Alliance law director resigns and withdraws from Stark County judicial race. Here's why
ALLIANCE ‒ Recently elected Law Director Caitlyn Weyer has resigned from her post and withdrawn from her GOP primary race for Stark County Common Pleas judge.
The 38-year-old Weyer told The Canton Repository her decisions are all about accountability and transparency.
"I believe in the election process," she said.
Weyer didn't steal, pillage or plunder. What she did, though, was leave her former surname off election nominating petitions last year when she won a four-year term as city law director; then, she repeated the same mistake on petitions for the judge's seat.
It wasn't purposeful, said Weyer, who'd legally changed her last name from Schneider in 2020.
But little-known portions of election law require election candidates to include their former names on petitions for as long as five years after the name change. Weyer said she didn't realize those sections of the law applied to her situation until it was brought to her attention on Friday.
Weyer said she'll own her mistake.
"Frankly, I'm disappointed I had not caught this before," she said.
Dan Funk to run unopposed in Common Pleas primary
Weyer said she'll now throw her support behind one-time primary foe, attorney Dan Funk. The former Jackson High School state wrestling champion and coach becomes a shoo-in to advance to November's general election to face incumbent Democrat Natalie Haupt.
The name change issue had been escalating behind the scenes in recent days.
"I have not heard of this," Funk said when contacted by the Repository, adding he's only known his opponent by the 'Weyer' name.
The Canton Repository also had recently learned of the name change and potential repercussions that Weyer could face, penalties that are outlined in state law. They included removal from her law director job and having to pay back any salary collected.
On Monday, the newspaper asked the Stark County Prosecutor's Office what effect the discovery may have on Weyer's position, as well as her status on this ballot.
The answer was unclear. Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Deborah Dawson, who advises the Stark County Board of Elections, said she was looking into the matter.
Why Caitlyn Weyer changed her name
Weyer changed her name four years ago to take the surname of her longtime partner, a man she said she's been with for 14 years and whom she considers her husband, though they aren't married.
The Ohio Revised Code has exceptions for those who change their name as a result of marriage ― but not for situations like Weyer's, or that of Vanessa Joy, for example.
The latter, a transgender candidate, was disqualified earlier this year by the Stark elections board from appearing on the primary ballot for an Ohio House seat.
The difference? The elections board was aware of Joy's 2022 name change before the board certified names, including Weyer's, to the March primary ballot.
Board of Elections Director Jeff Matthews explained the difference in the two scenarios:
Joy had voted a provisional ballot, changing her name in the May 2023 primary. When she filed her Ohio House candidate petition in December, the last image on file of her signature showed that she had changed her name.
In Weyer's case, he explained, she changed her name and signature at the election office in September of 2021, then voted in five subsequent elections under the 'Weyer' name before she filed her petition for the judge's race on Dec. 20 of last year.
Weyer had served as law director since September 2021 when the Republican party appointed her to fill the term of Jennifer Arnold, who left for a judge's seat in Noble County.
Weyer said Alliance Mayor Andrew Grove will appoint an interim law director until the local GOP selects her replacement.
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance Law Director Caitlyn Weyer resigns, leaves judicial race
