YOUNGSTOWN — With the Mahoning County Board of Elections prepared not to certify his candidacy, Youngstown City Council President DeMaine Kitchen withdrew from the Democratic primary and filed to run as a write-in candidate.
Kitchen, who was to run unopposed, submitted nominating petitions with 67 signatures, with 50 needing to be valid, to get on the ballot. But reviews of his petitions by board employees determined only 46 signatures were valid.
Deputy Director Thomas McCabe said the board calls candidates without enough valid signatures before certification, which was Friday, to let them know they likely won’t qualify and offer options, including filing as a write-in, before the board meets to vote.