News Summary

COLUMBUS — An ex-convict illegally gathering signatures on a petition against strip club regulations was fired after turning in 15 signatures from dead people, people who weren't registered to vote and people who no longer live in the area, a newspaper reported.

The Ashland Times-Gazette reported that petitions with the 15 bad signatures in Ashland County were filed by Alicia Bonner, who court records showed had been convicted of several charges including robbery and cocaine trafficking. It is unlawful for convicted felons to collect signatures. Also, the faulty signatures could bring a fifth-degree felony charge.

Spokeswoman Sandy Theis of the Vote No on Issue 1 Committee told the newspaper her group wasn't aware of Bonner's background.

The group, which was previously known as Citizens for Community Standards (CCS), is hoping to repeal regulations banning nudity after midnight. Enforcement of the regulations is on hold pending the outcome of the ballot proposal.

The group changed its name Thursday as part of a settlement of a lawsuit with the conservative Citizens for Community Values (CCV), the Cincinnati-based group supporting the regulations. Citizens for Community Values had accused repeal backers of violating its copyright in an effort to confuse voters.

Jeff Ortega, spokesman for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, said information might be available today about whether repeal backers gathered enough signatures from registered voters to get the repeal on the ballot. They filed 382,508 signatures with Brunner's office on Sept. 3. The signatures were sent back to the counties where they were gathered to be checked. To get on the ballot, repeal backers need 241,336 valid signatures. The total must include 3 percent of the votes cast for governor last year in each of at least 44 counties. If there aren't enough valid signatures, the group has 10 additional days to gather more.