Democrat Shane Jackson joins Stark County Board of Elections, succeeds Samuel Ferruccio

CANTON ‒ Shane Jackson is the newest member of the Stark County Board of Elections.

Jackson was recommended by the Stark County Democratic Party and appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

By law, elections boards in Ohio have four members, two from each major party. He joins Democrat Dimitrios Pousoulides and Republicans Frank Braden and James Mathews on the board.

Jackson, 56, will serve the remainder of Samuel Ferruccio's term, which he vacated last month.

"I feel honored that I have the opportunity to serve Stark County," he said.

Jackson is chief deputy clerk of the Massillon Municipal Court and political director of the Stark County Democratic Party. He is also highly involved in community organizations.

He said he previously served on the Board of Elections for a short time from 2003-2005.

Jackson was selected unanimously by the Stark County Democratic Party executive committee, according to Pousoulides, the party chair.

"[Jackson] has over 30+ years of knowledge in campaigns and elections," Pousoulides wrote in an email.

Jackson said he believes he was selected because he has the experience necessary to join the board only a few months ahead of the presidential election.

"There was confidence that I could hit the ground running and could quickly get up to speed," he said. "And I hope to do just that."

Maintaining free and fair elections is the most important responsibility of the board, Jackson said.

"We get the job done and make sure that the citizens of Stark County can continue to have confidence in the accuracy and validity of their local elections," he said. "Our board staff does a great job, and I'm pleased to be a part of that."

Samuel Ferruccio retires from board of elections

Ferruccio said he decided to step down to make space for younger leaders.

"I thought it was a good time to step down and give some other young Democrats an opportunity to see what it's like to be at the grassroots level of the democratic process," he said.

Ferruccio, 71, joined the board in 2007 as one of two Democratic members. He was most recently chairman of the board. Pousoulides is the new chairman of the board following Ferruccio's departure.

He said the Board of Elections has made a lot of positive changes since he first joined, moving from an old space in downtown Canton to the current location off U.S. Route 62.

"We did what was right for our voters," Ferruccio said.

Ferruccio has also resigned from the Stark County Public Defender Commission, of which he had been a member since 2007.

"I've been practicing for 45 years and thought it was just time to give somebody else an opportunity," he said.

The county commissioners appointed Canton attorney Christopher A. Newlon to finish his term on the commission.

Newlon has been an attorney for about 31 years and was pleased to be appointed to the commission.

"I have tremendous respect for the lawyers at the at the Stark County Public Defender's Office," he said. "Some of the brightest and most informed and hardest working defense lawyers that I know are public defenders, and it would be an honor to serve on the board."

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Democrat Shane Jackson joins Stark County Board of Elections, succeeds Samuel Ferruccio