Mahoning County commissioners hear public allegations that Board of Elections director was blocked from fifth floor

David Beatrice, chairman of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, told the Board of Commissioners on March 6 that Tom McCabe, director of the Board of Elections, was prevented from using the courthouse elevator to reach the fifth floor after bringing television equipment upstairs.

Beatrice said the access restriction, if true, amounted to retaliation for exercising First Amendment rights and asked that McCabe’s elevator access be reinstated. “The director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections access to the Fifth Floor through the elevator should have not been restricted,” Beatrice said.

County facilities staff responded during the meeting. The facilities director, identified in the meeting as Alan (Alan Allen Anderson), said there was no record that access had been removed and told commissioners he would investigate. “If that access was terminated, there’s an electronic record. We’ll find out,” Alan said. A commissioner also said they would seek an answer and, if the allegation proves incorrect, expected an apology.

Other public commenters raised separate complaints about access to county offices and alleged blocking from the prosecutor’s office; those comments included accusations and requests that county officials investigate. The comments included heated and personal allegations that county staff described as familiar behavior from the speaker. Commissioners did not take formal action on the allegation during the meeting but directed staff to look into it and report back.

The allegation was raised during the public comment portion of the March 6 meeting and was not part of a formal agenda item. Commissioners framed the matter as an operational issue for facilities staff to resolve and did not make policy changes during the session.