Letters to Editor
Best Candidate
I moved to Geauga from Cuyahoga in 1981 for the more rural lifestyle we enjoy. I do not want our public parks ruined by armed hunters, ATV trails and oil drilling.
Ron Wiech is the best candidate for Geauga Commissioner. He has been a drug counselor for 29 years and is very concerned and knowledgeable about the illegal drug epidemic affecting us.
He believes in maintaining clean, safe, public parks, welcoming to everyone.
He knows we must maintain county infrastructure as needed. Not doing so hurts our property values and can make our facilities unsafe.
I see his opponent also wants to eliminate Medicare and other ‘Great Society’ programs.
Ron Wiech supports Medicare because he believes seniors deserve respect and in continuing the services our county currently provides.
We really do not want to live in a Third World country without safe roads, bridges, water and sewage facilities, and public parks maintained only for the few.
Scott Baker
Bainbridge
Too Radical for Geauga
Ron Wiech will make an outstanding Geauga County Commissioner. He is a lifetime resident of Geauga County who treasures our beautiful parks, our green space, our excellent schools, our well-maintained roads and outstanding services for seniors.
In normal elections, it would seem that every candidate should say they want to maintain our high quality of life, but this isn’t a normal election. Ron’s opponent wants to change Geauga County drastically.
Ron’s opponent is silent about drilling for oil and gas in our parks or allowing shooting ranges in our parks. His silence is revealing.
Ron wants to keep Geauga like it is today. Ron opposes fracking and drilling for oil and gas in our parks, and understands that our well water must be protected at all times.
As county commissioner, Ron Wiech would continue to accept highway funds generated from the purchase of gasoline, so we have the money to repave our roads and maintain our bridges.
Ron knows that if Geauga County doesn’t use these highway funds, they will go to another county and be used there. Ron understands that highway funds are fuel tax dollars coming back to Geauga taxpayers.
Ron’s opponent says he will not accept these highway funds. That will either mean a tax increase or deteriorating roads.
Even our county engineer disagrees with Ron’s opponent.
It’s obvious why independents, Republicans and Democrats alike are supporting Ron Wiech. His opponent is too radical for Geauga County.
Andrea Alaimo
Chardon
Serve the People’s Will
I would like to endorse Ronald W. Wiech as a candidate in the Nov. 4, 2014, election for the office of Geauga County Commissioner.
He brings excellent credentials to this position, having attended Cleveland State College of Urban Affairs and Kent State Elected Officials Academy.
Ron W. Wiech has served two terms, working effectively as councilman and chairperson of streets, sidewalk and utilities for Middlefield Village.
In addition, he has 29 years of experience as a volunteer substance abuse counselor at the Geauga County Sheriff’s Department and 30 year’s experience with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
He has experience dealing with local, county and state legislation, and has gained respect from the community as well as county and government officials.
Born and raised in Geauga County, his endeavors include targeting illicit drug trafficking and providing assistance for those seeking help with addiction.
He will assure continued support for Geauga’s senior services and promote reinstatement of the homestead tax credit.
Ron W. Wiech will take measures to preserve, conserve and protect Geauga County land, our park systems and roads, opposing fracking, drilling and timbering on county owned property and accepting tax dollars being returned to Geauga County that were paid by residents of Geauga County.
His desire to serve the will of the people of Geauga County and his accomplishments in pursuing these matters thus far, exemplify his honesty, reliability, fairness and thoughtfulness.
We need Ron W. Wiech. Vote for him on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Maria D. Burkhammer
Munson
Stumped
The recent reduction in building hours at the Geauga Parks West Woods Nature Center and Big Creek Park — to 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., from 8-4:30 and 10-5, respectively — disappoints my two young daughters and me, as we often visit the West Woods Nature Center in the late afternoon, after school and naps, which other young families can surely relate to.
Voters have demonstrated their enthusiasm for our parks by passing levies to support them. But in recent months, the parks Board of Commissioners has suspended one park levy collection and subsequently eliminated several paid staff positions, and have now reduced building hours.
What kind of bizarre treatment of taxpayers is this, to deny the support that the taxpayers offered and then cut access and services for them?
I invite the Commissioners and Judge Grendell to explain it to my 4-year old; I’m stumped.
Karen Wright
Russell
Local Control of Education
Sarah Fowler has proven herself to be an excellent representative. She is keenly aware of the issues facing education in Ohio.
This young, humble, soft-spoken woman has engaged the communities she represents through public meetings intended to provide coherent information and to field questions.
Her presence at community events has been apparent and most appreciated.
