The smoke cleared. The candidate emerged. A very nice lady. A very nice lady initially recruited for elected office by Wayne Jones' friend, Kim Hoover. (Judge Hoover, with his wife, appeared in campaign advertisements for Wayne Jones when he ran for Mayor of Cuyahoga Falls against Mayor Don Robart. Mrs. Hoover worked on Jones' campaign. Judge & Mrs. Hoover contributed to Wayne's campaign against Mayor Robart.)
Questions emerge:
(1) Should an individual with a full-time, demanding corporate job serve as chairman while working her job? Will she have the time?
(2) Should an elected official serve as chairman? How will this official ensure that the parties decisions concerning candidate support are made impartially, without favoritism or an eye to advancing the chairman's personal aspirations for elected office?
(3) How will a chairman whose spouse works at the pleasure of two Republican Judges (Coates and Hoover) avoid favoritism in order to keep her husband employed?
(4) Does anyone think that Mrs. Klinger can remain free of the influence of the politically-wired Hoovers, Wayne Jones and Pete Kostoff? Doesn't she owe her promoters a debt of gratitude?
Also, in case you didn't notice, Kevin Coughlin and Pete Kostoff stayed away for Mrs. Klinger's announcement. Were they really that busy? Were they trying to distance themselves from a failing movement? Or, were they trying to avoid weighing this candidate down with their considerable baggage?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Connections...
Wayne Jones, Don Varian, Kevin Coughlin
2/26/08 - Don Varian Represents Kevin Coughlin before Summit County Board of Elections.
2/27/08 - Wayne Jones recommends Don Varian to Jennifer Brunner for appointment to the Summit County Board of Elections.
2/29/08 - Jennifer Brunner appoints Don Varian to the Summit County Board of Elections.
From today's Akron Beacon Journal:
"When asked about the news conference Sunday, Varian said, ''Stay tuned.''
He declined further comment, except to predict that it will be ''an interesting news conference.''
''I hope to be there,'' he said.
Varian hasn't ruled out the possibility of trying for the chairmanship. He had said he and Coughlin wanted to wait to see the results of the March election before announcing a chairman candidate."
Coughlin - Varian - Jones. The New Summit Republicans' leadership team? Stay tuned, indeed.
2/26/08 - Don Varian Represents Kevin Coughlin before Summit County Board of Elections.
2/27/08 - Wayne Jones recommends Don Varian to Jennifer Brunner for appointment to the Summit County Board of Elections.
2/29/08 - Jennifer Brunner appoints Don Varian to the Summit County Board of Elections.
From today's Akron Beacon Journal:
"When asked about the news conference Sunday, Varian said, ''Stay tuned.''
He declined further comment, except to predict that it will be ''an interesting news conference.''
''I hope to be there,'' he said.
Varian hasn't ruled out the possibility of trying for the chairmanship. He had said he and Coughlin wanted to wait to see the results of the March election before announcing a chairman candidate."
Coughlin - Varian - Jones. The New Summit Republicans' leadership team? Stay tuned, indeed.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wayne Jones, Wayne Jones, Wayne Jones, Wayne Jones, oh yes, and Kevin Coughlin...
It's all about Wayne. Truly, it is. Kevin Coughlin is pretty much the palace eunich, carrying out Wayne and Pete's bidding. He's been the beard all along for Wayne's bold move to Roetzelize the Summit County Republican Party...
Dispute is unique, GOP says
Summit party claims Brunner's rejection of appointee is unprecedented in court
By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
The Ohio Supreme Court is on new ground with a case filed by the Summit County Republican Party, the party's attorney said Wednesday in a brief filed with the court.
The high court has never decided a case involving a secretary of state soliciting negative information on a local party's recommended appointee to an elections board from the opposite party, state Sen. Tim Grendell, the party's attorney, said in the brief.
''There simply has never been a case like this one, where the secretary of state has brazenly demolished the legislature's statutory structure for maintaining bipartisan balance on local elections boards,'' Grendell said in the 44-page brief.
The party is challenging Ohio Secretary of State JenniferBrunner's decision to reject Brian Daley, the party's recommended appointee to the elections board, and instead appoint Akron Attorney Don Varian to the board.
Brunner said in a videotaped deposition last week that Wayne Jones, the Summit County Democratic Party's finance chair and a member of the elections board, told her she should not reappoint Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff to the elections board.
She said Jones also told her she should reject Daley and appoint Varian, who is involved in an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as chairman.
