Letters to Editor
Rear Is No Puppet
My choice for Geauga County Commissioner this year is Blake Rear.
Blake is presently our county commissioner. He was selected for this position by the Republican officials to fill the void left when Tracy Jemison resigned.
Now with a year of expirence, Blake will not require the expensive learning curve; he is prepared.
My observations of Blake’s performance as a public servant distinguish his strong commitment to answering the people’s agenda. He is not controlled by any private or political interest. Whatever issue is on the table, you can be assured that Blake has done his own independent research and will always strive to make the best decision possible.
Blake Rear’s challenger Mr. Johnston appears to me to a political invention from some back-room, side-bar conclave. Mr. Johnston’s self-proclaimed agenda is his “political upward mobility.”
So far he has done a good job with that agenda; I don’t believe he has missed a photo opportunity and his Facebook page is always freshly updated.
In public meetings Mr. Johnston’s performances are less than stellar. He seems to mumble and reads from scripts. He appears to be uncomfortable in this new role.
Experience and commitment certainly are required considerations, but one last issue — a matter of honor. Blake learned about that in Vietnam, in a stinking mud hole artillery fire base at Dak To. I spent a couple of days there on TDY and I say any soul that survived a tour there understands duty honor and country.
Blake Rear is the real deal. Blake Rear is no puppet.
Please join with our family in voting fo Blake Rear.
Rob Roy
Burton Township
Man and His Mission
It’s that time of year again, when we, as voters, are faced with decisions as to who to elect to represent us for our wants, our needs and our beliefs.
It’s also that time of year when it becomes frustrating to figure out fact from fiction.
Blame the media? Somehow, someone was misquoted. Negative campaign ads? There’s always something to say about “the other guy.”
I personally vote not according to a party, but for the person who I feel can accomplish what they set out to do, and with the support of the community.
I believe I’ve met that person in Ron Wiech.
I met Ron about five years ago through a mutual friend. Over the years, I have gotten to know him, his family and his beliefs, not as a candidate, but as a concerned citizen.
Ron has no problem saying what he believes in. He is a good person to talk to. He’ll tell you the way it is, not necessarily what you want to hear, but what needs to be said. (Probably comes from his 30 years experience with ODOT and being a Contract Negotiator-Executive Leadership Committee).
Ron was born and raised in Geauga County. He has been active as a Middlefield Village Councilman for the past four and one half years. He has witnessed the growth of Geauga County and has been involved with the village’s Economic Development Committee.
He believes in preserving the open spaces and the lifestyle of which we are accustomed to.
Please visit his website, www.Ron WiechforCommissioner.com, to learn more about this man and his mission to reach his goal to become the next Geauga County Commissioner.
Debbie Schieman
Russell
New Thompson Library Station
On Sunday, Oct. 5, I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Geauga County Library Station at Ledgemont School on Burrows Road.
This event marked the continuation of a 40-year shared service agreement between the Geauga County Library System and Ledgemont Local School District.
Earlier in the year, the Ledgemont Local School District began to discuss closing the Ledgemont High School building, where the previous library station was housed. At that time, Debbie O’Connor, Geauga County Library director made a commitment to the Thompson and Montville communities. The commitment was to maintain a library presence in the northeastern portion of Geauga County if and when the Ledgemont High School building closed.
She and her staff are to be applauded for honoring this commitment.
The new Library Station is open to Ledgemont students K-12 during school hours for their educational use as well as to the public at other times. Being a frequent library user, I can say this new library was a worthwhile investment in Geauga County.
To the people of Montville and Thompson townships, if you do not currently visit the Thompson Library Station you need to do so. Libraries are now more than about books.
Library manager Robin and her staff, Britt, Lisa and Michelle, are there to assist and show you around. They are wonderful to work with. This library and its staff is a hidden gem in northeast Geauga County.
It is ta payer money well spent!
Erwin Leffel
Thompson Township Trustee
Fowler for State School Board
I am a Preschool Special Education teacher who retired this past school year after teaching for the past 26 years.
