Say No More
The strong Plain Dealer endorsement for Geauga County Auditor is spot on: Mr. Chuck Walder. Say no more.
Sheldon Firem
Hambden Township
Dvorak, Rotary Support Veterans
For the past several Octobers, Jeep enthusiasts have enjoyed a 90-minute tour of beautiful Geauga County in its full fall splendor, while helping the veterans throughout the state and county.
The “Geauga Jeep Invasion” was the brainchild of Jim Dvorak and has been growing since its inception.
When Mr. Dvorak visited me to explain the concept, I was unsure how successful it would be. Successful is an understatement!! This event is eagerly anticipated by Jeep enthusiasts throughout Ohio and several neighboring states. It celebrates our beautiful county, honors the lives and sacrifices of our veterans and military, and raises substantial money for our veteran charities within the local community.
VALOR Retreat, a Chesterland 501(c)3 charity, building cabins for our combat veteran’ and Gold Star families in Hocking Hills, has been the honored recipient of this generosity. We are so thankful to the Burton-Middlefield Rotary for its sponsorship of this event and look forward to celebrating this year’s October Jeep event with Commissioner Dvorak in 2022.
Barbara Titus
Vice President/Director
VALOR Retreat
Walder: Track Record for Fiscal Responsibility
Many recycled, modified signs used for Tim Grendell’s election campaign have popped up without Tim’s name and the slogan “Experience Matters.”
Diane Grendell, as far as I can see, has zero experience as an auditor. The only person running with experience is Chuck Walder, the current Geauga County Auditor.
Rep. Grendell has experience being elected to the House of Representatives with huge campaign donations steered to her from the House Republican Campaign Committee controlled by the disgraced Speaker Larry Householder.
She seems to take every opportunity to get a photo-op to keep her name out there for re-election. Has she done some good things? Perhaps. Is she a good candidate for auditor? Not in my book.
Are we to assume Diane Grendell does not speak with her husband on his frustrations with the Geauga County Auditor’s Office? Is her run for this office purely to help the people of Geauga County? It would seem she and her husband believe we are just sheep who will follow the loudest leader no matter how they would perform.
As a former Geauga County Deputy Auditor, I for one will cast my vote for someone with the experience and track record of fiscal responsibility, and not for a career politician with an axe to grind!
Please join me in voting for Charles Walder on May 3, 2022.
Bill Wheelock
City of Chardon
Friends in Lowest Places
“Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who YOU are.”
Diane Grendell seems to be a favored friend of once powerful, now disgraced Larry Householder, former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus. Bribery, lies, dark money from out-of-state donors in Republican coffers, betrayal of the public trust, these are among the suspicious clouds over Householder’s head stemming from the House Bill 6 utility bailout scandal.
Householder’s name is at the center of this ongoing investigation that follows the trail of $60 million in bribery money. Her first day on the job in Columbus, appointed to fill a vacant seat by her friend Larry Householder, Mrs. Grendell voted to pass HB 6, the bailout and bribery bill that is still costing Ohio taxpayers money to this day.
Now that her friend is out of power in Columbus, she wants to be Geauga County Auditor. Do we want a person even remotely connected to this bribery scandal handling the finances of our county? No!
Vote to re-elect Chuck Walder for Geauga County Auditor. His integrity and record of service are beyond reproach.
Kathleen Webb
Munson Township
Intentionally Deceptive Loser
After receiving Walter Claypool’s campaign literature announcing he is on the ballot in the Republican primary for Geauga County Commissioner, I am a bit confused.
His mailings and his roadside signs say “Re-Elect.” Usually the term “Re-Elect” refers to an incumbent. But to be clear, he is not the incumbent Geauga County Commissioner. Mr. James Dvorak is the incumbent and is seeking “Re-Election.”
I am left with the impression that this is intentionally deceptive wording from Mr. Claypool. Claypool was a Geauga County commissioner from 2015-2018, but lost his Republican primary election on May 8, 2018 — to Mr. Dvorak.
He was a Chester Township trustee from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021. He again lost his re-election bid in 2021.
