Losing Candidate Ordered To Pay Costs Of Challenge To Results

An Ohio Democrat who lost his bid for state representative last year has been ordered to pay some of the court costs incurred by his opponent. Josh O'Farrell lost his bid to unseat Republican incumbent Al Landis by eight votes. O'Farrell contested the results. Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor - a Republican - has ordered O'Farrell to pay 17 hundred dollars in deposition costs. State law gives the Ohio House the right to judge the election of its own members. The chamber voted in May to uphold Landis' victory. O'Farrell argued the House should determine if the costs were proper. Landis' win gave House Republicans a 60-vote super-majority, which allows them to override a gubernatorial veto.