The sudden death of Michael Pepin, a Republican member of the Clark County Board of Elections, has blown a hole in the four-member panel less than three weeks before the county's primary and set off a fight inside the local GOP over who gets to fill his seat. Pepin died over the weekend, and county election officials say they have already called in legal counsel as rival party factions battle over who has the power to nominate his replacement, a decision that could ripple into canvassing and certification while ballots are being processed.
Two local GOP factions claim nominating power
As reported by the Springfield News-Sun, two different groups both insist they are the official Clark County Republican Party, and each says it holds the authority to recommend Pepin's replacement to the Ohio secretary of state. The dueling claims mirror recent infighting within the county GOP and have left county officials unsure which recommendation, if any, they are supposed to treat as legitimate.
What Ohio law requires
Under Ohio Revised Code 3501.07, the county executive committee of the party that is entitled to the appointment has 15 days from the date of the vacancy to recommend a qualified elector to the secretary of state. The statute says the secretary generally "shall appoint" that person unless there is a reason to believe the nominee would not be competent to serve. If no recommendation comes in within that window, the secretary of state is permitted to make the appointment directly.
When committees clash, the state can step in
If competing county committees both send in different names, the secretary of state can ask the party's state central committee to certify which county group is actually legitimate. Courts have also spelled out how mandamus and other remedies can be used in appointment disputes when a county and the secretary of state end up at odds. Ohio Supreme Court precedent lays out those pathways and potential remedies, as summarized in FindLaw.
Board turns to lawyers as the clock ticks
Clark County Board of Elections Director Jason Baker told the Springfield News-Sun that the board is already working with legal counsel to sort out its options after Pepin's death. Baker said officials want to be sure that any nomination or appointment tracks with state law and does not interfere with the administration of the upcoming elections.
Primary timeline raises stakes
Early in-person voting is already underway, and the May 5, 2026, primary is locked in on the calendar, according to the Clark County Board of Elections. With canvass and certification work looming, election officials say it is important to resolve who can legally nominate a replacement in order to avoid administrative or legal snags as votes are counted and results are certified.
Secretary of State's role and likely next steps
The Ohio secretary of state appoints two members to every county board of elections every two years and typically goes along with the county party's recommendation unless there is a clear reason to reject it, according to guidance from the secretary's office. If rival county groups keep claiming the same authority in Clark County, the secretary of state can lean on the procedures in state election directives for handling appointments and certifications, including asking the state party to weigh in on which committee is valid. Those procedures, along with the specific forms and timelines for appointments, are detailed in guidance from the Ohio Secretary of State.
For now, county officials say they will wait for formal legal advice and any official recommendation before moving to fill Pepin's seat. This story will be updated as state or local officials announce who will serve out the remainder of his term.
