Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

agree and disagree

By Bigfish
I partly agree with Bigfish and Changed. I don?’t think there are real crooks in the county GOP. Maybe some small time operators mostly in the city elected posts. I think the aversion to endorsing Kiger stems from his hopping from one side of the fence to the other. Democrat or Republican? Depends on what I need to be today. Locally we have experienced that with a trustee of many years. He blows whichever way the wind blows that is most advantageous to him. You have to accept that an established party system would have a hard time endorsing someone who has not always been a Republican or at least for a long time. That?’s one of the reasons I didn?’t vote for anyone aligned with this trustee. I didn?’t think they could be trusted. One thing I can say in support of Kiger is his experience and the fact that he has been elected before. His opponent is not well known, has ever been elected and from what I have heard so far, has a one dimensional platform. More money for the Sheriff. I haven?’t heard anything else out of the guy.

As far as the Auditor goes, it the same old thing. No one the party could really get behind came out to oppose her. Her opponent has strong ties to the old regime from a few years ago so she can?’t be endorsed. So they?’re stuck with the lesser of the evils.

Bigfish, I can?’t tell in your paragraph about the vote for change crowd in Pickerington if you are crediting the current makeup of elected people for making changes because if you are, I would have to disagree. I think those that were in office in 04-05 should get the credit for everything you mention. Those in now, as a body haven?’t earned any accolades yet. The past annexation wars may have ended but there are more coming. It is more of a cease fire than claiming the war is over. This rezoning on Wright Road and Refugee may ultimately end in annexation. In order for the city to realize any rewards from economic opportunities in those areas they would have to be in the driver?’s seat. JEDDs or CEDAs put the township in control. If it was annexed a more equitable solution could be reached. But if the city tries to annex the war will again be under way.

You ask if parties matter in local politics. Haven?’t you read any of the postings over the last few months? It seems this NW republican group is in total control of local supposedly nonpartisan politics if you believe even half of what is posted here. You kind of have to wake up and smell the coffee on that one. No offense intended.


By littlefish

Too many lines

Larry -

I appreciate your thoughts on this matter. I would like to know your thoughts on the local Republican Club. Having never been a member, much of the information at hand has been brought to my attention from listening to others as well as exercising good common sense.

This group on the surface appears to be nothing more than a bunch of guys doing each of favors as one or more are elected to office. That stinks, as least it does to me, of political corruption. Politics in the United States is intended to be by the people and for the people and not a ''what have you done for me lately'' proposition.


By Changed

Good and bad

Unfortunately the NW club has both good and bad in it, like any other organization. The power players have made their play for it and there are now a lot of disgusted current, and former, members.

There are good people associated with this club, of which I consider Steve Elsea, it's unfortunate he's being associated with the shady side of the organization. It had a noble start and is on the edge of where it's going to go.

Guilt by association is a terrible thing. I'm sure there are many good members in some of the organizations former members of council with less than stellar reputations belong to. I'd hate to take a large brush and paint everyone in certain groups of being power-hungry and corrupt.

This used to be their website but it looks like it's out of service.

http://www.fairfieldrepublican.org/

Some noteable elected local members:

Township:
Terry Dunlap
Harry Myers
Gary Weitlich

City Hall:
David Shaver
Heidi Riggs
Keith Smith
Jeff Fix

Baltimore:
Bob Kalisch

Elsea and Blackwell

Steve Elsea is Blackwell's campaign chairman for Fairfield County. I think in this case you can assume guilt by association. Blackwell has proven himself to be bad for Ohio. If you disagree, you should talk to someone whose social security number is posted on the Secretary of State's website.

If this is any indication of the direction Elsea wants to take Fairfield County, count me out!

By County Watcher