Cleveland Plain Dealer

Feb. 26, 2020

Page E2

ENDORSEMENT

Rambo for Geauga County Probate/ Juvenile Court judge in the GOP primary

Timothy Grendell has been a longtime political force in Geauga County but, as the county’s Probate/Juvenile judge since 2011, has also caused a running controversy with what many see as his micromanagement of the Geauga Park District. Now, Grendell is facing his first major electoral challenge since being appointed to the judgeship 8½ years ago following the tragic death of Judge Charles ”Chip” Henry, killed by a drunken driver while bicycling.

In the Republican primary March 17, Grendell, 66, of Chesterland, is being challenged by Matthew Rambo, 40, of Novelty, a lawyer in private practice who previously served as a judicial staff attorney in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and as an Ohio Court of Claims magistrate.

Most Ohioans likely think of Probate and Juvenile courts in terms of wills, estates and juvenile delinquency. But they have lesser-known but no-less-crucial responsibilities, such as adoptions, guardianships and the welfare of the mentally ill or mentally incompetent.

And pertinently for this race, in Ohio, probate judges also have the sole ability to determine the makeup of county park boards. Because of Grendell’s seeming propensity to abuse that power — something the judge strenuously denies but that our editorial board concluded four years ago he was doing — we have called on the state to remove the power of parks oversight from all probate judges in Ohio and give it directly to county leadership. Needless to say, that hasn’t happened.

Now the Republican voters of Geauga County have a chance to render their verdict directly on Grendell’s stewardship.

We encourage them to do so in favor of Matthew Rambo, whose 14 years of legal experience and calm demeanor suggest he would bring a far less combative atmosphere to an important and powerful judicial role. [emphasis added] No Democrat will be on the ballot in the fall, so the winner of the Republican primary will likely be the next judge.

You can continue reading on Cleveland.com

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/02/matthew-rambo-in-the-gop-primary-for-geauga-county-probatejuvenile-court-judge.html

Protect Geauga Parks endorses and supports Matt Rambo for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge in the March 17 Republican Primary election.
Please request a Republican Party ballot and vote for Matt Rambo.

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