Letters to the Editor | Geauga County Maple Leaf

Taxpayers’ Friend

On behalf of the Ohio Taxpayers Association, it is my honor and privilege to endorse Diane Grendell and her candidacy for Geauga County Auditor.

As a state representative, an appellate judge and once again as state representative, no one has worked harder for Ohio taxpayers than you.

As the next Geauga County Auditor we are certain that you will bring back honesty, integrity and the rule of law to that important office. The taxpayers of Geauga County are lucky to have you and your continued service.

The Ohio Taxpayers Association has long recognized you as a “Friend of Ohio Taxpayers.” Additionally, the former United Conservatives of Ohio also awarded you numerous “Watchdog of the Treasury” awards. Those awards were very well deserved.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

Scott Pullins, Founder
Ohio Taxpayers Association
Mount Vernon, Ohio

Paid Laughs

I must express my thanks for the paid laughs “advertisement” in recent Maple Leaf newspapers. They remind me of the other published stories of a guy in a black robe.

The first was from an attorney “do-we-screw-them-and-how,” demanding Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder remove a tab from a public website showing transparency of county functions. I guess attempting “intimidation” is the new function of transparency. “Intimidation…” Hmmm.

The second was from Patrick Preston of Preston Superstore of Burton. It appears Patrick is upset because “Auditor Walder stopped paying our select invoices unless Judge Grendell agreed to his demands.” Hmmm. If requiring “proof” to pay the bills is a requisite, then so be it. I and others are very good with requiring proof to spend our money.

Patrick, here is your chance to make and prove your point. Let everyone know where you will be, and when, so we can come and get some of yours and Preston’s money without any invoice or proof any work was done. Let us know how that goes. We can all bring invoices and bring pictures of water jugs, or was that before your three-year tenure with the parks?

Also, Patrick: Let us know the last time a finance company screwed up one of your customers financings and you said, “Well OK. You can just keep the car. Don’t worry about it.” We’ll wait for your answer.

Or, based on your comments, you infer that if a customer paid you more than what you needed for a car, Preston Superstore would keep the extra and not give it back. It seems there is a mentality of having a problem with returning taxpayer money that was not needed or accounted for. Is that a relatively correct stance of how you operate Preston Superstore? Keep the extra money and not return any of it to the customer?

Now, why did you fail to mention the law the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on was changed “during” the incident. Amazing how that change happened — and the timing is not mentioned. That’s just about as amazing you have not mentioned the judge and his speaker got in trouble for blatantly lying, last minute, about a candidate during a campaign and were reprimanded for it. (You may want to get your talking points from them because they are not allowed to talk about it without giving the truth of the ruling).

Nor do you mention a “potential” involvement with others in a FirstEnergy scheme. And now you want us to believe in integrity and the crying of “oh, poor us.”

Contrary to your belief of “I cannot think of any situation where a judge’s issues are subordinate to a prosecutor or auditor,” you must have slept through civics lesson. Your interpretation of this being “pettiness” is way off base. The prosecutor and auditor protect our money! Once again, if protecting money is “pettiness,” where and when are you handing out your cash?

Your comment, “A judge has superior status,” was also big wow. Did you read what you wrote or did someone write it for you? I know a lot of judges and judicial people, and none require the ring kissing you infer or portray. None, other than maybe the one you speak of. Also, not sure if you know, but many judges will not just “journal entry” paying all bills. They know it is just wrong on many levels of transparency.

Chuck Walder has the integrity to keep our money safe, transparent and accounted for. It’s not his fault someone sends out robocalls to everyone saying “no public money is being used” for this announcement, then submits the bill for payment from county money.

It’s bad enough a judge sent out another recent robocall for a “deed” and family estate planning meeting at a Geauga park just before an election. Almost smells like public money being used for the robocall for a campaign get-together, but I guess my sniffer is off.

PS: Makes you wonder when “do-we-screw-them and how” will send cease and desist orders to the Maple Leaf and Walder supporters.

PPS: As I write this, I just heard on the news, a judge wants to know immediately the names of everyone who has received funds from the FirstEnergy scheme. He feels it’s the public’s right to know. Uh-oh. . . I feel the stirring of “do-we-screw-them and how.” It sounds like it’s going to be a busy week for them.

John Kloski
Munson Township

Something to Hide

I read with interest the paid advertisement letter written by Patrick Preston, a member of the Geauga County Park Board, dated March 9. There are untruths and inconsistencies in this letter.

As a retired elected county official, having served for more than 24 years, I can tell you that an elected official should be held to the highest standard and be held financially accountable to the taxpayers and overseen by the county auditor. The county auditor does not charge other county offices for the services. The fees are collected per the Ohio Revised Code.

It sickens me to think that, while this lawsuit was pending in Geauga County, the Ohio Legislature passed legislation giving the judges in the state of Ohio free reign to spend taxpayers’ money on whatever they deem necessary, including promoting themselves, by using a court order and not have to run it through their county auditor’s office. Campaign funds should always be used for this purpose and not taxpayers’ funds. That is the reason the Supreme Court ruled 7-0 in favor of the judge — because legislation was changed!

He refers to judges as having superior status. Judges should also be held accountable to the taxpayers and there should be checks and balances in place to show they are fiscally responsible to their constituency. If not, it leads to corruption. I would think that judges would welcome transparency, if they want to be revered as superior to other elected county officials. If they don’t, then they have something to hide. This is a serious issue and not pettiness.

If judges are able to spend irresponsibly on whatever they wish, it hurts the residents and residents only by taking away funds from other county officials who serve the public on a daily basis. Each county has a limited amount of funds and it must be divided among other county offices in order to provide the best services possible.

Chuck Walder, Geauga County Auditor, has been a breath of fresh air and cleaned up a financial mess left behind from a previous auditor’s employee. He has worked cooperatively and diligently to have more safeguards in place to protect the finances and assets for you the taxpayers!

Denise M. Kaminski
Hambden Township
Former Geauga County Clerk of Courts

Dvorak Working for Better Geauga

I am writing this editorial on behalf of Geauga County Commissioner James Dvorak.

I have been associated with him through membership in the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield for many years. Through this organization he has shown a tremendous desire to help Geauga veterans through numerous fundraisers and support programs that he has developed and managed. The Jeep Invasion, Jeep night at Madigan’s and the Geauga Veteran’s Memorial are all veteran-targeted events and monuments that he has taken an active part in.

Commissioner Dvorak has also been part of all the other humanitarian projects that Burton-Middlefield has undertaken, both local and international.

Beyond this, Jim can be seen at most other events throughout the county that support the residents of Geauga. While other commissioner spend their time and efforts outside of Geauga’s boundaries, Jim has a laser focus on Geauga County and its residents. He deserves the votes and support of all of us that are working for a better Geauga County.

Robert Johnson Jr.
Burton Township

Dvorak Works for Geauga

Jim Dvorak is running again for Geauga County Commissioner. Good! He has a track record of supporting initiatives with his words and his works.

I first recall meeting Jim when he served as an advisor for the Geauga County Livestock Corral 4-H Club three decades ago. Jim, with his wife Luanne and other advisors, diligently worked to support members throughout the often…