(Cleveland) - Even though Kenneth Johnson has been removed from Cleveland City Council follwing his conviction on federal corruption charges, his name remains on the ballot in next month's primary for the Ward 4 seat on City Council.
Under state law, a convicted felon cannot hold public office, but there's nothing in state law that says a convicted felon can't run for office. Johnson submitted his nominating petitions while his case was still pending,
Johnson's name being on the ballot could siphon votes away from the other ten candidates running for the Ward 4 council seat. The big question is, what if he is one of the top two vote-getters in the September primary, and goes on to the November ballot? Cuyahoga County Director of Elections Anthonly Perlatti told The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com that if Johnson is sentenced as scheduled in October, then any votes for him in November just wouldn't be counted. If Johsonn were to win, he couldn't serve, so that would bean Council would pick an appointee for the Ward 4 seat.
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