In Grendell's brief, he said Brunner, Jones and other local Democrats ''targeted'' Arshinkoff, and, after ''bushwhacking'' him, ''aimed their political guns'' at Daley, a former Hudson City Council president and retired business executive. He said these actions are ''unprecedented'' in Ohio.
Grendell said Daley is the ''victim'' of ''political chicanery, guilt by association, politics'' and a ''Brunner invited witch hunt.'' He said Brunner's office didn't attempt to verify the information provided on Arshinkoff and Daley, which included letters and newspaper articles and editorials.
Grendell said Brunner didn't subject Varian to the same level of scrutiny as Arshinkoff and Daley, including not reading Varian's resume. He said Daley is ''extremely competent'' and should have been appointed.
''Secretary Brunner and her staff have engaged in a deliberate effort to circumvent her legal duty and to defeat the Summit County Republican Party's statutory recommendations,'' Grendell wrote in the brief.
To allow Brunner's actions to stand would ''render the right of a local party executive committee to make a recommendation totally meaningless,'' Grendell said.
Grendell said Wednesday evening that his office looked through previous cases handled by the Supreme Court and ''couldn't find one that touched on this fact pattern.'' He said Jones solicited negative information on Arshinkoff and Daley and gave it to Brunner, who didn't give either of them the chance to see the information or respond to it.
''That's just flat out un-American,'' Grendell said in a phone interview. ''We have due process. It's one of the cornerstones of our Constitution.''
The party is asking the court to put Daley on the board and to nullify staff changes made March 5 by the election board.
At this meeting, Varian, Jones and Tim Gorbach, the other Democrat on the four-member board, voted to get rid of several board employees who were loyal to Arshinkoff. They also hired several people who are in league with state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, who is leading an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as chairman. Jack Morrison Jr., a Republican board member, was the lone ''no'' vote on these changes.
If the court sides with the party — and puts Daley on the board — the court should overturn these staff changes, Grendell said. Not doing so likely would result in 2-2 ties by the elections board that would have to be decided by Brunner.
''If the court agrees the denial was improper, then the secretary of state and Wayne Jones shouldn't get away with that or any of the benefits of their improper conduct,'' Grendell said.
Brunner's reply brief must be filed by the court by March 31. The party will then have five days to submit a response.
At this point, the court could make a decision. The court could require oral arguments but normally hasn't in this type of case.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reachedat 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Dispute is unique, GOP says
Summit party claims Brunner's rejection of appointee is unprecedented in court
By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
The Ohio Supreme Court is on new ground with a case filed by the Summit County Republican Party, the party's attorney said Wednesday in a brief filed with the court.
The high court has never decided a case involving a secretary of state soliciting negative information on a local party's recommended appointee to an elections board from the opposite party, state Sen. Tim Grendell, the party's attorney, said in the brief.
''There simply has never been a case like this one, where the secretary of state has brazenly demolished the legislature's statutory structure for maintaining bipartisan balance on local elections boards,'' Grendell said in the 44-page brief.
The party is challenging Ohio Secretary of State JenniferBrunner's decision to reject Brian Daley, the party's recommended appointee to the elections board, and instead appoint Akron Attorney Don Varian to the board.
Brunner said in a videotaped deposition last week that Wayne Jones, the Summit County Democratic Party's finance chair and a member of the elections board, told her she should not reappoint Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff to the elections board.
She said Jones also told her she should reject Daley and appoint Varian, who is involved in an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as chairman.
In Grendell's brief, he said Brunner, Jones and other local Democrats ''targeted'' Arshinkoff, and, after ''bushwhacking'' him, ''aimed their political guns'' at Daley, a former Hudson City Council president and retired business executive. He said these actions are ''unprecedented'' in Ohio.
Grendell said Daley is the ''victim'' of ''political chicanery, guilt by association, politics'' and a ''Brunner invited witch hunt.'' He said Brunner's office didn't attempt to verify the information provided on Arshinkoff and Daley, which included letters and newspaper articles and editorials.
Grendell said Brunner didn't subject Varian to the same level of scrutiny as Arshinkoff and Daley, including not reading Varian's resume. He said Daley is ''extremely competent'' and should have been appointed.
''Secretary Brunner and her staff have engaged in a deliberate effort to circumvent her legal duty and to defeat the Summit County Republican Party's statutory recommendations,'' Grendell wrote in the brief.