Is he a career politician who will run for any opening? Was using the term “re-elect” a means to infer he is an incumbent when he is not?
Personally, I find this deceptive and misleading to the residents of Geauga County and taints the election process. Mr. Claypool has lost enough times that he should pack his bags and stop trying to run for any office that appears open.
Linda Barnes Gifford
Chester Township
Who’s the Real RINO?
Just received my shiny mailer from Walter “Skip” Claypool, running again for county commissioner.
The flyer he passed out at the county fair last time he was running, which by the way, he used his county email address and phone number as contact information, and was also paid for by Friends of Skip Claypool. For someone who believes in “responsible and accountable government,” he should know better.
Oh, he uses his “go to” terms like woke, CRT, limited government and no more RINOS; quite expected that from him.
Jim Dvorak has lived in this county for 40 years. Skip moved here and shortly after founded the Geauga County Tea Party in 2012. He’s been wreaking havoc in the Geauga GOP and the county ever since.
Claypool’s track record is getting appointed, run again, lose, and then run for something else. Who’s the real RINO?
The thing that really upsets me about his latest mailer is when he states that he is endorsed by the veterans. No offense “Skip,” so is Jim Dvorak. Jim spearheaded two veterans’ fundraisers along with the Burton-Middlefield Rotary called Geauga Jeep Invasion and Jeep Night: One at Madrick’s in Newbury that raised over $10,000 in May of 2021 and another one at Mayfield Drive-In in October of 2021 raised $17,000. I didn’t see you there. How many veterans fundraisers have you spearheaded? And by that, I mean did all the hard work to make it happen, not just show up!
Dvorak has been involved in plenty of county and community events long before he was a commissioner. Claypool’s flyer does nothing but attack his opponent. Get real “Skip,” start by telling what exactly you’ll do.
One question, if you lose again, where will you get appointed or what will you run for next? Inquiring minds want to know.
Rose Yaecker
Newbury Township
Exacting Revenge on Parks
I appreciated the Fan Mail. I would like to respond to my critics:
1) I have been running successful companies for almost 50 years. No, we do not pay bill without invoices.
2) The Geauga County Parks account for every penny of taxpayer funds. All bills and invoices are reconciled.
3) Judge Grendell and Auditor Walder’s conflict is between them. Since Walder and Flaiz are unable to win in court, they have exacted their revenge on the Geauga Park System.
4) The Park District has worked with a budget of $6 million for almost 20 years. In 2022 and 2023, Walder and Flaiz cut our park budget by $2 million, or 31%.
During the past two years our parks have been a safe refuge for Geauga County residents to exercise, enjoy nature and decompress. If Walder and Flaiz succeed, we will need to close parks and reduce services.
Pat Preston, Commissioner
Geauga Park District
Honor and Privilege
It was an honor and a privilege to serve on the Health District Advisory Council for the first time and be part of the appointment process for a new board of health member.
Many residents wrote letters, made phone calls and attended meetings voicing the opinion that change was needed, and the HDAC agreed and appointed Carolyn Brakey, who has been attending BOH meetings and familiarizing herself with the duties of the board for the past year.
I look forward to continued progress at GPH in serving the needs, and regaining the trust, of the public. I wish Mrs. Brakey and the rest of the board all the best in achieving those goals.
Chris Alusheff
Aquilla Village
Walder Protects Taxpayer Dollars
I am writing to endorse Chuck Walder for Geauga County Auditor.
As a CPA, we need proper checks and balances within our government and Chuck has proven that he follows the laws and watches out for our taxpayer dollars.
As a former elected auditor, I am disappointed that a longtime legislator would run for a position with an obvious conflict of interest. She has shown she only cares about herself and husband, because she has ignored what is a glaring conflict of interest.
There was also a mention of how she would reduce taxes. This is just a blatant attempt to fool the voters of Geauga County, as an auditor works with the tax mills voted on by the people.
Chuck has been the moderate and consistent voice as the Auditor for Geauga County.
As a finance director for a municipality, his professionalism and the transparency of the office are exceptional, and Geauga County should retain Chuck Walder.
Larry Heiser
Chester Township
