3 refuse to quit Ohio election board

Three of four elections board members in the state's most populous county defied a demand by Ohio's chief elections officer to resign by Wednesday.

Only Edward C. Coaxum Jr., a Democrat, resigned from the Cuyahoga County board in compliance with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's demand that they step down. The county has been troubled by recount rigging charges and voting machine problems.

Republicans Robert Bennett, the board chairman and head of the GOP in Ohio, and Sally Florkiewicz said at a board meeting that they wouldn't resign. Democrat Loree K. Soggs said after the meeting that he also would stay on the board.

Brunner said her office was prepared to begin removal hearings against those who refused to resign.

"This is not easy for anyone involved, but this courageous step taken by Mr. Coaxum is a signal to the community of his dedication to improving the county's election system," Brunner said.

Coaxum said it was time for new leadership as the board seeks a new director and deputy director.

Brunner, a Democrat, had said new leadership was needed in the county before the 2008 presidential election. She said that if the board members didn't resign by her deadline, they would face public hearings and removal.

The county, which includes all of Cleveland and has 1 million registered voters, has had difficulty adjusting to electronic voting. Last May's primary, the first attempt at electronic voting in the county, was marred by absent or poorly trained poll workers, lost vote-holding computer cards and a polling place that opened hours late.

Last week, two elections workers were sentenced to 18 months in prison for rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election, not to affect the outcome but so they could avoid a more thorough review of the votes.

Bennett blamed the board's attorney for failing to bring recount irregularities to the board's attention.