For the past two years, I have seen Sarah Fowler fight for local control of curriculum, testing and reporting the personal data of school children.
Sarah understands the problems with using high-stakes testing for a large percentage of a teacher’s performance evaluation. Sarah works tirelessly to learn the facts concerning the issues before the State Board of Education and reaches out to parents and teachers for input.
For these reasons, I am endorsing Sarah Fowler Representative to District 7 of the Ohio State Board of Educations.
Elsie Tarczy
South Russell
Dedicated Representative
Sarah Fowler has been a dedicated representative for the parents, children and schools of Ohio’s 7th district.
Her commitment to protecting local control of public schools and parental choice for all educational options has shown through in her time with the State Board of Education.
Ms. Fowler is always ready to listen to the concerns of her constituents and answer questions, making it a point to be present at numerous community events so people have face-to-face access to their representative.
In addition, she is a determined researcher who studies out what is placed before her as a Board of Education member allowing her to make responsible and informed decisions based on facts.
It is vitally important that those who serve on the State Board of Education reflect the diversity of legally recognized educational options in Ohio as well as the taxpayers who fund public education. As a veteran home educator and home education support group leader, I am confident in the work Sarah Fowler has done — and will continue to do — as the District 7 representative of Ohio’s State Board of Education.
Jen Gorton
Chardon
Strength, Wisdom, Integrity
Sarah Fowler, incumbent candidate for state school board, is a perfect combination of strength, wisdom and integrity.
In Columbus, she has been steadfast, often against a formidable tide, exhibiting conservative values and common sense.
Extremely knowledgeable about both traditional and alternative education, Sarah reads and researches diligently so as to speak and vote wisely. She makes decisions with fore thought.
Sarah communicates with her constituents by listening well, writing a monthly newsletter and requesting feedback. People respond with trust because they know her as a person of integrity.
A couple years ago some persons mistook Sarah’s youth and wholesomeness for weakness and vulnerability. They were surprised at their error. Now some are working diligently to remove this talented, capable woman from an important position that directly affects every child and family in our state.
Our system of education is under attack as never before in the history of this country. We must return Sarah Fowler and her conservative American values to her seat on the state school board.
Underscore the name Fowler when discussing Sarah with people who do not know her. We must overcome the probability that votes for Sarah Fowler may unintentionally be placed elsewhere. Voters must know the difference on the ballot between Sarah Fowler and another with the same first name and last initial.
Let us return Sarah Fowler to her position as our State School Board representative.
Linda Baron
Mentor
He Will Stand Up, Speak Out
For most people they either take voting for granted or they don’t vote period.
For our family it means much more. It means weeks of really trying to understand the candidates or elected officials through reading various articles on decisions made and comments shared.
It means taking time to sit in candidate forums or meetings to actually hear how that individual responds to spontaneous questions rather than prepared speeches.
I want someone to lead who is honest and candid. I want someone who understands this county because they take their responsibility as steward of this county seriously not someone passing through looking for an opportunity or a name for themselves.
We have three treasures that people have supported over the years that have made Geauga a place to raise their families. They are our schools, our parks and how we treat our senior citizens.
Lately, these three areas have been under relentless attack from outside forces.
Ron Wiech is a lifelong resident of this county who has made the commitment to stand up and speak out for those who want to maintain, preserve and conserve our parks in order that we all can continue to benefit from our rural landscape that makes Geauga a jewel in Northeast Ohio.
Ron Wiech is willing to fight for continued dignity and respect for our senior citizens, so they can remain in their homes by fighting for their services and speaking out about the elimination of the Homestead Act.
Ron Wiech will continue to support local communities as they struggle to keep public education opportunities available to all.
Ron Wiech is easy to talk to and easy to understand.
Take this time to reach out and get to know Ron. I know once you talk to him like I have, you will also cast your vote for Ron Wiech as Geauga County Commissioner — someone who will be here working everyday for this county not for a personal agenda!
Terri McIntee
Burton Township
What’s Happened to Our Little Valley?
