Free speech or voter intimidation? Portage residents file complaints over sheriff's post

[Botany]

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

At least a handful of Portage County residents have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and local authorities over an inflammatory social media post last weekend by Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski.

Snip

If Harris wins in November, Zuchowski wrote, her supporters should open their homes to undocumented immigrants, whom he referred to as “locust.”

Zuchowski, a Republican who is up for reelection in November, did not make any overt threats in the post, but some residents said they felt unnerved by the idea of residents being put on a list because of their political beliefs.

Snip

Collecting addresses of people from the opposing party is voter intimidation, said Springer, a former writer and editor with the Beacon Journal.

“That sort of doxxing, sanctioned by a gun-toting man with a badge, is downright scary,” Springer wrote in his complaint.





Read more: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/17/portage-county-residents-file-voter-intimidation-complaints-against-sheriff-bruce-zuchowski/75249361007/

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Well Sheriff Zuchowski is on the ballot this fall. I hope a Blue Wave crushes him this fall.

[pat_k]

1. Good. Object by every legal means available.

[BonnieJW]

9. Is anyone running against him?

If not, beating him in the election is not going to happen

[llmart]

11. Yes, I believe someone is running against him.

[jcboon]

26. Bill

A Democrat named Jon Barber.

[Mz Pip]

2. Where's the DOJ?

Making lists implying it will be used in the future is intimidation.

[Dan]

3. MAGA

Ahhhh, returning to the good old days when the face of the Klan was the local police/government.

[ancianita]

4. And he's Polish. OH's got a 433,016 Polish population that wouldn't like that guy's 'immigrant dumping' attitude.

It should work as a good campaign message for Sherrod Brown and other Democratic candidates there.

[Mysterian]

5. Clear and obvious voter intimidation by a sworn law enforcement officer

Charges must be filed against this corrupt asshole!

[cab67]

13. what charges?

Not trying to argue against the idea - this is an honest question. Are there charges that can be filed?


Because if there are, they should be.

[Mysterian]

17. Section 1987 civil rights deprivation

https://www.usa.gov/voter-fraud

[jcboon]

27. Bill

In my state, Virginia, voter intimidation is a felony. I suspect the same is true of other states. I believe there are federal statutes as well.

[Martin68]

6. MAGAts behave like sub-humans.

[4catsmom]

7. vote him out

words have consequences

[SupportSanity]

8. He is up for re-election this year. Jon Barber is the Democratic opponent. They will both be on the Novenber ballot

Bruce Zuchowski is up for re-election this year. Jon Barber is the D candidate that will be on the Nov. ballot

Organize - Rally - Vote for his Democratic opponent

Donate to his opponent here:
https://voteforbarber.com/

[BlueKentuckyGirl]

21. Just donated to his opponent

[alfredo]

10. Wasn't he the one taking note

Of people with Harris/Walz yard signs?

[Attilatheblond]

23. Yep, he's the one

and I think he asked others to do the same.

[cab67]

12. This shouldn't require an election.

This particular sheriff has lost all credibility. He can no longer claim to serve his constituents equally. If I lived in that county, I would call the state police rather than the sheriff's office if I needed something beyond the jurisdiction of local law enforcement.

At the very least, he should issue a public apology. And not one of those "I'm sorry if anyone's feelings were hurt" non-apologies, either - he should be required to acknowledge wrongdoing and pledge to make sure it doesn't happen again.

And then he should resign.

[hadEnuf]

15. Exactly right.

This POS sheriff should be thrown out of office. He is unfit to hold up the oath he has taken.

This "wait for the election" shit just allows these bastards to do whatever they want.

Trump is a huge case in point.

[CoopersDad]

14. I looked at his Facebook page. He sports a pin that says FAFO

He sports a FAFO badge, he's a mini-T-rump Nazi.

Fuck Around Find Out = FAFO = cop code for I will kill you.

https://www.facebook.com/sheriffzuchowski/posts/pfbid0QBawf1AvPePmqwso3mhsaFRY4LWDMRNxuXxmSANpnnaReU8jJRnGC6Fw3y9h8RM5l

[Botany]

22. Bernie Kosar looks like shit @ your link

[Picaro]

16. Sheriff elections are usually rubber stamps

Unless they do something stupid like this.

Wonder if he has an opponent.

[Dem2theMax]

18. See reply number 8. nt.

[twodogsbarking]

19. You could, in theory, just report anyone, right? Ponder that, eh.

[Attilatheblond]

24. Oh, that's a wicked idea

Go to the head of the class.

[cab67]

20. you know what else this means?

Anyone pulled over for a traffic infraction in that county with a Harris-Walz bumper sticker can probably have the ticket dismissed. The sheriff has expressed a pointed bias against such drivers.

Not saying it's good that people can be excused for traffic infractions, but as the button he's said to have worn says, FAFO. A law enforcement officer with an expressed bias risks having their decisions reversed by a judge, no matter how valid they may be.

[jcboon]

25. Bill

A Democrat named Jon Barber is running against Zuchowski. I'm giving serious thought to sending a little donation to his campaign. I'm sort of "donation poor" right now, but perhaps later. I'm hoping that after the aftermath of the bs slung by the Republican candidates in addition to Zuchowski, I would love to see Ohio flip for Harris/Walz and keep Sherrod Brown in the Senate and give Portage County a new sheriff and some Democratic House seats to boot.

[captain queeg]

28. My sister still lives in portage county. I'll have to find out the skinny.

I know this started with an article in the Akron Beacon Journal. I used to deliver that paper when I was a kid. But I’d think the Record-Courier (from Ravenna) would be more appropriate.