County political parties have until Feb. 15 to recommend to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted appointments to local bi-partisan boards of elections.
Some already have.
Republicans in Trumbull County have nominated former board member Ron Knight to replace former party leader Craig Bonar on the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Bonar, with 12 years on the board and a decade as chairman, is calling it quits to spend more time with his family - he has six grandkids, two born recently - and spend time in Fort Myers, Fla., where he and his wife own a retirement home.
''If I'm on the board, I should attend all the meetings,'' Bonar said. ''It's not fair to take a board position and not be at all the meetings.''
Bonar said he won't be completely disappearing from local politics, though.
Knight previously served on the board from March 2006 to Feb. 2010.
In Mahoning County, Democratic party chairman David Betras is asking again to be appointed to the county elections board.
Husted rejected Betras' first attempt last year to fill the seat left open by former party chairman Michael Morley. Then, Husted wrote Betras was not qualified to sit on the board, citing Betras' involvement in "wrongful conduct'' as treasurer of an office transition account for ex-Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann.
Betras was never accused of wrongdoing or investigated in connection to the transition account.
Husted and Betras met in October - Betras agreed to withdraw his recommendation and in turn, Husted withdrew his rejection. The party went on to pick former Austintown trustee and Youngstown State University professor George Beelen.
Betras declined comment on his second attempt.
Mark Munroe, Mahoning County GOP chairman, said there will be a meeting Jan. 28 to make a recommendation for the seat held by Clarence Smith, former party chairman. Munroe said Smith is the only person to express an interest, and Munroe doesn't expect Smith to be challenged.
In Trumbull County, Democratic Party chairman Dan Polivka said the party will meet by the deadline.
A recommendation was supposed to have been made Thursday, when Democrats met to endorse candidates; however, because of mail being suspended on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some party members were late in receiving the meeting notice.
Party bylaws call for members to be told of a meeting at least seven days in advance.
Board member Niles Mayor Ralph Infante said he will be seeking the recommendation for another term.
Although law calls for a meeting no later than Feb. 15, Husted is asking parties to submit recommendations no later than Feb. 3, ''to ensure that there will sufficient time for our office to review and process the paper work for each elector recommended.''
The law requires boards to reorganize between March 2 and 6.
The new four-year terms begin March 1. One Democrat and one Republican will be selected to new terms.