It used to be that reading the local papers provided a momentary escape to a quiet place filled with positive and uplifting stories.
Geauga County was not only beautiful, but also peaceful and filled with caring neighbors. Today? Not so much!
There is a contingent of conspiracy warriors living amongst us who weekly shoot a barrage of verbal and written bullets in an effort to defame good citizens who continue to contribute to our community. Their dissertations of deceit would sound a five alarm fire if the childhood phrase — “liar, liar pants on fire” — was a reality.
Even some of our local journalists partake in story telling without checking facts and without talking to the parties involved.
In good faith, those being attacked provide facts to address the tall tales that the “chicken little contingent” spins yet they continue to hang onto their fanciful fiction. They denounce reason and reality in an attempt to create unfounded concern and panic.
Facts are lost on this group of naysayers who embrace the use of lies to confuse the public in hopes of accomplishing their devious plans. They project the lie that they are the “good guys” and that local leaders, public servants, concerned citizens and just regular Joes and Janes are villains. They flat out lack integrity!
I believe in freedom of speech and all the other liberties that our great America provides. But I also believe that the founding fathers expected “speech” — whether written or verbal — to be honorable, noble and pure.
If only the “truth-o-meter” test could be applied to the poison pen letters prior to printing and/or mailing, most of what has been written these last months would sound the “liar” alarm and be eliminated. These scoundrels have even stooped so low as to mail a vicious letter of false claims about a candidate without signing their name. That is the height of cowardice.
Personally, I put my faith in the good people of Geauga County who are smart and who speak the truth, who help others succeed rather than tear them down and whose words are their bond.
Those of us who share these values will continue to work for the good of this valley and will sign our name to our words because we stand accountable and speak the truth.
I suggest that you don’t put your trust in those rascals who suffer from depraved minds and yellow belly disease. Let’s work together to blot out the snipers and put an end to their devious plans.
We must stand strong to protect the integrity of the little piece of Heaven on earth that we call home.
Linda J. O’Brien
Russell
Looking for the Good
I have been following campaign ads and literature in order to make an informed decision on the best candidate for each position represented on the ballot.
I have found out that there is more mud-slinging and deceitful rhetoric than a candidate stating why I should vote for him or her. What are their qualifications? What do they stand for?
Some of the ads like those against Mike DeWine are all false. Can you imagine someone with three lovely daughters not getting tough on rapists?
It seems to me that if these creators of hate propaganda had their own qualifications they would be bragging about them, not tearing down another. I was taught that if I could not say anything good about someone I best keep my mouth shut! Good advice.
In history, one of the presidents that was ridiculed terribly and portrayed as a monkey was a president that did his job according to principal. His name was Abraham Lincoln.
There was a really hateful, anonymous, totally false letter sent out trying to kill the candidacy of Walter “Skip” Claypool. If you want to spread lies and hate for your fellow man, at least have the strength to put your name to it.
It seems the better the candidate is, the more negative comments he draws from the opposition. So, if you want to vote for the best person to fill a position watch for the one everyone is trying to tear apart.
Proverbs 24:28: Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.
I plan on looking for the good in any candidate running and will back them wholeheartedly. Why would I want a verifiable liar in control of my county or country?
Margaret Avalon
Newbury
It Will Be Better
When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, 2003
The citizens of Geauga County who were mailed an anonymous letter regarding Skip Claypool, Republican Party candidate for Commissioner, the Geauga County Tea Party and Judge Grendel had the truth stolen from them.
The truth is Skip Claypool and the Tea Party are not part of the Geauga County Park Board, and have no influence on the board. No member of the board or Judge Grendell is a member of the Geauga County Tea Party.
No member of the Geauga County Tea Party wants to disband the Library Board, the Mental Health Board or Department of Aging. This lie is especially ludicrous because most of the members of the Geauga County Tea Party hold Golden Buckeye Cards.
The author of this letter tried to besmirch three for the price of one letter. It is up to the Democratic candidate for commissioner to disavow these scurrilous attacks lest his ethics be questioned.
