Bruce Zuchowski, a Republican supporter of Trump, compared migrants to “human locusts” and referred to the vice president as a “Flip-Flopping, Laughing Hyena.”
The Portage County Sheriff’s Department in Ohio has been relieved of its election security responsibilities after Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, a supporter of Donald Trump and a Republican candidate for re-election, made controversial remarks on social media. He suggested that the addresses of residents displaying Kamala Harris signs should be noted to house illegal immigrants.
Earlier this month, Zuchowski referred to migrants as “human locusts” and criticized Harris as a “Flip-Flopping, Laughing Hyena” on his personal and campaign Facebook pages. He proposed that migrants needing housing be sent to the homes of those who supported Harris, implying they would welcome them.
In response, the Portage County elections board voted 3-1 on Friday to remove the sheriff’s office from its role in providing security during in-person absentee voting. Although the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office found that Zuchowski’s post did not violate state election laws, local residents voiced concerns about having a sheriff with anti-immigrant sentiments overseeing election security.
An emergency meeting organized by the local NAACP chapter drew over 100 attendees, as reported by the Ravenna Record-Courier. Frank Hairson, the NAACP chapter’s communications chair, noted that community members expressed fears about voting and displaying political signs.
Randi Clites, the chair of the county board of elections and a Democrat, emphasized the importance of ensuring voter safety and confidence. In a Facebook statement, she expressed concern that the presence of sheriff deputies at polling locations might deter voters.
Zuchowski later addressed his Facebook comments, suggesting they “may have been a little misinterpreted.”