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ASHLAND — The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ashland County Democratic Committee have settled the political party’s remaining claims over its removal from the 2025 Ashland County Fair.
This follows the committee’s earlier settlement with the Ashland County Agricultural Society, also known as the Ashland County Fair Board, and was reached on similar terms.
The dispute began Sept. 18, 2025, when the fair board removed the Democratic Committee after receiving complaints about political buttons and other materials displayed at its booth.
Fair Board President Martin Wesner previously told Ashland Source the board asked the committee to remove the items before the booth closed.
Uniformed sheriff’s personnel accompanied Fair officials and stayed while the committee took down its booth and left. The committee’s announcement said the materials constituted political expression protected by the First Amendment.
The Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after the incident to determine if the buttons violated Ohio criminal law. Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider also contacted the U.S. Secret Service to investigate potential threats to President Donald Trump’s safety.
The Fair Board settled its portion of the lawsuit in September. Under that agreement, the board acknowledged that the Democratic Committee “did not engage in any improper conduct at the 2025 Fair” and apologized for removing them from the fair.
As part of this settlement, Schneider issued the following statement:
“The Ashland Democratic Committee did not violate any state laws at the 2025 Ashland County Fair. The materials displayed at its booth were protected political expression under the First Amendment. No probable cause existed. The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the freedoms of all citizens, while adhering to our oaths of office and investigating all allegations or criminal involvement. In this case, there was no evidence of criminal involvement by the Ashland County Democratic Committee.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office recognizes and acknowledges it can always improve services to the community and has decided to double its efforts to protect the constitutional rights of all citizens. The Sheriff’s Office will continue that commitment by participating in training pertaining to First Amendment issues, including free speech and freedom of expression.”
Marc Dann, the committee’s attorney, told Ashland Source the Sheriff’s Office is paying $30,000 as part of the settlement.
Schneider told Ashland Source Thursday that he received the settlement paperwork this morning, but it has not yet been signed.
As with the Fair Board settlement, Sheriff’s office personnel will receive First Amendment training. With this settlement, all of the Democratic Committee’s claims arising from the 2025 Fair are resolved.
“With this settlement, the public record is now fully corrected: Ashland County Democrats did nothing wrong, committed no crime, and were exercising the same right to peaceful political expression that belongs to everyone,” Democratic Committee Chair Heather Sample said.
“We appreciate the Sheriff’s Office’s acknowledgment and its commitment to First Amendment training, and we look forward to taking part in future Ashland County Fairs.”
