick Gallaway, Director of Communications [phone]
Jeff Ortega, Assistant Director of Communications-Media [phone].