To allow Brunner's actions to stand would ''render the right of a local party executive committee to make a recommendation totally meaningless,'' Grendell said.
Grendell said Wednesday evening that his office looked through previous cases handled by the Supreme Court and ''couldn't find one that touched on this fact pattern.'' He said Jones solicited negative information on Arshinkoff and Daley and gave it to Brunner, who didn't give either of them the chance to see the information or respond to it.
''That's just flat out un-American,'' Grendell said in a phone interview. ''We have due process. It's one of the cornerstones of our Constitution.''
The party is asking the court to put Daley on the board and to nullify staff changes made March 5 by the election board.
At this meeting, Varian, Jones and Tim Gorbach, the other Democrat on the four-member board, voted to get rid of several board employees who were loyal to Arshinkoff. They also hired several people who are in league with state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, who is leading an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as chairman. Jack Morrison Jr., a Republican board member, was the lone ''no'' vote on these changes.
If the court sides with the party — and puts Daley on the board — the court should overturn these staff changes, Grendell said. Not doing so likely would result in 2-2 ties by the elections board that would have to be decided by Brunner.
''If the court agrees the denial was improper, then the secretary of state and Wayne Jones shouldn't get away with that or any of the benefits of their improper conduct,'' Grendell said.
Brunner's reply brief must be filed by the court by March 31. The party will then have five days to submit a response.
At this point, the court could make a decision. The court could require oral arguments but normally hasn't in this type of case.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reachedat 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wayne Jones, Kevin Coughlin, Pete Kostoff and Don Varian... Oh My!
Well, the past few weeks have been interesting. Wayne Jones has shown himself (or Jennifer Brunner has shown Wayne Jones) to be at the center of the attempt to take over the Summit County Republican Party.
1. Wayne defeats the appointments of Alex Arshinkoff and Brian Daley as Republican members of the Summit County Board of Elections;
2. Wayne recommends the appointment of "Republican" Criminal Defense Attorney Don Varian, two days after Varian appeared before the Summit County BOE representing Kevin Coughlin;
3. Jones, Varian and Tim Gorbach vote to remove 7 BOE employees who are staunchly loyal to the Summit County Republican Party.
Kevin, Pete and Varian may be the front-men, but Democrat Godfather Wayne Jones is pulling all the strings.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Editorial: Brunner is too fond of battles fought behind the scenes
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
When Jennifer Brunner ran for secre tary of state in 2006, she said all of the right things about restoring faith in Ohio's elections machinery. She seemed to understand that the voting process must be open and transparent. The only secret at the polls should be what's on an individual's ballot.
It's too bad she failed to bring any such understanding to her efforts to remake the Summit County Board of Elections.
Brunner last month rejected a recommendation from the county Republican Party to reappoint its chairman, Alex Arshinkoff, to the elections board that he's been on for some 30 years. Ohio law allows her to reject a party's nominee if she doesn't believe the candidate would be a competent board member. In rejecting the often-brusque Arshinkoff, she cited allegations that he had bullied the board's staff.
When the county party proposed former Hudson Council President Brian Daley as a replacement, Brunner rejected him, too. Then she made an 11th-hour nomination of her own: Akron attorney Don Varian, a leader of an insurgency to oust Arshinkoff as GOP chairman.
Summit County Republicans appealed Brunner's decision to the Ohio Supreme Court, as authorized by law. But when the party's attorneys sought to depose Brunner, she first resisted answering questions, then insisted that the deposition be closed to reporters, and finally tried to seal both the transcript and a videotape of her testimony. The high court properly rejected her requests.
As the court noted, the administration of elections is by definition a matter of high public interest. Thus questions about Brunner's decisions needed to be aired in public. And she needed to answer them, not refer them to an underling. The buck stops with her.
When the deposition was released, the public learned that Brunner got advice on Arshinkoff, Daley and Varian from longtime Democratic board member Wayne Jones. Like his bitter enemy Arshinkoff, Jones is an unrepentant partisan. He is certainly no impartial adviser.
Brunner promised a professional elections system, not a partisan one. Her testimony suggests that she's as unclear on that concept as she is on the public's right to know.
--------------------------------
Akron Beacon Journal
March 15, 2008
Local Democrat tied to GOP case Secretary of state testifies Wayne Jones suggested Summit board changes
By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
It was Wayne Jones, the finance chairman for the Summit County Democratic Party, who told the secretary of state that county GOP Chairman Alex Arshinkoff should not be reappointed to the elections board.
