Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I thought you may view the $6685 payment to Gail Oakes by the Pickerington for Kids Committee for levy signs a little different in view of the following:

R.C. 2921.42(A)(1) would prohibit the board of education member from participating in deliberations or discussions, or otherwise using her position as a board member, formally or informally, to secure the authorization of purchases of levy signs from a company in which she, a member of her family, or a business associate has an interest, regardless of whether the board formally votes to authorize purchases. She may not use her position with other board members, and school district employees to secure such purchases. This conduct would also be prohibited by R.C. 102.03(D), which prohibits a public official or employee from using the authority or influence of her position to secure anything of value that is of such character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon her with respect to her duties.

Division (C)(2) is of particular note. The division requires that the supplies or services be unobtainable elsewhere at the same or lower cost. She must prove by some objective standards that the supplies or services she is providing are ''unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, including donation of supplies.''

It is respectful to defend an elected official against personal attacks but to defend wrongdoing on the part of the elected official ...

Is that the BEST you can do ?


Why are you trying to make a donation at cost such a horrible thing?

Why not ask the City, instead of spending $125,000 to fight annexation reform at a state level to focus on Commercial development to bring more taxes into the School District?

Inferring that taxpayers would have been better off to spend more on levy signs is getting old. And so are you - old news......

Fishing expedition

Mark,

Has Gail's company in the past made signs for campaigns and why is it that all of a sudden you've got a bee in your bonnett?

Who was on the Pickerington for Kids Committee?

Was the Pickerington for Kids Committee created by the school board and was school money used to purchase these signs?

Was Gail on this committee and can you prove that she influenced or authorized the expenditures of this money to her company?

I don't think section C(2) has any relevance since C(1) doesn't apply and all sections of (C) must apply. C(1) reads: ''The subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;''

I have a hard time believing that yard signs are ''necessary supplies'' to operate a school.

Lastly, has Gail been found guilty of something by the Ohio Ethics commission or by a court of law that I'm not aware of?

If she hasn't then it seems you have made yourself judge, jury and hangman and have found her guilty of something that the courts of this state haven't.

Just for the Record

Just for the record, the Pickerington for Kids Committee is a private political action committee that is neither affiliated with, nor controlled by, the PLSD. That's why we've had such a hard time getting Uher off of it.