Skip Claypool became a target of this letter because he has made his objections to the plans NOACA and the NEOSCC have for Geauga County. Skip called out the NOACA Board for voting their support of a phased in a 15 percent transportation tax increase.
When Skip didn’t accept the board’s reasons for their support, and when he questioned how much of the tax money would see its way back to Geauga County, Skip drew the ire of Grace Gallucci and the NOACA Board.
In the last five years, Skip Claypool has attended almost all of the Geauga County Commissioners’ meetings. He has been present at most of the NOACA and NEOSCC meetings. Skip’s opponent in the race can’t say the same.
These attacks on Skip Claypool are made by people desperate to get their way with no regard for the truth or the facts. Mary Samide is quoted as saying; “Geauga County will never be the same if Claypool is elected.” She is right; Geauga County will be better if Skip is elected.
It will be better because it will have a commissioner who seeks the truth; it will be better because it will have a commissioner who will make it a priority to seek ways to save tax money and keep taxes low; it will be better because it will have a commissioner who will not be afraid to question the status quo; and it will be better because it will have a commissioner who will govern with integrity and be accountable to the people of Geauga County.
Elsie Tarczy
South Russell
Tamburrino Has Expreience Needed to be a Judge
I urge all voters in Geauga, Lake, Portage, Ashtabula and Trumbull counties to cast their ballot for Ron Tamburrino for Judge on the 11th District Court of Appeals.
Tamburrino has the legal experience and personal integrity needed on the bench.
Ron Tamburrino has demonstrated unparalleled legal judgment and integrity throughout his 30-year career representing individuals in civil and criminal matters and as Associate General Counsel of Litigation for The Sherwin-Williams Company, where he directed cases across the United States for one of Ohio’s largest and most respected employers.
The nationally recognized Martin-dale-Hubbell legal guide has awarded Tamburrino its coveted “AV Preemi-nent” rating based upon a confidential survey of attorneys and judges. The “Preeminent” rating reflects an attorney’s ethical standards, legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability and legal experience and is “a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.”
Tamburrino’s opponent, Tim Cannon, has an abysmal reversal rate at the Ohio Supreme Court and refuses to disclose his Martindale-Hubbell rating.
In addition to his legal experience, Tamburrino is a dedicated public servant. He was recently reelected to his third term on the Trumbull Township Board of Trustees and is currently its chairman.
Tamburrino has also been a board member of the Northwest Ambulance District annually since 2009, serving the City of Geneva and the townships of Geneva, Harpersfield, Austinburg and Trumbull.
As township trustee, Tamburrino has worked closely with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to protect his community and expose a carnival operator who used a bogus “charity” pitch to skim thousands of dollars from alcohol sales.
Due to Tamburrino’s deft legal strategy and tenacity, it has come to light that the carnival operator lives in a lavish Florida home yet somehow avoided filing federal income tax returns for several years. The federal government is now investigating.
On a personal note, Tamburrino is the father of six children and he has spent countless hours volunteering in his community, including at the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild and St. Mary Catholic Church in Chardon. He has also coached several youth sports teams.
In sum, Ron Tamburrino has the legal experience and personal character that we want and deserve on the 11th District Court of Appeals.
Bruce P. Batista
Auburn
Experience
I am going to vote for Skip Claypool for Geauga County Commissioner because Mr. Claypool has experience in the position.
He researches the topics and has educated many in the community about various problems and activities. He has gone to NOACA meetings and has seen how this program will impact Geauga County. He has tried to educate the populace about what is going on.
Our government has taken over our health care, our schools, our eating habits and more. None of these are for the good of the people. Grants are not free money; they come with strings attached.
We must avoid the slippery slope that takes our freedoms away so start doing your own research.
Robert and Esther Laczko
Chardon Township
Excellent Choice for Geauga
I am writing this letter to affirm Blake Rear’s commitment to combat the drug and alcohol problems facing our county. With this commitment, Blake Rear is an excellent choice for Geauga County Commissioner.