And it was Jones who told Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner that she should reject Brian Daley, the county Republican Party's recommended replacement for Arshinkoff, instead suggesting that she appoint Akron attorney Don Varian to the position.
That information was part of the testimony Brunner gave during a 51/2-hour deposition for an Ohio Supreme Court case filed by the county GOP challenging her decision to put Varian on the board.
''Wayne Jones had indicated that he would be a good board member,'' Brunner testified.
Brunner's 169-page deposition was provided to the Akron Beacon Journal and filed with the court Friday, the deadline for all evidence in the case.
Arshinkoff, who was present for Brunner's testimony, was livid about her comments about Jones' involvement.
''This is an appointment the Summit County Republican Party is to make, not the Summit CountyDemocratic Party,'' Arshinkoff said Friday, his voice raised. ''Wayne Jones lied, saying he had nothing to do with it. Now we find out Wayne had everything to do with it.''
Arshinkoff called this ''a blatant political assassination attempt.''
Brunner, a Democrat, decided in February not to reappoint Arshinkoff, who had been on the board and has chaired the Summit County Republican Party for nearly 30 years. She then rejected Daley, a former Hudson council president and the party's recommended replacement for Arshinkoff.
Brunner instead appointed Varian, who is involved in an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as party chairman. She made the decision hours before her March 1 deadline for choosing election board members across Ohio.
Tense questioning
Brunner's closed and videotaped deposition, conducted Wednesday night in her Columbus office, was often tense, with frequent back-and-forth exchanges between state Sen. Tim Grendell — an attorney who is representing the party — and Assistant Attorney General Richard Coglianese, one of several lawyers representing Brunner.
At one point, Grendell, frustrated over the lack of copies of requested documentation, threw papers at Brunner — for which he later apologized. At another point, objecting to Grendell's questions, Coglianese threatened to end the deposition.
In her testimony, Brunner said she and Jones, who is one of two Democratic members of the Summit elections board, had a discussion in January about problems at the board. She told Jones she hoped that he would support keeping Bryan Williams, the Republican director of the board, because she thought Williams was doing a good job.
''At that point, Mr. Jones said, 'Well, then you should not reappoint Alex Arshinkoff,' '' Brunner said. ''And I said to him, 'I cannot simply not reappoint him. If there's evidence, you would have to send it to me.' ''
Brunner said that in mid-February, she received a file of information about Arshinkoff that she reviewed. She said she wasn't sure who provided the file.
In a Feb. 20 letter to Arshinkoff, Brunner cited a history of Arshinkoff harassing and intimidating board workers; the creation of a partisan working environment; and an affidavit saying he tried to influence three county judges.
Picking replacement
Brunner said Jones was critical of Daley, whom the Republican Party's Executive Committee had recommended to replace Arshinkoff, during a voters forum she held in Akron on Feb. 27. She said Jones told her ''there were people who had information that Mr. Daley suffered from some of the same issues that concerned me not to reappoint Mr. Arshinkoff.''
Brunner said she asked Jones, ''What other Republicans are there?'' and he suggested Varian.
Brunner said James Hardy, her liaison in charge of Summit County, provided her with a packet of information about Daley. It included negative comments from Mike Moran, a Democrat who served on Hudson City Council with Daley, and an Akron Beacon Journal editorial that said Daley had behaved like ''a bully.''
Grendell asked Brunner whether she talked to either Arshinkoff or Daley before making her appointment decisions.
''No, I was not required to,'' she responded.
Grendell asked Brunner whether it was her policy ''to ask the opposing political party to comment on potential appointees to the board of elections.''
Brunner said it was not.
''And so the discussion with Mr. Jones would be out of the ordinary?'' Grendell asked.
''I usually rely on the party making the appointment to send me the name of someone who would be competent,'' Brunner said. ''If they fail to do that by the deadline by which I have to appoint, I look for input on who would be a competent member from where I can find it.''
Conspiracy claim Arshinkoff said Brunner's testimony about Jones' involvement bolsters his contention that Jones and Pete Kostoff, Jones' Republican law partner at Roetzel & Andress, have been behind the effort to remove him as party chairman.
''Roetzel wants to run both parties,'' he said. ''They're doing a damn good job trying.''
Arshinkoff called Varian ''the handpicked man of Wayne Jones'' and ''a lackey of the Democratic machine.''
