Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

So let me get this straight. My neighbor belongs to this republican club of northwest Fairfield county. This neighbor has been trying to get me to join for some time now. Today I hear from this neighbor that the famous club made their endorsements last night for Pickerington city council. They endorsed an Independent! I?’ll say that again ?– a republican club endorsed an Independent. So this bugs me. I read back through this discussion forum to see what I can read about this famous club. I find that they were apparently disillusioned with the Pickerington area republican club and formed a new club. It turns out that the reason they were disillusioned was over the endorsement process of the old club. They apparently endorsed and funded a democrat and were selective on who they would even consider for endorsement. Now many of these same people go out and endorse an Independent. What the heck is the difference????

So I ask my neighbor who else they endorsed. They tell me this famous club endorsed Tory Kramer and Jeff Fox. I ask about Wright, Sabatino, Hammond and O?’Brien. They tell me no, they weren?’t endorsed. So here you have four Republicans (yes, I looked it up) go unendorsed while an independent is endorsed. So this famous club appears to be very selective in who they seek to endorse, not just making the actual endorsement.

Enthralled, I keep asking more questions. Turns out that Jeff Fox?’s campaign manager and treasurer (one in the same) is on the endorsement committee. Not only that but Fox himself chose the panel before he was forced to resign as president of this famous club. Doesn?’t sound too ethical to me.

So the power mongering and unethical behavior in the state republican party has trickled down to local republicans? Is the county party infected with this disease too? Oh wait ?– Jeff Fox and all his cronies that staged this endorsement outside their party are also all on the executive committee of the county party too!!!

Give me a break. Not only does it rile me that this club got involved in a nonpartisan election, they have thrown their entire weight behind that blatant attempt to influence this election. Good God, what have we come to? Where are the ethical republicans in this state? They are not in Columbus, they are not in Pickerington and I wonder if they are in Lancaster.

Congratulations to the republican club of northwest Fairfield county ?– YOU JUST CONVINCED ME TO VOTE INDEPENDENT FROM NOW ON. I AM EMBARASSED TO BE A REPUBLICAN.

I am voting for O?’Brien and Hammond for council and no one else!!!

Fix's comments

so at the candidate's event at the chamber of commerce, fix claimed to be the ''father of PATA'' or was it the ''founder of PATA''? I couldn't tell with that silver spoon he was born with in his mouth.

either way, i am done with this site too. if you are not against fix than you are for him. if you are not against pata than you are for them.

where are you BOB???? we need you desperately!!!

By No More Republicans - please!!!!

PATA's Paternity

PATA was never intended to be a Republican organization, but rather a nonpartisan ''good government'' organization, focused primarily on taxpayer interests, and on the importance of fiscal responsibility, honesty and openness in local government.

At least one of its initial members -- namely me -- was (and still is) a lifelong Democrat. Indeed, I had a hand in naming PATA, and wrote its initial Articles of Association.

Bob Harding, however, undoubtedly was the heart and soul of the organization. To him we owe, among other things, the newsletter and this web site. But I must give credit where credit is due. Jeff Fix was a major contributor to both projects.

Eventually, many of PATA's early members felt the need for a more partisan outlet. Thus came the Republican Club of Northwest Fairfield County. Even there, however, partisanship took a back seat to good and honest government. Although a Democrat, I was welcomed at several meetings of this organization which, I think, has done a great deal of good for this community.

In my experience, this club has always been very careful with its endorsements. I prefer to believe that this remains true today, although it has been several years since I have gone to a meeting. I always felt the club was more committed to good government than to partisanship, and believe that it is a good thing for such an organization to endorse the best candidates, even if those candidates are not Republican.

I hope the club has done that this time around, although I agree with other posters here that the primary goal in this election should be to strengthen the hand of our current Mayor and City Council majority. Although I have not spoken with Jeff Fix for years, I remember fondly the early PATA days and hope that, if he is elected, that will be his primary goal as well.

You have to apply

If you want an endorsement from the Republican Club of Northwest Fairfield County you needed to apply.

O'Brien, Hammond, Wright and Sabitino didn't apply - all had the option.

The club can't endorse candidates it doesn't screen & interview.

I know that at least O'Brien and Hammond were familiar with the procedure & did not seek an endorsement.



By Fairfield Republican