Sheriff who called Kamala Harris a laughing hyena blacklisted over voter intimidation fears
An Ohio sheriff who called Kamala Harris a laughing hyena, has been banned from working security for in-person early absentee voting over his controversial statements.
An Ohio sheriff who called Kamala Harris a laughing hyena, has been banned from working security for in-person early absentee voting over his controversial statements.
Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski and his Portage County deputies were ruled not to be able to patrol early voting stations in a 3-1 vote by the Portage County Board of Elections.
As Board Members, we are charged with preventing violence and disorder at the polls and to conduct a safe and secure election process, Chairwoman Randi Clites said in a September 20 Facebook post.
You should not be afraid to vote, Portage County Deputy Board of Elections Director Theresa Nielsen said.
Zuchowski got the Sheriffs Office in hot water after writing a September 13 Facebook post encouraging his fellow Republicans to write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards, suggesting they will be forced to house illegal immigrants in their homes in the future.
Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski and his Portage County deputies were ruled not to be able to patrol early voting stations in a 3-1 vote by the Portage County Board of Elections
Zuchowski got the Sheriffs Office in hot water after writing a September 13 Facebook post encouraging his fellow Republicans to write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards, suggesting Democrats would be forced to house illegal immigrants
Need places to live... Well already have the addresses of the their new families... who supported their arrival! he wrote, while calling Harris a laughing hyena.
Clites said Zuchowskis statements were taken as perceived intimidation by our sheriff against certain voters.
While it is not my responsibility to weigh in on the Sheriffs comments directly, I feel strongly it is in my responsibility to make sure I do what is in my authority to make sure every voter in Portage County feels safe casting their ballot for any candidate they choose, Clites wrote.
I believe walking into a voting location where a sheriff deputy can be seen may discourage voters from entering.
Clites cited Ohio Revised Code 3501.34 as the Board of Elections authority to change which police force is patrolling the election, she said in a follow-up post.
The Portage County Sheriff Department will be replaced by the Ravenna Police Department, as well as, building security.
The order is only for in-person absentee voting and poll worker training. As for which police force will patrol on Election Day was not announced by Clites.
The decision comes after 150 people piled into the Kent United Church of Christ on Thursday for an NAACP to express their fears over the sheriffs comments, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Even Ohio Governor Mike DeWine chimed in, calling Zuchowskis comments unfortunate and not helpful, according to AP.
Three days prior to the announcement that the Sheriffs Office would not be patrolling early voting, Zuchowski took to his Facebook to complain that his statement had been a little misinterpreted.
I...as the elected sheriff, do have a first amendment right as do all citizens, he wrote on September 17. If the citizens of Portage County want to elect an individual who has supported open borders (which Ive personally visited Twice!) and neglected to enforce the laws of our Country...then that is their prerogative.
As Board Members, we are charged with preventing violence and disorder at the polls and to conduct a safe and secure election process, Chairwoman Randi Clites said. Clites said his statements were taken as perceived intimidation by our sheriff against certain voters
With elections, there are consequences. That being said...I believe that those who vote for individuals with liberal policies have to accept responsibility for their actions!
I am a Law Man...Not a Politician! he continued. I would also like to thank...the overwhelming support I am receiving from many people in Portage County who are afraid or are not allowed to agree with me publicly!
The only board member who did not vote to have Zuchowksi and his deputies barred why Chair of the Portage County Republican Party, Amanda Suffecool, according to The Kansas City Star.
Zuchowski is also up for re-election come November and his statements were not found to be in violation of election law, according to the secretary of states office.
The Republican spent 26 years working for the Ohio State Highway Patrol prior to winning his gig as sheriff in 2020.
The posting by Zuchowski comes as Ohio has been in the headlines over the sudden influx of tens of thousands of Haitian migrants to the city of Springfield in the southwest corner of the state, about 200 miles from Portage county.
Zuchowski (pictured with JD Vance) is also up for re-election come November and his statements were not found to be in violation of election law, according to the secretary of states office
The Republican spent 26 years working for the Ohio State Highway Patrol prior to winning his gig as sheriff in 2020
Ohio Senator and VP nominee, JD Vance, claimed on X that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldnt be in this country.
The claim was then repeated during Trumps presidential debate with Kamala Harris while speaking on the issue of immigration and border security.
Trump went further to claim how Haitian refugees had been eating the dogs, the people that came in, theyre eating the cats.
Theyre eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is whats happening in our country, and its a shame, Trump said in the response.
Local officials have said there is no truth to the claims.
