Names emerge from behind 'fake' Democratic Party flyer in Lorain

A Chronicle-Telegram investigation into the source of what local Democrats have called a "fake" flyer printed by a Lorain-based political action committee has revealed the name of a person behind it. The "Lorain Democrats for Good Government" political action committee's sample ballot was called a fake by both Lorain County and Lorain city Democrats in a story in Monday's Chronicle-Telegram. The West Marina Parkway address of the Lorain Democrats for Good Government group that paid for the flyer/ballot guide is registered to Phyllis Kemp, according to Lorain County Auditor's Office records. Kemp is the mother of Melissa Kemp Barnhart, a longtime Democratic political operative and former chief of staff to Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley. Multiple messages seeking comment on the flyer were left with both Kemp and Barnhart this week. A reporter knocked on Kemp's door on West Marina Parkway on Election Day, but no one appeared to be home. A note was left on her door. Paul Adams, director of the Lorain County Board of Elections, said Lorain Democrats for Good Government filed a "designation of treasurer" with the board on Feb. 24, naming Kemp as treasurer of the new group. The group is not affiliated with any other PACs, labor organizations or corporations, according to the filing. Adams said the group will have to file a post-primary election campaign finance report, which is due in early June. Adams, who also is chairman of the Lorain City Democratic Party, said previously he found out about the ballot guide on Saturday and issued a statement disavowing it on Monday. He said the mailer was designed to intentionally mislead voters into believing it was a list of official endorsements from the Democratic Party. Lorain County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sharon Sweda said this week that her party also is going to investigate what company printed the sample ballots. "I can't say who it was, though I have some ideas, but they will not be receiving any more business from the Lorain County Democratic Party, I can tell you that much," she said. It isn't clear if the flyer, which is labeled an "official sample ballot," violated any elections rules or laws against deceptive campaign practices. Chief Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Dan Petticord, who serves as legal counsel to the board of elections, said Wednesday he would have to do more research on the issue. Bradley was appointed by Lorain Democrats to the November 2019 mayoral ballot after former Mayor Chase Ritenauer resigned just days after the May 2019 primary. Following his win, Bradley named Barnhart his chief of staff in December 2019. She resigned effective June 5, 2020, for family reasons. Bradley's name did not appear on the flyer. A message seeking comment was left for him on Wednesday. The Lorain County and Lorain City Democratic parties decried the flyer, which was apparently intended to be handed out or mailed prior to Tuesday's primary election, as "fake." The sample ballot listed a number of candidate endorsements, but led with an endorsement of Lorain City Councilwoman Mary Springowski, D-At Large, in the Democratic mayoral primary over Bradley. Springowski said Sunday she didn't have anything to do with the flyer: "I don't know where this came from, and I haven't even really looked at it," she told a Chronicle reporter. Along with Springowski, the flyer also encouraged voters to choose incumbent JoAnne Moon for 5th Ward councilwoman, incumbent Cory Shawver for 7th Ward Council representative, and challengers Anthony Eliopoulos, Joe Koziura and Rita Garcia for at-large Council representatives. Moon defeated challenger Antonio Barrios, and Koziura came in second but still snared a spot in a six-way race for one of three Democratic nominations for an at-large seat. Shawver lost to challenger Mary Spellacy, and Garcia and Eliopoulos came in fourth and sixth place, respectively, in the six-way at-large race. "I have my guesses," Shawver told a Chronicle reporter in a text message when asked if he knew who was behind the flyer. "Not going to speculate until I find out for sure." The ballot also recommended voters choose Karen Shawver — Cory Shawver's mother — for auditor, Patrick Riley for law director, Joel Arredondo for Council president, Beth Henley (1st Ward), Victoria Kempton (2nd Ward), Pamela Carter (3rd Ward), Dan Nutt (4th Ward), Antonio Baez (6th Ward), and Joshua Thornsberry (8th Ward). All of those races were unopposed in the primary. The flyer also contained photos of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.