Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Below is an article from today?’s Eagle-Gazette. I have always had little to no faith in our leadership in this county, namely the commissioners. They, like our Trustees, most of the city government and the school board and administration are hold-overs from when we were a quiet little rural area. I did like Allan Reid when he was a commissioner, however, since his dramatic loss I think he has become bitter and hardened. I also liked Dolske at one time before he became a hardened and bitter politician of the infamous NW Republican Club.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I once could lay the blame for most of the county woes squarely on the backs of the commissioners but am now questioning that. Given the shortcomings we have witnessed in the Clerk of Courts?’ office and now the constant whining of the Board of Elections I have no now wonder if ALL our county leadership is inept or what?

I wonder if the blame for the mess we?’re in might be better laid on the backs of the county Republicans. They seem to control everything. If they?’re the honchos, maybe what I read earlier in this blog rings true. Maybe the cronyism and favoritism need to come to an end.



County elections board asking for more money
By ALAINA FAHY
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
afahy@nncogannett.com


FAIRFIELD COUNTY - The Fairfield County Board of Elections is back with its third money request this year for the Fairfield County Commission.
The request changes so frequently, the Board of Elections chairman couldn't remember Friday what the most recent request was for, or how much it was.

The board's chairman, Allan Reid, referred questions about the amount of the most recent budget request to county commissioners.
The most recent request was for $414,753.58 -according to the budget provided by the commissioners - and would pay for salary items, travel, expenses and other items.

''It's not our job to spend all of our time on our hands and knees begging for more money,'' said Board of Elections members John Dolske, frustrated because the previous two requests were not paid.

This most recent request is the third in a series of financial disagreements between the two boards.

Board of Elections members say they've tried to be patient with county commissioners. But the commission has only funded a little more than half of what the board has requested.

Elections board members' frustration recently led to a unanimous decision to file a lawsuit against the commission, demanding the most recent request be funded. Reid, however, couldn't say whether the suit had been filed, and County Prosecutor David Landefeld couldn't be reached Friday.

The argument is over whether the county is required to fund the elections office's every request or just the first one each budget year.
Reid, the elections board chairman, said the Ohio Revised Code requires the County Commission to approve the Board of Elections' annual budget requests.

Dolske, also of the elections board, acknowledged the county held up its end of that deal in 2006.

But the Board of Elections continues to ask for more, coming up with so many requests for different amounts it's hard to keep up with, Myers said.

In addition to salaries money for travel and expenses, the elections office says it needs more money for new voting machines.
Elections officials blame the Help America Vote Act for additional mandates and fees associated with upcoming elections.

Myers said the county gave the Board of Elections money for 25 new voting machines before the primary election, but the board never ordered them.

''The money is still in the account,'' Myers said.
The Board of Elections meets Tuesday to discuss what to do next regarding their request and the possible lawsuit.

BOE GOP

Isn't John Dolske the same grouchy old man that decided to take some pot shots at city councilmen and long time Republicans because they had the gall to speak out about the corruption of the NW Republican club?

So which to his favorite tactic... to whine when he does not get his way or to take pot shots behind the backs of his fellow GOP members?

He's a multitasker

He can do it all! He can also serve as an officer in the mighty club, serve as Jef Fix's campaign chair AND serve on the endorsement panel of the mighty club.

What a guy! No wonder his cronies promoted him to the board of elections.

More evidence of Rep cronyism

Article published Jul 12, 2006
Republicans select city treasurer
Central Committee taps former councilman Roller in secret ballot
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER -The Lancaster Republican Central Committee turned to a well-known face Tuesday when members elected Lancaster's new city treasurer.
Members elected former Lancaster City Councilman Wayne Roller to the position in a secret ballot at the Republican Party Headquarters. His challenger was Brian Kuhn, the man appointed by Mayor Dave Smith as interim city treasurer.

Roller thanked the central committee members who voted for him.

''I just want to thank Brian for all his work after he took over as interim city treasurer,'' Roller said.

''We've had some good people in the office, and I want to continue in that tradition,'' Roller said. ''I want to work with all the departments and work on reconciling the accounts.''

Roller served on the Lancaster City Council representing the 1st Ward for six years before Democrat John Smith defeated him in November 2005.

Former City Treasurer Jack Rupe resigned effective May 31. The city treasurer is a part-time, elected position that pays $16,000 per year.

Kuhn said he was disappointed in the outcome.

''I would have liked to have stayed on and run in 2007. I think I had discovered some of the things the office needed to work on and did a good job during the time I was there,'' Kuhn said. ''I also want to thank everyone who helped me when I entered the city treasurer's office. It was like a family and I was being accepted. I wish Wayne all the best.''

An audit report dated Oct. 31, 2005, outlined instances in which discrepancies occurred and made suggestions about how City Auditor Mary Green and former City Treasurer Jack Rupe could reconcile their calculations. Both offices kept independent totals on what the city had in bank accounts and investments. The audit said there was no evidence of wrongdoing, just reporting errors.

The vote was a close one, according to Fairfield County Republican Central Committee Chairman Carl Tatman.

Fairfield County Republican Party Executive Committee Chairman Steve Davis said such competition is what he's trying to encourage within the party.

''There are people in the party who think that these races should be pre-ordained,'' Davis said. ''But we want to encourage good competition. Brian Kuhn is a good man, and we need someone to run for city auditor the next time around.''

Lancaster City Council member Tom Stoughton, R-4th Ward and chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee, said he was puzzled by the outcome.

''I congratulate Wayne, but now we are going to lose five weeks of work in trying to get the treasurer's and auditor's accounts to reconcile,'' Stoughton said.

Kuhn was the best qualified based on his education as an accountant, Stoughton said.

Kuhn is a certified public accountant and owner of Buckeye Payroll and Accounting Services LLC.

''And he was new to the political arena, just what the party chairmen said they wanted,'' Stoughton said.

But Central Committee member Jo Ann Bainter said she was happy with the outcome of the party vote.

''Wayne supported me when I was working to make sure fluoridation wasn't introduced in our water, and he opposed a development on Lincoln Avenue,'' Bainter said. ''He'll listen to the people.''

Voters in 2007 will elect a treasurer to serve the final two years of Rupe's four-year term.