'A cancer at the board'
Jones acknowledged in a phone call Friday that he told Brunner he thought Arshinkoff should be removed from the board, and he provided Brunner with the packet of information about Arshinkoff.
''It was just the truth,'' Jones said. ''He had become a cancer at the board. He was abusive to employees. Given his record, it was time for him to go.''
Jones said he told Brunner that he heard ''similar things about Daley'' that she might want to check out. He said he had been told Daley was ''combative'' and ''abusive.''
Jones said he thought Varian was ''an honorable guy'' and would be a good board member.
Jones, however, again denied Arshinkoff's claim that he's in league with Republican state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, who is leading the effort to oust Arshinkoff as party chairman.
''I have never had a conversation with Coughlin,'' Jones said. ''I don't have a dog in that fight. I could care less. I hope both of them pull guns out and shoot each other.''
Jones said the elections board is ''near and dear'' to him and Arshinkoff ''turned it into a circus.''
Varian said he doesn't know how or why Brunner selected him for the board. He said his credentials as a Republican date back 35 years.
''My allegiance continues to be with the Republican Party,'' he said. ''I think that is necessary on the board.''
Patrick Gallaway, a spokesman for Brunner, said Brunner based her decision on who should be appointed to the Summit board on the information given to her. He said their office had files on every elections board nominee across Ohio.
Gallaway said David Farrell, Brunner's elections director, interviewed Varian and, based on this, decided he would ''make a good fit'' on the board.
''This process is about following the proper procedures,'' Gallaway said. ''That's what we've done with every board appointment.''
1. Wayne defeats the appointments of Alex Arshinkoff and Brian Daley as Republican members of the Summit County Board of Elections;
2. Wayne recommends the appointment of "Republican" Criminal Defense Attorney Don Varian, two days after Varian appeared before the Summit County BOE representing Kevin Coughlin;
3. Jones, Varian and Tim Gorbach vote to remove 7 BOE employees who are staunchly loyal to the Summit County Republican Party.
Kevin, Pete and Varian may be the front-men, but Democrat Godfather Wayne Jones is pulling all the strings.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Editorial: Brunner is too fond of battles fought behind the scenes
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
When Jennifer Brunner ran for secre tary of state in 2006, she said all of the right things about restoring faith in Ohio's elections machinery. She seemed to understand that the voting process must be open and transparent. The only secret at the polls should be what's on an individual's ballot.
It's too bad she failed to bring any such understanding to her efforts to remake the Summit County Board of Elections.
Brunner last month rejected a recommendation from the county Republican Party to reappoint its chairman, Alex Arshinkoff, to the elections board that he's been on for some 30 years. Ohio law allows her to reject a party's nominee if she doesn't believe the candidate would be a competent board member. In rejecting the often-brusque Arshinkoff, she cited allegations that he had bullied the board's staff.
When the county party proposed former Hudson Council President Brian Daley as a replacement, Brunner rejected him, too. Then she made an 11th-hour nomination of her own: Akron attorney Don Varian, a leader of an insurgency to oust Arshinkoff as GOP chairman.
Summit County Republicans appealed Brunner's decision to the Ohio Supreme Court, as authorized by law. But when the party's attorneys sought to depose Brunner, she first resisted answering questions, then insisted that the deposition be closed to reporters, and finally tried to seal both the transcript and a videotape of her testimony. The high court properly rejected her requests.
As the court noted, the administration of elections is by definition a matter of high public interest. Thus questions about Brunner's decisions needed to be aired in public. And she needed to answer them, not refer them to an underling. The buck stops with her.
When the deposition was released, the public learned that Brunner got advice on Arshinkoff, Daley and Varian from longtime Democratic board member Wayne Jones. Like his bitter enemy Arshinkoff, Jones is an unrepentant partisan. He is certainly no impartial adviser.
Brunner promised a professional elections system, not a partisan one. Her testimony suggests that she's as unclear on that concept as she is on the public's right to know.
--------------------------------
Akron Beacon Journal
March 15, 2008
Local Democrat tied to GOP case Secretary of state testifies Wayne Jones suggested Summit board changes
By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
It was Wayne Jones, the finance chairman for the Summit County Democratic Party, who told the secretary of state that county GOP Chairman Alex Arshinkoff should not be reappointed to the elections board.
And it was Jones who told Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner that she should reject Brian Daley, the county Republican Party's recommended replacement for Arshinkoff, instead suggesting that she appoint Akron attorney Don Varian to the position.
