海角破解版

Updated: 3:26 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021

A member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is facing a formal complaint for comments he made at a campaign event for former Cleveland mayoral candidate Kevin Kelley.

Board member David Wondolowski attended Kelley鈥檚 event as the president of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. During the event  he singled out 海角破解版 reporter Nick Castele, who was covering it, and he said that when Kelley won, supporters would 鈥渒ick the sh--鈥� out of opposing candidate Justin Bibb and the media.

鈥淚鈥檝e never seen the Plain Dealer and other media outlets favor a candidate like I鈥檝e seen here. So when we win this election on Tuesday, we鈥檙e going to kick the sh-- out of the media,鈥� Wondolowski said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to kick the sh-- out of Justin Bibb, right? We鈥檙e going to win.鈥�

Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O鈥橬eill has filed a complaint with Secretary of State Frank LaRose arguing those comments undermine public confidence in elections, which the Board of Elections certifies. In the complaint, he emphasized Wondolowski鈥檚 use of the word 鈥渨hen鈥� in statements referring to election results.

鈥淎t a minimum I would request you immediately suspend this Board member and prohibit him from having any official involvement in the election process of 2021,鈥� O鈥橬eill wrote in his complaint. 鈥淚 am sure you will agree with me that such clearly partisan conduct undermines public confidence in all elections.鈥�

When asked for comment about the complaint, Wondolowski defended his statements.

鈥淲hen I signed on to be on the Board of Elections, I didn鈥檛 sign on to give my rights up to free speech,鈥� Wondolowski told 海角破解版.

At Kelley's election watch party Tuesday evening, Wondolowski stepped up to the podium to state that he loved the media in response to criticism following the initial comments. 

A spokesperson for LaRose said the office will not be conducting an investigation on this issue.