The Democrat running for Congress in Trumbull County will have a public defender representing him in a false voter registration case.

Brian Kenderes, 42, of Strongsville pleaded “not guilty” to the charge Tuesday when he was arraigned in Painesville Municipal Court.

A judge appointed the Lake County Public Defender after Kenderes declared he was indigent and couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer.

According to an investigation conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Kenderes was turned in by relatives who told deputies that he registered to vote falsely using their Mentor, Ohio address in Lake County when he lives outside the 14th district in Cuyahoga County.

Kenderes was unopposed in the primary race for the Democratic party’s nomination to run for Congress in Ohio’s 14th district, which encompasses far Northeast Ohio, including Trumbull County.

Incumbent Rep. Dave Joyce handily won the Republican nomination for reelection.

After being booked into the Lake County Jail, Kenderes was released on bond and faces another court hearing on April 30.