That information was part of the testimony Brunner gave during a 51/2-hour deposition for an Ohio Supreme Court case filed by the county GOP challenging her decision to put Varian on the board.
''Wayne Jones had indicated that he would be a good board member,'' Brunner testified.
Brunner's 169-page deposition was provided to the Akron Beacon Journal and filed with the court Friday, the deadline for all evidence in the case.
Arshinkoff, who was present for Brunner's testimony, was livid about her comments about Jones' involvement.
''This is an appointment the Summit County Republican Party is to make, not the Summit CountyDemocratic Party,'' Arshinkoff said Friday, his voice raised. ''Wayne Jones lied, saying he had nothing to do with it. Now we find out Wayne had everything to do with it.''
Arshinkoff called this ''a blatant political assassination attempt.''
Brunner, a Democrat, decided in February not to reappoint Arshinkoff, who had been on the board and has chaired the Summit County Republican Party for nearly 30 years. She then rejected Daley, a former Hudson council president and the party's recommended replacement for Arshinkoff.
Brunner instead appointed Varian, who is involved in an effort to unseat Arshinkoff as party chairman. She made the decision hours before her March 1 deadline for choosing election board members across Ohio.
Tense questioning
Brunner's closed and videotaped deposition, conducted Wednesday night in her Columbus office, was often tense, with frequent back-and-forth exchanges between state Sen. Tim Grendell — an attorney who is representing the party — and Assistant Attorney General Richard Coglianese, one of several lawyers representing Brunner.
At one point, Grendell, frustrated over the lack of copies of requested documentation, threw papers at Brunner — for which he later apologized. At another point, objecting to Grendell's questions, Coglianese threatened to end the deposition.
In her testimony, Brunner said she and Jones, who is one of two Democratic members of the Summit elections board, had a discussion in January about problems at the board. She told Jones she hoped that he would support keeping Bryan Williams, the Republican director of the board, because she thought Williams was doing a good job.
''At that point, Mr. Jones said, 'Well, then you should not reappoint Alex Arshinkoff,' '' Brunner said. ''And I said to him, 'I cannot simply not reappoint him. If there's evidence, you would have to send it to me.' ''
Brunner said that in mid-February, she received a file of information about Arshinkoff that she reviewed. She said she wasn't sure who provided the file.
In a Feb. 20 letter to Arshinkoff, Brunner cited a history of Arshinkoff harassing and intimidating board workers; the creation of a partisan working environment; and an affidavit saying he tried to influence three county judges.
Picking replacement
Brunner said Jones was critical of Daley, whom the Republican Party's Executive Committee had recommended to replace Arshinkoff, during a voters forum she held in Akron on Feb. 27. She said Jones told her ''there were people who had information that Mr. Daley suffered from some of the same issues that concerned me not to reappoint Mr. Arshinkoff.''
Brunner said she asked Jones, ''What other Republicans are there?'' and he suggested Varian.
Brunner said James Hardy, her liaison in charge of Summit County, provided her with a packet of information about Daley. It included negative comments from Mike Moran, a Democrat who served on Hudson City Council with Daley, and an Akron Beacon Journal editorial that said Daley had behaved like ''a bully.''
Grendell asked Brunner whether she talked to either Arshinkoff or Daley before making her appointment decisions.
''No, I was not required to,'' she responded.
Grendell asked Brunner whether it was her policy ''to ask the opposing political party to comment on potential appointees to the board of elections.''
Brunner said it was not.
''And so the discussion with Mr. Jones would be out of the ordinary?'' Grendell asked.
''I usually rely on the party making the appointment to send me the name of someone who would be competent,'' Brunner said. ''If they fail to do that by the deadline by which I have to appoint, I look for input on who would be a competent member from where I can find it.''
Conspiracy claim Arshinkoff said Brunner's testimony about Jones' involvement bolsters his contention that Jones and Pete Kostoff, Jones' Republican law partner at Roetzel & Andress, have been behind the effort to remove him as party chairman.
''Roetzel wants to run both parties,'' he said. ''They're doing a damn good job trying.''
Arshinkoff called Varian ''the handpicked man of Wayne Jones'' and ''a lackey of the Democratic machine.''
'A cancer at the board'
Jones acknowledged in a phone call Friday that he told Brunner he thought Arshinkoff should be removed from the board, and he provided Brunner with the packet of information about Arshinkoff.
