Voting Options
I had planned to vote early in-person because I’m nervous about postal service delays. Now I’m hearing about early voters who refuse to wear masks. Can they do that? With the election less than two weeks away, what are my options?
The Ohio Secretary of State strongly encourages absentee voting as the best option for those who cannot or prefer not to wear a mask. However, he has also stated a person who refuses to wear a mask cannot be denied their Constitutional right to vote. The conflicting statements are a fight waiting to happen.
If you feel unsafe in line with a person who is not wearing a mask, seek immediate help from an election official. They are to offer the person a mask. If that is refused, they are to encourage the individual to vote curb-side. If that is refused the election official has no choice but to accommodate the non-compliant voter.
At this point you may need to alter your voting plan. If time allows, consider voting by absentee ballot. Carry a completed absentee ballot application with you to early in-person voting. If it becomes necessary to change your plan, and if there is sufficient time for processing, deposit your application directly into the BOE ballot box. After receiving your ballot in the mail, the completed ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 2 or delivered in person to the BOE by Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
A second option is to vote in-person at your regular polling place on Nov. 3. The Geauga BOE offices are rather cramped and can only accommodate six people. If your regular polling location is more spacious that might be a better choice for you.
A third option is to request curbside voting for yourself. This is available to any voter during early in-person voting or on Election Day. It is somewhat burdensome for election officials to execute as representatives from each party must assist the voter. That being said, every voter has a right to cast their ballot safely.
Lastly, if you feel your right to vote is being infringed upon, please call The Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
Shelly Lewis, President
League of Women Voters of Geauga
Actions Louder Than Words
My mother always said, “Actions speak louder than words.” The Democrats, and never Trumpers, want you to think that this election is only about words. They don’t like Donald Trump’s words. They say his is not presidential. Words don’t define Donald Trump, actions define him.
In 2016, some of the promises Donald Trump made were to grow our economy, develop opportunity zones for cities with large minority populations, bring our troops home, close the border, appoint conservative judges, reduce taxes, reduce red tape, end international treaties that harm the United States and get NATO partners to pay their fair share. Those were his words.
Here is a list of just some of his actions as President: In the past four years Donald Trump has built miles of border wall and passed the First Step Act. He put two and soon to be three constitutional justices on the Supreme Court.
Donald Trump reduced taxes and onerous regulations which grew an economy and saw an average $5,000 a year rise in blue-collar salaries and the lowest unemployment rate for women and minorities in 40 years. He ordered the killing of terrorists Al Baghdadi and Qasem Soleimani, and destroyed ISIS.
He negotiated and passed the USMCA trade deal with Canada and Mexico. His policies of lowering corporate taxes have helped to bring manufacturing back to the United States and allowed a rise in small businesses and opportunity zones. All of this was done under the pressures of the Mueller probe and endless impeachment attempts by the left.
Joe Biden’s actions deny his words. In the past he has said he would get rid of fracking and now he said he would not do that. He said he was against “court packing,” now he won’t tell us if he would approve this if elected and that the American people do not deserve to know what he would do.
He has said China is not a threat to the United States and that the fact that China is becoming a major economic competitor is a “good thing.” Now he wants to bring back manufacturing he sent to China. His actions also have not been good for our country.
As a senator, he was instrumental in passing criminal justice legislation that incarcerated more minorities than ever before. Joe Biden voted against capturing and killing Osama Bin Ladin. He helped develop and pass Obamacare, which took away private health care for millions, was not affordable and penalized those who chose not to purchase it.
At the start of this pandemic, Joe Biden called President Trump a xenophobic for shutting down flights from China, was having rallies in mid-February and now he says President Trump has not done enough.
The challenges we have faced in 2020 require a person of action not words. Donald Trump has demonstrated he is that person. Joe Biden falls short.
Elsie Tarczy
South Russell Village
Rader a Champion of Women
The recent attack ad against Betsy Rader by the RSCC is simply out of bounds and untrue, and thus we feel the need to speak up.
