Grendell Auditing Grendell?
Does anyone else find it curious that Ms. Diane Grendell sent the media the announcement of her candidacy for Geauga County Auditor using a private email account belonging to Judge Grendell’s (her husband) court administrator Kim Laurie?
She states she has a history of unbiased decisions in her previous judgeships and as a state legislator. Seems to me she has already proven that won’t be true by using her husband’s administrator to do her bidding.
She bragged of all her years of experience in her political life, but didn’t show much political astuteness by involving an employee of the same court her husband oversees as judge and where Ms. Grendell, as auditor, would be responsible by statute to audit the books.
Does anyone else wonder when Ms. Grendell and her husband Judge Grendell will have contributed enough to the Ohio Public Employees’ Retirement fund so that they will be able to retire?
Kathy Holland
Claridon Township
One Question Newbury Survey
Fellow Newbury Residents,
Probably the most important decision the Newbury Township Trustees have to make in the foreseeable future of our township concerns the former Newbury School property.
According to the Feb. 10, 2022 issue of the Geauga County Maple Leaf, one of our Township
Trustees suggested a community survey so our elected officials could get a sense of the residents’ thoughts.
In my opinion, there should only be one question on the survey: Should the Newbury Township Trustees acquire the former Newbury School property?
There are many, many future excellent possible uses of the property, including the future development of the Newbury Center.
In the past there have been surveys in which only a small sample of our population have been invited to participate. All residents of Newbury deserve to have the opportunity to provide their input on this very important issue. At the very least all registered voters should have a survey questionnaire mailed to them at their home.
Roger Mezak
Newbury Township
Become a Convert
I’m concerned about the real threat authoritarianism poses to our democracy. The great American experiment of the last 240-plus years is in jeopardy. The Republican Party has become a cult; it cannot continue to restate and reinforce the “big lie.”
Last week, the minority leader of the Senate reopened a “conversion” conversation. I note this conversion process based on his remarks from Tuesday, Feb. 8. McConnell’s rebuke (likely a cynical move) of the RNC’s censure of Republicans Kinzinger and Cheney was very clear.
His rebuke of the RNC’s characterization of Jan. 6, 2021, as “legitimate political discourse” was also very clear. McConnell described this sad event for what it was. “It was a violent insurrection with the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election … that’s what it was.”
There continues to be a lack of any real evidence of corruption or fraud. This led to plus 60 court cases, none of which ruled in Trump’s favor. A lack of evidence and its hollow ring must be acknowledged for what it is: A calculated attempt to undermine democracy and replace it with authoritarianism.
Our country needs more “converts” like Cheney, Kinzinger, Romney and McConnell. These “converts” need to be willing to say “out loud” that the 2020 election was fair and legitimate. They also need to be willing to say “out loud” that Trump sought, with his allies, to overturn the 2020 election.
These “converts” need to oppose any form of a Trump restoration. Lastly, they need to refuse support any and all who don’t sign up and get on board this shift back to the rule of law, sanity and away from authoritarianism.
Trump never came close, in two tries, to winning the popular vote. He lost Republican suburbs in 2020 and he lost Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia. As long as he dominates the scene, the Republican party will not succeed nationally. The authoritarian camp continues with its Siren’s song.
We must have a healthy Republican Party! Our kids and our grandchildren deserve better. As the saying goes, we have many, many “fish to fry.” Let’s get at it.
Please communicate your support of these Republican “converts” regardless of their location in our country.
Contact your Republican representative today with your request for their genuine commitment to become a “convert.”
Bill Franz
Bainbridge Township
