Arshinkoff Off Summit County Board of Elections

Newsman Eric Mansfield reports on his blog that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has notified Summit County GOP Chair Alex Arshinkoff that he is out as of the end of his term on February 29th:

"Regrettably, I have reason to believe that, if appointed, you will not be a competent member of the Summit County Board of Elections. I therefore shall not reappoint you to that board for the new term beginning March 1, 2008."

Not being "competent" apparently has to do with the political battle between Arshinkoff and State Sen. Kevin Couhglin (R-Cuyahoga Falls), since Brunner has told the Akron Beacon Journal that it is about partisan activity on Arshinkoff's part at the board:

''A lot of it had to do with the environment created at the board,'' Brunner said in a phone interview.

''There is credible evidence that there's inappropriate partisan activity'' going on at the board, she said.

Coughlin jumped on the news to denounce his foe (as reported in the Plain Dealer):

"I think that it validates what we've been saying, that Alex Arshinkoff is not a leader that Republicans can be proud of," said Coughlin, of Cuyahoga Falls. "He has abused his power. He has abused his position. He has abused employees at the board to strengthen his grip on the local party apparatus."

Arshinkoff is likely to challenge Brunner's action in court.

I'm really, really looking forward to hearing what Akron bloggers like Redhorse, Pho, and Kyle & Co. have to say about this.