Secretary of State Jon Husted today appointed David Karmol to the Lucas County Board of Elections to fill the unexpired term of James Hartley.

Mr. Karmol, 64, an Ottawa Hills lawyer and from 1979 until 1982 an Ohio legislator, was recommended on Tuesday by the Lucas County Republican Party.

Mr. Hartley was removed by Mr. Husted over what Mr. Husted were actions he thought were likely to bring back a period of management dysfunction that ended in 2014 when he removed three previous elections board members. Mr. Husted in May refused to seat the local GOP’s first choice, Ernest McCarthy, as not qualified.

"The appointment of Mr. Karmol today is a positive step towards restoring order and professionalism to the Lucas County Board of Elections," Mr. Husted said. "Restoring trust takes time, but I am hopeful that this appointment is a good beginning of that process in Lucas County."

Each county elections board has two Republican members and two Democratic members who oversee elections. Mr. Karmol’s term ends Feb. 28, 2019.

First Published June 2, 2017, 11:28 p.m.