Sarah’s message of local control of education and preservation of parents’ God-given rights to direct and choose the best education for their children deserve a resounding YES!
Sarah has energy, commitment and courage. It is my honor to endorse Sarah Fowler for re-election to the State Board of Education District 7.
Kathy Johnson
Chardon Township
Poor Judge-ment
Here are the events leading to Tim Grendell’s downward spiral.
First: He fired one of the most successful park directors in the country. Then he spent $16,000 of taxpayer money to pay Miss O’Brien for a report to discredit Tom Curtin in order to justify this poor decision.
Second: He fired the entire park board in order to appoint his own, zero experience yes-team, despite having received 45 resumes of qualified individuals.
Third: He instructed his cronies to remove `Preserve, Conserve and Protect’ from the park by-laws, and replace with the use of ATV’s, shooting, trapping, construction and even drilling!
Fourth: He canceled a voter approved levy that was earmarked for maintenance and park projects over the upcoming years. Effectively saying: The heck with voters’ rights, I’m in charge!
Fifth: Many park employees who voiced their concerns were also fired, causing many employees to put resumes in other park systems that treat people with respect.
Sixth: He is now in the process of selling off Geauga Park parcels.
Finally, after hundreds of residents posted letters in Geauga papers voicing their concerns for Geauga Parks, he has issued a court order that all Public Notices for juvenile and probate cases in Geauga County can only be placed in the Lake County News-Herald. He seems a tad upset that local papers still believe in freedom of speech.
Tim Grendell needs to listen to the over 90 percent of Geauga residents and stop trying to appease the select few.
Judge, where is your honor?
Rick Webb
Munson
Make It Come True
I received a letter addressed to “Geauga County Voter.” The return address was only “Important 2014 Election Information.”
Once I read the enclosed flyer, I understood why the sender did not want to use their information on the envelope.
The enclosed flyer also did not have any sender information. It was a disparaging commentary on candidate Walter Skip Claypool and was full of inaccurate information.
They claim that electing Skip will result in the ruination of Geauga County and higher taxes. This is not true.
It also has misleading information about the park system changes.
It is typical of the same type of smear campaigning used in the last commissioner election and we all know how that turned out.
It is obvious who is behind this misinformation, but too devious to attach her name to it.
The one piece of accurate information is the quote from Mary Samide that “Geauga County will never be the same if Claypool is electe.” We can only cast our votes to make sure that comes true.
Philip Melaragno
Huntsburg
Disrespect Brings Suspicion
I attended the Tea Party meeting on Sept. 18 to hear Judge Grendell speak on the park district, not because I was on any particular side, but because I had seen all the letters to the editor and it caused me to have some concern about the direction of our parks.
I was a bit surprised the first presentation regarding the situation was by the judge, rather than the board, and that it would be at a Tea Party meveting rather than at an open meeting to the public.
But I thought I’d try to get informed anyway.
What I found at the meeting surprised me even more. Judge Grendell said he was there to talk about the “truth” and his duties as probate judge in connection with the park district. He spoke of the Ohio Revised Code and “excess” of money, and not having enough access to the parks — nothing his taxpayer-funded ads did not already say.
I found the judge to be a very convincing speaker and would have gone away feeling like the park was in good hands, had he not shown a great deal of disrespect toward those that were questioning him.
I was always taught that even if someone disagrees with you, you should respect their opinion and respect the person.
Different points of view should be an opening to discussion, not something to become angry about. I was very surprised to find that this was not the attitude the judge took. He ridiculed, mocked and disrespected not only the 2,500 citizens that have spoken up for the parks, but also those at the meeting who tried to bring to light viewpoints from the park district history itself.
For a man who, as a judge, should aspire to be honorable, respectful and trustworthy, he has fallen far short.
Instead of walking away from the meeting soothed, I walked away very agitated and convinced that by his behavior and words, he was hiding far more than he was telling.
Ani Karetka
Hambden
Works Tirelessly for People
I am writing this letter in support of Ron Wiech, who is a candidate for Geauga County Commissioner’s Office in the November election.
I have worked with Ron Wiech in my position as Middlefield Township trustee and in his position as Middlefield Village councilman.
He works in a tireless fashion on behalf of the people. He is honest and trustworthy, and speaks as he sees the issues.
In the past, he has supported the senior citizens and the senior centers. He is an advocate for the Geauga parks and park district.
I feel Ron Wiech is going to make an excellent county commissioner. I endorse Ron Wiech and support him in his journey for Geauga County Commissioner.
Vote Nov. 4 for Ron Wiech Geauga County Commissioner.
Robert Evans
Middlefield Township Trustee
