https://www.geaugamapleleaf.com/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor-119/

Fake PACs, Censure, Republicanism

Dear Fellow Geauga County Residents, I hope that you are paying close attention to the primary election, which is fast approaching on Tuesday, March 17.

Voters have a choice of casting a Partisan or an Issues Only ballot; however, to weigh in on county candidates, voters will need to ask for and vote a Republican Party ballot as no other party candidates filed to run.

There are a few contested primary Republican races; therefore, the Geauga GOP wants voters to be informed and educated when casting their ballot which is why we produced a Candidates Guide and held a Candidates Forum on Monday, Feb. 17. The candidates guide and a videotape of the forum can be found on our Facebook Page and on our website at www.geaugagop.com.

Historically, our county Republican Party has chosen NOT to endorse in primary races because we want voters to decide who should best represent them in the county, in Columbus and in Washington, D.C.

Regrettably, some Republican candidates claim an endorsement by the Ohio Republican PAC and/or the Geauga County Republican PAC. These FAKE Republican PACs are NOT affiliated in any official way with the Republican Party and I caution voters not to be fooled by them. They did not contact all the candidates on the ballot for their PAC endorsement; they picked the candidates they want to win.

Much noise has also been made about who is the real Republican in the judicial race between candidates Matthew Rambo and Tim Grendell. Throughout Rambo’s entire voting record, beginning in the late 1990s and from 2012-2016, he was affiliated with the Republican Party for a combined total of about 18 years. For a short while, Rambo was affiliated with the Democratic Party, in 2010 and in 2017 and 2018 when he was a Democratic judicial candidate.

However, he has stated that he fully supports the Geauga County Republican Party platform and recently cast his early absentee ballot as a Republican. Therefore, he IS a Republican. As reported in The News-Herald, in 2008 when Tim Grendell was an Ohio State Senator, he was censured by the Lake County Republican Party for supporting Democratic candidate Mark Schneider, who defeated incumbent Republican House Representative Carol-Ann Schindel. Party Chairman Dale Fellows has said that the censure is still in effect to this day. Ultimately, it is up to you, the voter, to decide how much of a litmus test Republicanism matters when you cast your ballot on March 17.

I speak for our Party when I say that we welcome people into our Republican tent who share our principles and our core values. President Trump was elected in 2016 when many voters crossed party lines after feeling abandoned by the now far left Democratic Party, and I predict that they will do so again this November.

This primary election is very important for the future of Geauga County, and I ask that all registered voters participate in deciding who will best represent us. Thank you.

Nancy McArthur, Chairman
Geauga County Republican Party

Note: Yesterday, March 6, 2017, the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio voted unanimously to deny a complaint by Kimberly Laurie, Grendell’s Court Administrator, against Matt Rambo. The Board ruled that the grievance was frivolous, and was filed “for the purpose of obtaining an advantage for a judicial candidate.” Ms. Laurie was ordered to pay all costs of the hearing and to remove statements from mailings and other media that did not include the Board’s finding.

The full text of the decision can be found here.

Grendell Uses GPD for Self-Promotion

Many good things are indeed going on in Geauga Park District, well deserving of the votes cast this past November to pass the park levy.

However, I take issue with claims by Probate Judge Tim Grendell and Executive Director John Oros that Geauga Park District is greater than ever.

I retired this past fall after almost 33 years with Geauga Park District. During the first 26 years of my tenure, Geauga Park District evolved into one of the best park systems in Ohio, well respected by park professionals statewide and beyond.

The untimely tragic death of Geauga County Probate Judge Chip Henry, a man of great integrity, had far-reaching consequences in Geauga County, including the appointment of Timothy Grendell as Judge Henry’s replacement.

During Judge Henry’s years, Geauga Park District was unmolested by politics, its progress guided by the visionary leadership of park commissioners committed to the stewardship of Geauga’s natural heritage for the life-enriching benefits that nature holds for people. Under capable directors, the development of park facilities, management of parklands to protect Geauga’s rich biological diversity, creation of appropriate recreation opportunities and diversified educational programming proceeded with a skilled, dedicated and motivated staff aided, in many ways, by devoted volunteers.

Leadership starts with the probate judge who appoints park board members. Park commissioners should possess a well-informed conservation ethic, familiarity with Geauga Park District’s formative years and a true understanding of the park district’s role and responsibility for preserving, protecting and fostering appreciation for Geauga’s natural features — qualities lacking in many of Grendell’s choices of park commissioners.

Park board appointments seem more of a means of gaining or elevating political allies. Under Tim Grendell, park board membership has been a revolving door, a new mix every year with shifting priorities that stymies long-range strategic planning.

I have found it particularly offensive that Judge Grendell has co-opted Geauga Park District as a vehicle for self-promotion — under the guise of park promotion — at taxpayer expense. Virtually every piece of park district print media, ostensibly to highlight and promote park offerings, features the judge’s image, name and title. The park board and director are included to somehow make it less obvious that it’s not all about the judge.

The most blatant example is a billboard on U.S. 322 in the hamlet of Fowler’s Mills prominently featuring the judge during his re-election campaign.

I firmly believe that Matt Rambo, as Geauga County Probate judge, is the person to get Geauga Park District back on the right path to achieving its greater potential and higher calling to regain and retain its reputation of being among the finest park systems in the Great Lakes Region.

