JEFFERSON – Following a 30-minute executive session to discuss the matter, the Ashtabula County Board of Elections unanimously named longtime employee Nancy Calaway to be its new director during a Monday, July 13, meeting.
Calaway will be stepping into the role formerly held by John Mead, who has decided to retire.
In 19 years working for the Board of Elections, Calaway has held several roles – most recently elections specialist.
Duane Feher, former Board of Elections director and former chair of the Ashtabula County Democratic Party, called and asked her to come on board in 2007, according to Calaway.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat and I’ve been active in my party,” she said. “I’m thrilled at the opportunity.”
Calaway said she looks forward to continued challenges as elections rules change to meet new needs.
She cited the 2020 election, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, as being the most interesting and challenging one she’d seen.
“It was a growth period for us,” she said. “Voting by mail increased dramatically when there was no other option.”
Charlie Frye, deputy director and chair of the Ashtabula County Republican Party, called Calaway “literally the backbone of the office” and characterized the decision to hire her as a “no-brainer.”
“The staff kind of has this motto, ‘In Nancy we trust,’” he said.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Calaway said.
Susan Hagan, board member and chair of the Ashtabula County Democratic Party, said Calaway was the most qualified person to have held the position.
“I’m happy for you – more so happy for us,” she said.
Frye said the Board of Elections had advertised for the open director’s position and interviewed three other applicants, but none had prior experience with elections nor had any of them filed a Form 307, an official questionnaire and letter of intent for individuals seeking a prospective appointment as director of a county Board of Elections.
In other business:
The board approved amendments to its election administration policy, policy manual, election security policy and cyber incident response plan to incorporate Calaway as director.
“Her handwriting is the only legible one out of all of us,” Hagan joked as Calaway signed off on the documents.
In board actions:
John Barbo will be replacing Lorna Westlake as the Democratic Party candidate for the 65th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He will be running against incumbent Republican David Thomas.
Barbor is currently Geneva City Council president and science teacher, football and basketball coach at Geneva High School.
Westlake stepped down, citing family obligations stemming from her husband’s health challenges.
Barbo’s candidacy was approved by the Democratic Party chairs in Ashtabula and Trumbull counties, according to Frye.
The board also approved a contract renewal with Data Mail Services to handle its mail-in absentee ballots.
The company will print ballots at 83 cents apiece and mail them directly from Cleveland to voters for $1.07 in postage each when there are 200 or more ballots a day and $1.11 each when the number is fewer than that, according to Frye.
Frye told the board the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office had approved a $7,400 grant, which will cover the cost of poll worker training, printing training materials and part of the payroll the deputy director and director during the upcoming election.
The board’s backup generator is being moved as part of the ongoing jail expansion project, according to Frye. This will mean the building will not have emergency backup power for a few days.