''It was just the truth,'' Jones said. ''He had become a cancer at the board. He was abusive to employees. Given his record, it was time for him to go.''
Jones said he told Brunner that he heard ''similar things about Daley'' that she might want to check out. He said he had been told Daley was ''combative'' and ''abusive.''
Jones said he thought Varian was ''an honorable guy'' and would be a good board member.
Jones, however, again denied Arshinkoff's claim that he's in league with Republican state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, who is leading the effort to oust Arshinkoff as party chairman.
''I have never had a conversation with Coughlin,'' Jones said. ''I don't have a dog in that fight. I could care less. I hope both of them pull guns out and shoot each other.''
Jones said the elections board is ''near and dear'' to him and Arshinkoff ''turned it into a circus.''
Varian said he doesn't know how or why Brunner selected him for the board. He said his credentials as a Republican date back 35 years.
''My allegiance continues to be with the Republican Party,'' he said. ''I think that is necessary on the board.''
Patrick Gallaway, a spokesman for Brunner, said Brunner based her decision on who should be appointed to the Summit board on the information given to her. He said their office had files on every elections board nominee across Ohio.
Gallaway said David Farrell, Brunner's elections director, interviewed Varian and, based on this, decided he would ''make a good fit'' on the board.
''This process is about following the proper procedures,'' Gallaway said. ''That's what we've done with every board appointment.''
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Another Voice Against The New Summit Republicans...
The Republican Party does not deserve the derisiveness of the New Summit Republicans campaign. When asked to be on their ballot, I understood my role to be creating awareness of a need for betterment in county Republican leadership. Always believing in the need to improve our government, I welcomed this opportunity.
After a few months weighing each side of this divisive debate, I now have the final piece of the puzzle necessary to place my vote firmly with Alex Arshinkoff's leadership.
The latest attacks against Brian Daley are unconscionable. This strategic blunder may cause the Ohio Supreme Court to weigh in and stop the madness, but it does not forgive the political assassination of a fine man.
I imagine that loud voices and a great deal of "bullying" were present when our founding fathers drafted our Declaration of Independence. These same voices that are heard today evoke the passion that comes with the mantle of leadership. I rue the day when all of us in politics accept the status quo and ignore or prohibit needed change. The change we need in Summit County is for politicians to do the jobs we were elected to do.
Our citizens and communities have real problems. A state senator choosing to spend all of his time bashing the Summit County Republican Party's leadership has no time to dedicate to solving these problems. Cozying up with the Secretary of State to thwart a fair nomination by the Summit County Republican Party Executive Committee identifies the New Summit Republican's choice of leadership, whoever that may be, to be leadership I could never believe in.
Let's bury the hatchet and begin working for the people we were elected to serve.
Carol L. Gasper
Twinsburg Township Trustee
After a few months weighing each side of this divisive debate, I now have the final piece of the puzzle necessary to place my vote firmly with Alex Arshinkoff's leadership.
The latest attacks against Brian Daley are unconscionable. This strategic blunder may cause the Ohio Supreme Court to weigh in and stop the madness, but it does not forgive the political assassination of a fine man.
I imagine that loud voices and a great deal of "bullying" were present when our founding fathers drafted our Declaration of Independence. These same voices that are heard today evoke the passion that comes with the mantle of leadership. I rue the day when all of us in politics accept the status quo and ignore or prohibit needed change. The change we need in Summit County is for politicians to do the jobs we were elected to do.
Our citizens and communities have real problems. A state senator choosing to spend all of his time bashing the Summit County Republican Party's leadership has no time to dedicate to solving these problems. Cozying up with the Secretary of State to thwart a fair nomination by the Summit County Republican Party Executive Committee identifies the New Summit Republican's choice of leadership, whoever that may be, to be leadership I could never believe in.
Let's bury the hatchet and begin working for the people we were elected to serve.
Carol L. Gasper
Twinsburg Township Trustee
Friday, February 29, 2008
Kevin Coughlin's at it again...
When his "campaign for change" has imploded, what's a state senator to do...
What he always does... Lie.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Coughlin Prattles While Ohio Founders....
Kevinus Primus?When you're a term limited State Senator and your home state is facing the following threats, what would you do?