For those of you voting Republican in the Ohio primary election, please give Matt Rambo your vote for probate judge in the March 17 primary. It’s the only opportunity to unseat incumbent Grendell for another six years. With his appetite for controversy and conflict so amply demonstrated in so many aspects of his judgeship, it’s time for him to turn in his robe.

Dan Best
Retired Naturalist, Geauga Park District
City of Chardon

Big Brother is Watching

Judge Tim Grendell’s unjudicial behavior hit a low point last week when he gleefully reported that he knew the political affiliation of residents who have his opponent Matthew Rambo’s signs in their yards.

He made this statement both at the Geauga Tea Party candidates night (video posted online) and at the Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board’s interview to determine endorsement in the Geauga Juvenile/Probate judge race. (They endorsed Matthew Rambo.)

How the heck would he know that without doing a drive by, checking addresses, matching them to property owners, then checking their voting history? Is he in the surveillance business?

At the candidates night event, he also said that signs were in a yard of a person who had appeared in his courtroom regarding a juvenile case as well as another person who had a history of drug use. In my opinion, this is a blatant violation of judicial ethics.

But wait – perhaps he didn’t look them up – perhaps this was done by his constable or his court administrator – both positions paid for by public funds. It takes a long time to drive up and down every road in the county. Were they reimbursed for mileage?

Are voters in Geauga County going to continue to tolerate this kind of invasion of privacy? Are voters in Geauga County going to continue to look the other way and value his name recognition over his self-aggrandizing arrogance?

Let’s stop this madness. Vote for a change. Vote for Matt Rambo for Judge in the March 17 Republican primary.

Barbara Partington
Munson Township

Are You an Undecided Voter?

Undecided about who to vote for in the Republican Primary for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court judge? I’m voting for Matt Rambo. Here’s why.

Matt Rambo is an even-tempered man who will work collaboratively with other county officials and agencies to provide the best services possible to the people of Geauga County. Unlike the current judge, Matt Rambo won’t regularly threaten hardworking county employees with contempt in order to get his way.

Matt Rambo is a fiscal conservative who will reign in the wild increases in the court’s budget – a $1,000,000 increase since the current judge took office in 2011, despite a drop in the caseload.

Matt Rambo is a humble man who has a calling to serve the public as a judge and whose legal career reflects his preparation for public service, unlike the current judge who is a career politician and runs to his friends in the legislature anytime he wants to change the law to give himself more power.

Matt Rambo will not use public money to plaster his own face and name all over mailers, yard signs and billboards. The current judge has spent tens of thousands of our dollars on self-promotion, using court programs and the county park district as a means to increase name recognition and feed his ego.

Matt Rambo won’t be in the newspapers or on the streets of Chardon Square yelling at police officers. He’ll be working in the courthouse, serving the people of Geauga County.

Still not sure who to vote for? Ask your local law enforcement officer or elected official who they’re voting for. They may not be able to say so publicly, but privately I suspect most of our public servants will tell you they’re voting for Matt Rambo.

Vote Matt Rambo for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court judge. He will be the best thing to happen for Geauga County’s children and families since Judge Chip Henry.

Shelley Chernin
Russell Township

Judicial Temper or Judicial Temperament?

On March 17, 2020, we, the voters of Geauga County, have the opportunity to end what has been an ongoing and expensive public embarrassment for us, for far too long.

We can end the reign of interference and judicial abuse by Tim Grendell by supporting Matt Rambo for Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Thomas Jefferson warned of the judiciary being the despotic branch, and it certainly rings true in Geauga County. Judge Grendell has a well-established pattern and practice of adversarial behavior toward anyone who disagrees with him or questions the lawfulness of his (many) orders. That list of adversaries includes former Commissioner Blake Rear, county Auditor Chuck Walder, Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, Republican Party Chair Nancy McArthur, Russell Township Trustees, Chester Township Trustees, government employees and private citizens and organizations.

Calling citizens ‘howling coyotes,’ as Tim Grendell has publicly done, shows a lack of judicial restraint and a serious character flaw. Can you name any other judge in the State of Ohio that has acted in such a manner?

Issuing (unlawful) subpoenas to compel people into his courtroom is a form of intimidation.  Russell Township Trustees had to defend themselves against that abuse. When I and fellow Chester Trustee Mike Petruziello refused to follow his unlawful orders, Tim Grendell abused the power of his office by initiating a criminal investigation — alleging third-degree felony intimidation, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Judge Grendell even claimed I violated HIS constitutional rights.

Justice did persevere when his orders were reversed and vacated, but at a cost of more than $100,000 to the taxpayers of Chester. This travesty of justice could have been avoided if Judge Grendell conducted himself consistent with the requirements of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct.

One becomes his political enemy when you disagree with Tim Grendell. That is not judicial temperament, it is judicial abuse.

On the other hand, in my engagements with Matt Rambo, I find him reasoned and reasonable — qualities that will serve him well as our next Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Grendell pays no penalty for his abuse of power. Only we the people of Geauga County can administer justice by voting for Matt Rambo on March 17, 2020.

Ken Radtke Jr.
Chester Township Trustee

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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