Ohio office hides elephant, donkey after complaint

[August 26, 2010]  NEWARK, Ohio (AP) -- The elephant and the donkey are going into hiding at an Ohio voting board.

A Libertarian candidate saw ceramic figurines of the Republican and Democratic symbols on the counter at the Licking County Board of Elections when he filed paperwork to run for county commissioner.

James Snedden Jr. says the display showed bias toward candidates for the two major parties. He filed a complaint with the board on Aug. 4.

Board director Sue Penick says the panel has since heard from the Ohio Secretary of State's office. The state office recommended that the red, white and blue statuettes be kept out of sight, to avoid conflicts.

The animal figurines are now off the counter, but still in the office.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com/

[Associated Press]

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