Republican Mike Witte named to Lorain County Board of Elections

Republican Mike Witte has been formally named to the Lorain County Board of Elections. Witte was appointed by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who accepted the Lorain County Republican Executive Committee recommendation that Witte be tapped. "I was privileged to receive a phone call from Secretary of State Frank LaRose this afternoon confirming my appointment to the Lorain County Board of Elections," Witte said in a release. "It will be an honor to serve the voters of Lorain County." The Lorain County Board of Elections is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans. Witte was appointed to replace Republican Jack Baird. "We'd like to express our appreciation of Jack Baird for his dedicated service during the past six years," a release from the Lorain County Republican Executive Committee. Witte, of Amherst, is also the Republican State Central Committeeman for District 13, representing most of Huron County and all of Lorain County. He was originally elected to that post in 2022 and was reelected in 2024. He joins fellow Republican and board President Marilyn Jacobcik on the board of elections, along with Democrats Inez James and Anthony Giardini. According to the county GOP, Witte has been involved in elections, campaigns and election integrity efforts since 2012, most recently with the Ohio Election Integrity Network. The Election Integrity Network is a conservative group that pushes for election integrity and security of voting and has ties to President Donald Trump and some of his former staff members, according to media reports.