Conflict of Interest?
It was with great surprise that I learned of Diane Grendell’s recent desire to succeed Chuck Walder as our County Auditor. That surprise quickly turned to significant concern for me as I thought about the potential damage to the checks and balances required for good government here in Geauga County.
While I appreciate Diane Grendell’s desire to continue her public service, is it really in the best interests of the residents and taxpayers of Geauga County for Mrs. Grendell to become our Geauga County Auditor? Or, could this be a self-serving choice and one that will also benefit her husband, Geauga County Probate Judge Tim Grendell?
I also question whether Mrs. Grendell is fully aware of the scope of the responsibilities of the Auditor and will commit the time necessary to do the job properly.
County Auditor responsibilities include overseeing about 40 employees, serving as Secretary of the ADP Board, serving as County Chief Payroll Officer and preparing comprehensive annual financial reports. Does Mrs. Grendell also have the comprehensive IT knowledge necessary to manage various information systems?
Besides job competencies, what really troubles me is the poor political and ethical judgement Diane Grendell has shown in seeking the office of Geauga County Auditor. As a (former) appellate court judge, Diane Grendell was required to adhere to a system of rules called the Code of Judicial Conduct (Canons). One of those Canons in the Code states that “A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.”
Another Canon states a judge shall not engage in activities that cast doubt on a judge’s capacity to act impartially, and another requires that a judge conduct him/herself in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
If Mrs. Grendell adhered to these principles regardless of office, because of inherent actual conflicts of interest with the probate court and her husband Judge Tim Grendell, she would not be seeking the office of County Auditor. Knowing this, do you think she should become Auditor? Your vote on May 3 will answer that question.
Ken Radtke, Jr.
Chester Township Trustee
Civil, Respectful Discussion Welcome
A Munson resident recently wrote to a local newspaper denigrating the Geauga County Tea Party and the Critical Race Theory (CRT) presentation given by an actual member of the State School Board.
While well-written, the letter failed to mention two “critical” (please forgive me!) items: 1. He asked no questions, which intimates that he himself may have had a pre-conclusion and may not have wanted his paradigm confused with previously unconsidered facts.
His questions would have been welcomed in a civil discussion of probably conflicting ideas and perhaps even ideologies, but it would have been very stimulating and interesting. Unfortunately, that opportunity was foregone for reasons known only to him.
The Geauga County Tea Party encourages civil and respectful questions, and frank dialogue, which is in stark contrast to the Ohio State School Board, whose president forbade any discussion on CRT. Which philosophy would this Munsonite prefer?
- If he came to a conservative group’s meeting, did he expect a love fest for Marxism? Our Tea Party has clearly conservative ideology and we make no apology for having core beliefs based on successful results running economies, companies, nations and bettering the lives of more people and to a greater degree than any civilization in the history of mankind.
We are all about results, not solely feelings and emotions. We don’t excuse failure with “at least they meant well.” We want the job done right, meaning with the least amount of governmental interference, at the lowest cost, with transparency and accountability to taxpayers, and within the boundaries prescribed by the US and Ohio constitutions, preserving the freedoms of all people as guaranteed by these sacred documents.
We seek honesty in our dialogue partners, nothing else, as they are entitled to their own views but- sorry, not their own facts.
If you come to a Geauga County Tea Party meeting, be prepared to hear well-researched facts, and well-reasoned conclusions based on high quality solid data, statistical accuracy and logic, not emotions and good intentions.
Be prepared to ask intelligent questions in a civil manner and be prepared for honest answers.
And above all, be prepared to have your opinion and humanity respected.
Come visit with us at 7 p.m. March 1 at the Metzenbaum Center, 8200 Cedar Road, in Chesterland to hear a presentation on “Marxism as a Religion” and its present manifestations in the world — and, yes, right here in Northeast Ohio.
And if you come, yes, you will leave smarter.
James R. MacNeal
Troy Township
Geauga County Tea Party VP
