HAMILTON — A state official called Tuesday for criminal investigations against two former Butler County Board of Elections members who are accused of pressuring a board employee for political donations.

        Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell's office referred allegations against Mark Conese and Don Daiker to the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Butler County Prosecutor's Office for criminal investigations.

        The office also filed complaints against Mr. Conese and Mr. Daiker with the Ohio Elections Commission.

Conese

Daiker

        Allegations against Mr. Conese, a lawyer who is a former judge, also were sent to the Ohio Supreme Court's office of disciplin ary counsel.

        None of those offices could be reached for comment after business hours Tuesday.

        “Our office believes there is enough evidence that these entities should investigate these issues further and decide whether they are worthy of prosecution or other disciplinary action,” said James Lee, spokesman for Mr. Blackwell.

        Mr. Conese and Mr. Daiker, who resigned from the county board of elections, have denied any wrongdoing. Attempts to reach them and their law yers for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.

        After a hearing on allegations against Mr. Conese, Mr. Blackwell removed him from the county board of elections for malfeasance in office.

        Mr. Conese has said that his removal was politically motivated.

        Mr. Blackwell is a Republican; Mr. Conese is a Democrat and former chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party's central committee; Mr. Daiker had been chairman for the Butler Democrats.

        Both men are accused of threatening to fire a part-time special assistant to the board of elections last year if he didn't contribute his after-tax salary to the party. The employee secretly audiotaped his private meeting with Mr. Conese and Mr. Daiker.

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