Ms. Rader has always supported women. This negative ad is a futile attempt to misrepresent a career spent supporting working women. We will not fall for their efforts to malign a champion and ally of women, and we urge others to see through their malicious efforts as well.
We know Ms. Rader through our mutual involvement in the CMBA’s Women in Law Section. She has continuously worked to advocate on behalf of women in the legal profession, including mentoring and training women that are new to the field.
She is a frequent presenter at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s International Women’s Day celebration as well as a noted speaker and author on topics related to workplace discrimination and harassment.
During her time as the chairperson of the Women in Law Section, Ms. Rader consistently and fervently promoted the section’s motto, “We rise by lifting each other.” She lives this motto, not just by lifting women in the legal profession, but through her professional efforts. She helps women who have been victims of sexual discrimination and harassment. She is a voice for those that often cannot find their own voice.
Although we are current and past leaders of the Women in Law Section of the CMBA, the opinions expressed in this letter are entirely ours, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the CMBA or its members. The CMBA does not endorse any candidates for public office.
Christina M. Bushnell, Esq.
McFadden Bushnell LLC
Catherine Donnelly, Esq.
Yourkvitch & Dibo, LLC
Kami Brauer
The Law Firm of Kami D. Brauer LLC
Do Away with Medicare?
I’m sure many of you Geauga residents recall receiving a postcard in the mail last year, at taxpayer expense no doubt, from Rep. David Joyce extolling veterans and men and women in blue who serve as police and fire officers. He stated how much he supports them and appreciates their efforts. But, does he really?
Last July the police and fire pension fund of Ohio decided they would no longer cover of the cost of health care (Medicare Part A.) for retirees who were eligible for Medicare at age 65. Many of these folks were not allowed to pay into Medicare when employed as fire or police officers, but were required to pay into the police and fire pension fund instead.
So, these retirees, several hundred in Ohio, have to pay the full brunt of Medicare Part A at the tune of over $8,000 per year, from their meager pension checks, in comparison to most U. S. citizens who are covered by Medicare Part A at almost no cost. In essence these police and fire retirees are being treated as second class citizens.
Rep. Joyce’s office has been called innumerable times and asked to correct this inequity. Personally, I called more than a dozen times myself. The only response from any one in his office has been from one staff member who stated that Mr. Joyce will likely offer support (no guarantees!) if someone else presents a bill to correct this situation. Perhaps he’s just too busy dialing for dollars from lobbyists. Not exactly leadership is it.
At the very least, retirees should be able to buy the credits they need to qualify for Medicare Part A as virtually all other citizens can.
Perhaps Mr. Joyce would just as soon do away with Medicare as many of his colleagues in the Congress and the Senate would wish. Perhaps we are the ones who should do away with Mr. Joyce as a representative and get a representative that walks the walk and not just talks a good talk.
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
I’m Voting for …
I’m not voting for Donald Trump.
I’m voting for the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech.
I’m voting for the Second Amendment and my right to defend my life and my family.
I’m voting for the next Supreme Court justice(s) to protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I’m voting for the continued growth of my retirement 401k and the stock market.
I’m voting for a return of our troops from foreign countries and the end of America’s involvement in foreign conflicts.
I’m voting for the Electoral College & the republic we live in to keep Mobocracy and the Tyranny of the Majority out of America.
I’m voting for police to be respected once again and to ensure Law & Order.
I’m voting for the continued appointment of Federal Judges who respect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I’m voting for jobs to remain in American and not be outsourced all over again to China, Mexico and other foreign countries.
I’m voting for secure borders and legal immigration.
I’m voting for the Military and the Veterans who fought for this country to give the American people their freedoms.
I’m voting for the unborn babies that have a right to live.
I’m voting for continued peace progress in the middle east.
I’m voting to fight against human/child trafficking.
I’m voting for Freedom of Religion.
I’m voting for the American flag that is disrespected by the Democratic Party and, in my opinion, their violent Marxist masters ANTIFA and BLM.
