Petitioners file motion to dismiss lawsuit over Struthers Municipal Court Judge race

The petitioners who filed to contest the results of the Struthers Municipal Court Judge race are now asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

According to the court document, attorney Michael Ciccone filed the motion to dismiss the lawsuit on December 8.

The petition was filed one week before the motion seeking its dismissal.

Struthers Municipal Court interim Jennifer Ciccone lost to Democratic candidate James Melone in the November election by nearly 1,400 votes. The results of the election were certified on November 16.

The petition filed on December 1 alleged "numerous errors, mistakes, irregularity and fraud" preventing a fair count of ballots cast, preventing some ballots from being cast, as well as other "improprieties."

Court documents also alleged that the Mahoning County Board of Elections "failed to properly train poll workers, poll judges and other persons involved with the election."

The document also accused the Board of Elections of failing to maintain up-to-date voter records, as well as "ballot harvesting," which is described as improper handling of absentee ballots.

The motion does not give an explanation for the dismissal.