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Phalen's opponent faces a challenge

From the Columbus Dispatch 3/18/2004

Lancaster man protests challenger’s candidacy
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Mary Beth Lane
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A supporter of Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen says independent Dennis Carley is unqualified to run for the office.

Carl Tatman, a Lancaster City Council member and former police officer, has filed a protest of Carley’s candidacy with the county board of elections.

Tatman, a Republican, asserts that Carley lacks the required two years of supervisory experience within the past five years.

Carley, Tatman said, also hasn’t completed two years of college education — an alternative to the work experience.

Tatman filed the protest Tuesday.

Phalen, a Republican who is seeking his second term, defeated then-Sheriff Gary DeMastry in the 2000 primary while De-Mastry was running under indictment. DeMastry is serving six years in prison for corruption.

Carley, a captain under De-Mastry, resigned in April 2000.

"If you look at the past history of that office, we deserve that our sheriff be a qualified person," Tatman said yesterday. "I don’t want a person, unqualified under the Ohio Revised Code, to be elected sheriff in this county."

Carley disagreed, and said Tatman was misinterpreting the law.

"I do meet all those qualifications," Carley said, adding that he has nine to 10 years’ supervisory experience.

State law requires a minimum of two years’ supervisory experience in the five years preceding the qualification date to run.

Fairfield County Board of Elections Director Alice Nicolia said a hearing on the challenge will be scheduled.

Challenge Filed

The Columbus Dispatch