I’m voting for the right to speak my opinion & not be censored, attacked or assaulted.
I’m voting for my grandchildren to ensure their freedoms and their future.
I’m not just voting for one person, I’m voting for the future of my entire Country and ALL of our people.
Do you fully know for who/what you are voting? You should.
James R. MacNeal
Troy Township
Walk Away
What has the Democrat party become? I grew up in a Democrat family, all of whom were hard-working people that loved America, God and respected police, and the military. They attended church, said the Lord’s prayer in school, and defended American values.
As a child, I remember listening to the robust debates and discussions on various political topics between family members. There was no hate speech, only hearty discussions about policy differences.
I became a Republican when I saw my first paycheck and the amount of taxes I paid. My family laughed.
I have watched for decades as a progressivism has changed the Democrat party. The results are an irrational hatred of our president, America, police, our military and all things conservative.
Values like honor, morality and integrity seem to have been discarded by the Democrat party and replaced by “Rules for Radicals.” The progressives strive for secularism, embrace socialism/Marxism and encourage riots. Dishonesty and outlandish rhetoric are key strategies of the Alinsky/Democrat party.
In the 1960s, the progressives picked up the pace as the ignorant, clueless, drug-taking hippies (my generation) became professors and taught a false historic narrative to our kids. They adopted practices developed by Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals,” a book dedicated to Lucifer. Alinsky’s program laid out the political strategies Democrat leaders use today.
Hillary, Obama, Biden all align with these strategies. The tool kit includes verbal/physical attacks, and vilification of their opponents. The progressives and their minions, the mainstream press, spew a constant stream of propaganda and feed their troops emotional misinformation.
Vladimir Lenin (Russian communist leader) referred to his followers as useful idiots. He would be proud of the Democrat party. They regularly divide America up into groups and pits us against one another to create chaos. They spread nonsense as truth (Russia/Russia/Russia, Trump is a racist, and on and on) and even when proven wrong they stick to and promote the lie. The Democrat party openly supports a radical, Marxist, racist hate group (“Black Lives Matter”). Democrats are now attacking a supreme court nominee, that is an honorable mother, judge and Christian.
When I ask my Democrat friends to explain why all the hate, they say, “It is Trump’s fault. He lies.” When I ask for examples they respond, “He is a liar.” Please! A party that at one time was the party of John Kennedy has become the anarchist party of America.
I ask you, my Democrat friends, do you align with the values of your party? Aren’t you tired of all this anger and hatred?
Trump supporters enjoy life and try to stick to reason. You should join us. I call on you to walk away from Saul Alinsky and all that pent-up anger. Walk away from the lies and distorted history. Join a party that embraces America and American values. Walk away from BLM and Marxism. I urge you to stop drinking the CNN Kool-Aid. The GOP has an incredibly open and inclusive tent. You would be welcome.
Walter “Skip” Claypool
Chester Township
Rader Fights for Us
As an attorney, I have been fighting for the rights of Ohio employees since 1984. I have known Betsy Rader for several years.
From her time in law school, and throughout her career, Betsy has worked to protect women from discrimination, abuse and sexual harassment. When Betsy was in-house counsel for an employer, she did what responsible corporate counsel should do – she instituted policies and training to prove a safe and non-discriminatory work place and to protect employees from sexual harassment. Where there were complaints, she worked to resolve them with a fair result for victims.
In recent years, her law practice has focused on representation of survivors of discrimination, including sexual harassment, and training companies to comply with sexual harassment laws.
It is ironic that Betsy Rader’s political opponents bring up a 1995 court decision to imply that Betsy turned her back on women who had complained of sexual harassment two years before Betsy was hired as the company attorney. The judge found that there were no complaints of discrimination since then, and that the company was making efforts to eliminate unlawful discrimination in the workplace. That is, the truth is the opposite of the claims in the attack ad.
Then, and now, Betsy Rader stands up for women and for the rights of working people.
Nancy Grim, Esq.
Kent
