Youngstown mayoral candidate arrested following alleged domestic argument about ineligibility to run

We're getting more details on the events leading up to the arrest of a Youngstown mayoral candidate over the weekend.

According to a police report from Liberty Township PD, the alleged incident began Friday, May 2 after John White found out he was not eligible to run for mayor in Youngstown and got upset.

Police say White had asked a family member to run for the position for him instead, but the family member said no.

From there, police say White began acting "irrational" breaking things around the house and throwing a crock pot out the window towards the family member. White then allegedly got into his car and began spinning tires and "tearing up the yard." 

Police say the family member tried to leave the home, but White took her car keys and threw them onto the garage roof. That's when the family member called 911.

While the family member was speaking to dispatch, police say White grabbed the phone from her and threw it into a ditch filled with water. According to the police report, dispatch lost contact with the family member at this point and only heard static over the phone.

When questioned about this, police say White claimed the phone slipped off of the family member's shoulder and landed in the ditch. He also told police no violence occurred. 

Police say White also threatened to burn the house down and tried to take his son away from the family member.

White was arrested and charged with a felony count of disrupting public services, as well as a felony count of domestic violence. He was arraigned on these charges Monday morning.

According to the report, the reason for the felony domestic violence charge is previous felony convictions including breaking and entering, aggravated assault and receiving stolen property.

White is due back in court May 14. In the meantime he is ordered to have no contact with the victim.

The Mahoning County Board of Elections's records show White has been registered to vote in the city for four years, not the five required to serve as Mayor, per Youngstown's charter. 

Youngstown Law Director Lori Shells Simmons confirmed the charter language Monday. 

"The city charter is pretty specific, where someone wishing to run for the mayor of Youngstown has to be an elector and a resident of the city in the immediate five years prior to running for office," Director Tom McCabe said, "Our records here indicate that his registration only goes back to february of 2021 which is four years."

White attempted to run in 2021, but was blocked for the same reason and had also voted Democrat while registered as an Independent. 

McCabe also pointed out that in Ohio, in general, anyone with a covicted felony cannot hold office unless the charges are reduced or dropped.

"But they have, until that point in time, till the election to get that record overturned, or a pardon to take care of the matter," he said. 

Monday was the filing deadline for independent candidates and the unofficial list in has been released.

On the list is John White, Derrick McDowell and Aleesha Foster.

The board is expected to officially certify independent candidates in the coming weeks. 

21 News attempted to reach White by email Monday for a response but has not heard back.