The Lucas County Republican Party has nominated East Toledoan Ernie McCarthy to replace James Hartley on the Lucas County Board of Elections, party Chairman Jon Stainbrook announced today.

Mr. McCarthy, 75, ran unsuccessfully in city council primaries for District 3 in 2015 and at-large in 2013. He was the Republican nominee for Senate District 11 in 2014, losing to Democratic incumbent Sen. Edna Brown.

The recommendation goes now to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, who fired Mr. Hartley from the board April 21, in part for trying to install Mr. Stainbrook in the board’s almost $95,000-per-year staff director position.

Mr. McCarthy is a former carpenter supervisor and construction supervisor. He worked part-time in county elections from 2003 to 2012 as a poll worker or seasonal worker. From 1970 to 1979, Mr. McCarthy owned his own business selling electronic industrial equipment.

Mr. McCarthy was in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1966.

The elections board, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, oversee elections in Lucas County.

First Published May 3, 2017, 7:19 p.m.