Erie County council votes 4–3 to remove Jim Wirtz as Board of Elections chair amid dispute over tabulator inquiry

Erie County Council voted 4–3 on April 30 to remove Councilman Jim Wirtz as chairman of the county’s Board of Elections after a contentious special meeting marked by dueling claims about disclosure, privilege and election integrity.

Wirtz opened the session by invoking personal privilege and said the meeting was called to consider removing him after he raised questions about tabulator testing cited in a lawsuit. "This is a political attack intended to slow the work of council," he said, adding that his inquiries aimed to "ensure the security of our ballots and the protection of our elections." He read excerpts of a response from his outside counsel and said alleged leaks had turned a privileged matter into public controversy.

The matter briefly moved to a procedural vote about whether to go into executive session to discuss personnel; council members voted to enter executive session before returning to the public meeting and taking up new business. Members debated whether Wirtz’s prior contact with an outside group and his referral to a local election attorney created a conflict of interest under county rules or the Pennsylvania Ethics Act. The county solicitor told the council the federal lawsuit filed by the Election Truth Alliance was in early stages and might be dismissed or otherwise resolved before the general election, but he said the case’s timeline was uncertain.

A prolonged public-comment period drew dozens of residents and poll workers who urged the council to keep Wirtz as chair and warned that removing him days before a primary would harm public confidence. "I have no doubt in my mind, in my heart, in my soul that Councilman Wirtz has their best interest at heart," said Jason Brungle, who identified himself from Mill Creek. Chelsea Alcorn, speaking from Zoom, said Wirtz "has done so much to expand access to the ballot, to expand security to the ballot," and asked the council to handle internal personnel matters in executive session.

Supporters argued Wirtz had asked questions about tabulators to "trust but verify" and that public removal without clear, public evidence risked fueling distrust. Several callers who identified themselves as longtime poll workers and party committee members said they had witnessed secure elections and expressed concern that airing internal complaints publicly would undermine turnout.

Council members who backed removal said the vote was a precaution tied to a perceived conflict; those opposed said the action appeared political and urged transparent explanations. After debate, the council held a roll-call vote. The tally recorded four yes votes and three no votes, removing Wirtz as chair. "The chairmanship will shift to our vice chair," the clerk announced; the vice chair, addressed in the meeting as Chris, took the gavel and closed the session, pledging to maintain the integrity of elections.

The county solicitor and council members discussed next steps and noted that Wirtz will remain a member of the Board of Elections even if he no longer serves as chair. No formal disciplinary action against county staff was announced at the meeting, and several speakers asked that any personnel details remain confidential and be handled in executive session.

The council did not articulate publicly specific new evidence that changed the prior approval of Wirtz’s appointment; several speakers asked that members who voted explain their reasons without disclosing personnel matters. The vote came less than three weeks before a scheduled primary, a point repeatedly raised by both callers and council members.