Ohio sheriff who called VP Harris a ‘laughing hyena’ is barred from election security

An Ohio sheriff’s office will not be allowed to provide security for in-person early voting for the upcoming election following the sheriff’s controversial comments that some considered voter intimidation.

“As Board Members we are charged with preventing violence and disorder at the polls and to conduct a safe and secure election process,” Randi Clites, the chair of the Portage County Board of Elections, said in a statement. “It is clear by public comments in the past week there is perceived intimidation by our sheriff against certain voters.”

The motion to remove the Portage County Sheriff’s Office from the absentee voting election security was passed 3-1, officials said. Amanda Suffecool, the chair of the Portage County Republican Party, was the lone person to vote “No.”

The board’s decision stemmed from a Sept. 13 Facebook post by Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, who used insulting language while referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, McClatchy News reported.

“When people ask me … What’s gonna happen if the Flip–Flopping, Laughing Hyena Wins?? I say … write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards!” Zuchowski said in the Facebook post on his public accounts. “Sooo … when the Illegal human “Locust” (which she supports!) Need places to live … We’ll already have the addresses of ... their New families … who supported their arrival!”

The posts are no longer visible on Zuchowski’s Facebook pages as of Sept. 23.

Zuchowski, a Republican up for re-election in November, said in a Sept. 17 post that his previous statement “may have been a little misinterpreted.” But in the same post, he said voters should “accept responsibility for their actions.”

While some residents called Zuchowski’s posts a form of voter intimidation, Ohio’s Secretary of State’s Office said they did not violate any state election laws, according to a Ravenna Record-Courier story on the Akron Beacon Journal’s website.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine referred to Zuchowski’s comments as “unfortunate” and “not helpful,” The Associated Press reported.

The board of elections said it is “weighing its options” on whether to use private security or the Ravenna Police Department to handle security for in-person absentee voting.

“I believe walking into a voting location where a sheriff deputy can be seen may discourage voters from entering,” Clites said.

Around 150 people attended a Portage County NAACP meeting Sept. 19 to share concerns about Zuchowski’s posts, according to The Portager.

The emergency meeting was held “to come together in unity,” said Portage County NAACP President Renee Romine, who told WKYC “there’s strength in numbers.”

“Many of the things that I’ve heard ... they sadden me,” Portage County Deputy Board of Elections Director Theresa Nielsen said through tears, according to WKYC. “You should not be afraid to vote.”

McClatchy News has reached out to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and did not immediately receive a response.

Portage County is about a 40-mile drive southeast from Cleveland.

This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Ohio sheriff who called VP Harris a ‘laughing hyena’ is barred from election security."