I have been involved in alcohol, tobacco, drug addiction prevention over 34 years, 31 as a professional in Lake and Geauga Counties. I worked with youth, parents, teachers and the community while at Crossroads in Lake County, The Lake Geauga Recovery Centers and the Geauga County Educational Service Center.
I have been a member of the Chardon Community Action Team (CCAT) since its inception in 1999.
As member of CCAT, I have had the privilege of working with Blake Rear, for over a decade to combat the drug and alcohol problems facing our county.
As Chardon School Board’s CCAT representative, he supported CCAT’s prevention efforts to educate parents, school staff, and the youth led prevention efforts of Chardon Schools’ Middle School and High School Teen Institute programs.
Blake understands the significant role parents play in the lives of their children, believing parents from elementary school on up need to be knowledgeable about the serious effects drugs on youth and families.
Blake remains an active member of CCAT. He served two terms as CCAT vice president. He assists in planning our annual car and motorcycle show. He built a display of crosses highlighting alcohol related deaths due to car crashes. These were placed on Chardon Square.
Blake is involved with CCAT’s Family Day, Red Ribbon Week and Alcohol Awareness Month promotions. He supports CCAT’s collaboration with Geauga County law enforcement in providing alcohol clerk/server trainings and alcohol compliance checks.
Blake believes in the efforts of the Geauga County Opiate Taskforce and encouraged CCAT’s participation on the Taskforce.
Blake is passionate about CCAT’s mission, “To reduce and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by youth in our community by providing activities and education for these youth, their families, and the Chardon Community.”
As vice president of CCAT, I am grateful for Blake Rear’s continued commitment to combat the drug and alcohol problems in Geauga County and his continued efforts to make our county one of the best place to live in the country.
Lynn Kempf
Hambden
Divide and Conquer
Meetings, meetings, after each one I attend I come away with the same question, “Why It’s Judge Timothy Grendell trying to ruin the Geauga Park System?”
What is his final equation for the park? Right now it looks like divide and conquer.
The damage done to the park in the short period of time since letting Director Tom Curtin go in late fall of 2013 is unbelievable, unless you write it down and keep track of it.
Judge Grendell also let all three of the park board commissioners go and replaced them with people that haven’t got a clue what “Preserve, Conserve and Protect” means.
So what did they do? They changed the bylaws and removed “Protect” among other changes. That does make a very big difference when you replace it with language that means anything goes.
Making these changes is like changing the plot and story of “Gone with the Wind.” You just don’t change things that don’t need changing. The park was peaceful and well managed and that was a wonderful thing.
In February 2014, a contract paid to Linda O’Brien to conduct an employee evaluation to the tune of $16,000, yes, Sixteen Thousand Dollars was paid to Ms. O’Brien, not to her business but to her.
Many of the park employees were rated very badly on this report requested by Judge Grendell.
About a month ago, three very important employees were let go, leaving a very large hole that is not going to be filled. Among them was a person who found donations for the park. A employee who looked at different pieces of property that would make great park land. See what I mean about leaving a big hole.
The Shutterbugs nature photography group was informed by the park that their 10-year relationship with the park was terminated. This is the group that supplied so many of the beautiful snapshots of wild life and habitat in the woods for the newsletters and papers of the park. Hello, Goodbye, excuse me? What kind of treatment is this?
You may try to divide us, but we will not give in to the tactics pulled by this new park system. We love our parks the way they were and we and our children want to walk the trails and go to programs that teach the nature of things. That is something you can not get on a field with a ball.
Joy Keco
Bainbridge
Let’s Talk
You can’t make this stuff up.
Have you had enough of the misinformation campaign yet? I have been quiet and watching as those who oppose me, spin their tales.
When my opponents don’t have facts, they resort to making stuff up and send cowardly anonymous letters filled with slander and lies. The recent “best candidate” and “Too Radical…” articles are examples.
How does the average voter know what is true? One way is to ask yourself, “Does it pass the smell test?”
I have attended hundreds of commissioner meetings so I could fully understand the issues facing Geauga County; ask my opponent how many he has attended.
To say that any county commissioner has influence or jurisdiction over parks demonstrates ignorance at best. The park board and the commissioners office are totally separate legal authorities. Judge Grendell appoints a board and they make the decisions for the parks. End of story.
Many of the fabrications about the parks were addressed in a recent article and are easily dispelled by contacting the park board. However, common sense begs you to ask, “Do you see drilling rigs in any of our parks?”
Call the park board and ask if there are any contracts having to do with current or future drilling operations and record the laughter. Have you seen an ATV disturbing your walk lately? Keep in mind, those who oppose me need
hysteria to create a villain, thus the false connection to the parks.
It has been said I would turn down road tax dollars. This is another falsehood that is easy to dispel and contradicted by the facts.
During my time as a commissioner, and as a NOACA alternate, I have consistently pushed for more, not less, funding for roads. I asked the question why we contribute about $26 million in gas tax dollars and get back only about $6 million.
Moreover, I have resisted “cost sharing,” which would transfer Geauga County tax dollars to other counties. The easiest way to verify this is to call our county engineer.
These authors are very confused or their objective is to intentionally mislead the readers. Why is this important? Because, their pieces were based on misinformation and there is probably more to come.
I would like to have an adult conversation about real issues. For example, regional organizations want to increase our taxes and they want to reshape our county. Why not talk about ways to retain and return more tax dollars to our county or ways to waste less.
I am attacked by bureaucracies when I ask hard questions about tax sharing schemes and waste. Why? Because they fear an informed citizenry and forget who pays their salaries.
Actions speak louder than words. I have been at the table doing the job not talking about it. This election is too important to make decisions based on what others think. Let’s talk. You may like me or you may dislike me, but at least you will be informed.
Skip Claypool
Chester
Willingness to Step Out
I have known Geauga Commissioner candidate Walter “Skip” Claypool since 2011.
The very first quality I noticed about Skip was his willingness to step out of a comfort zone to assess and resolve problems. I have marveled at Skip’s ability to ask questions of current and former Commissioners about serious ongoing problems facing Geauga County.
In addition to possessing a gift for assessing situations which sap the county’s financial stability, he is skillful enough to propose practical solutions.
I have personally observed Skip develop his understanding of critical Geauga issues — the heroin crisis, the “good old boy” retire-rehire policy, the waste of taxpayer dollars and the removal of certain real-estate parcels from the county tax base to the detriment of remaining Geauga property owners.
Skip spent the last several years investing mental energy, time and personal finances to become incredibly knowledgeable about the shortcomings of Geauga County governance.
A refreshingly honest and resilient critical thinker, he acts decisively. He will not evade difficult issues because “that’s the way we have always done it.”
A leader us an individual who is willing to ask difficult questions and decisively engage in responsible solutions. Skip Claypool is an unmistakable leader, willing to take on the tough, lasting challenges that confront Geauga County families and their posterity.
This is Skip’s golden time. He will not hide from the tough challenges because he is morally and ethically committed to facing the difficult realities, not sugar-coated fantasies being fed to Geauga voters.
I am overwhelmingly proud to endorse Walter Skip Claypool for Commissioner on Nov. 4.
Diane J. Jones
Auburn
Great Supporter of Parks
Judge Tim Grendell is an honest and honorable jurist. He is a great supporter of Geauga County’s almost 10,000 acres of wonderful county parks.
While he has been probate judge, more naturalist programs, children fishing events and family-oriented recreational amenities have been added.
The park district has eliminated wasteful spending of tax dollars and reduced the park levy tax for Geauga County homeowners, without the loss of any park programs.
Most importantly, Judge Tim Grendell has opposed oil and gas drilling in our county parks. The judge did not vote to allow such drilling.
As a state legislator, Judge Grendell opposed fracking and oil and gas drilling in state parks. I know that he does not support oil and gas drilling, logging or ATV use in our county parks.
Those who say otherwise are simply wrong.
Helen Scheuring
Hambden