- Loss of more than 136,000 manufacturing jobs in Ohio since you took office in 2001 - 3,900 jobs lost in December 2007 alone - (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Michigan+and+Ohio+continue+manufacturing+job+loss.-a0170862673, http://www.daytondailynews.com/b/content/oh/story/business/2008/01/18/ddn011808blsweb.html);
- A budget deficit for Ohio forcast as high as $1.9 Billion;
- High oil and gas prices that make many Ohioans chose between keeping warm and keeping their families fed;
- An educational crisis in primary, secondary and post-secondary public education;
- An estimated 30,000 - 40,000 people per year are leaving Ohio;
- Ohio is losing more young adults than any other state except Pennsylvania (104,000 from 1996 - 2006) (http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/23/ddn092406youngdrain.html);
Most reasonable, responsible public servants would roll up their sleeves and work to improve Ohio. A real leader would spearhead the necessary reforms to move Ohio forward.
Not so with Senator Kevinus Coughlinis Primus, he has his fiddle out and is making a heck of a racket trying to take over the Summit County Republican Party.
Why isn't he focused on Ohio?
Kevinus has stated that his goal is to take over the party so that he can position himself for a run for higher office once he's finished his current "lame duck" term in office. (He was reported to have told the Akron Beacon Journal that his move to take over the Summit County GOP would make him a prime candidate for Ohio's next governor.)
Shouldn't Coughlin be working to improve Ohio's problems rather than advancing his personal interests - all while feeding at the public trough? Maybe just once, Coughlin should try to earn his public paycheck.
He should be ashamed of himself. He sets a poor example as a public servant.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
What do you see when you open Kevin Coughlin's Kimono...
... Pete Kostoff... YUCK!
"Opening the Kimono", "Pulling back the curtain", whatever you call it, some folks are just too dim to realize that they're providing others a front....
So, too, with Kevin Coughlin. So how do we know Pete Kostoff is Kevin's little (or not so little) secret? Let's start in Spring 2007 when Kevin and Pete hatched Pete's little plot to take over the Party - Pete met with Summit County Party loyalist, Sheriff Drew Alexander, and asked for his support. Kostoff is reported to have said that the movement could not succeed without Alexander's support. Sheriff Alexander, a supporter of the Party's current leadership refused to support Kostoff and Coughlin.
More recently, in state central committee filings made by Coughlin, Kostoff and his wife Pam were among the first to sign Kevin's wife's state central committee petition. In filings made on Thursday, January 3, 2008 with the Summit County Board of Elections, Kostoff's wife Pam was a leading circulator of Coughlin petitions. Many members of Kostoff's and his wife's family are candidates for the central committee.
In Coughlin's brave new world, Kostoff is set to assume the role of Finance Chairman. You know the golden rule - "He who has the gold rules." Get ready King Pete's reign to begin if Coughlin is able to unseat the County party's current leadership. More importantly, get ready for the end of an independent Republican Party in Summit County. Pete's law partner and co-collaborator on all things political is none other than Democrat Finance Chair Wayne Jones. Isn't it cosy and convenient, both political parties run from the same practice group of one law firm...
"Opening the Kimono", "Pulling back the curtain", whatever you call it, some folks are just too dim to realize that they're providing others a front....
So, too, with Kevin Coughlin. So how do we know Pete Kostoff is Kevin's little (or not so little) secret? Let's start in Spring 2007 when Kevin and Pete hatched Pete's little plot to take over the Party - Pete met with Summit County Party loyalist, Sheriff Drew Alexander, and asked for his support. Kostoff is reported to have said that the movement could not succeed without Alexander's support. Sheriff Alexander, a supporter of the Party's current leadership refused to support Kostoff and Coughlin.
More recently, in state central committee filings made by Coughlin, Kostoff and his wife Pam were among the first to sign Kevin's wife's state central committee petition. In filings made on Thursday, January 3, 2008 with the Summit County Board of Elections, Kostoff's wife Pam was a leading circulator of Coughlin petitions. Many members of Kostoff's and his wife's family are candidates for the central committee.
In Coughlin's brave new world, Kostoff is set to assume the role of Finance Chairman. You know the golden rule - "He who has the gold rules." Get ready King Pete's reign to begin if Coughlin is able to unseat the County party's current leadership. More importantly, get ready for the end of an independent Republican Party in Summit County. Pete's law partner and co-collaborator on all things political is none other than Democrat Finance Chair Wayne Jones. Isn't it cosy and convenient, both political parties run from the same practice group of one law firm...
Kevin Coughlin Can't Help Himself...
Kevin Coughlin has a gift for self promotion. Kevin is running for precinct committeeman against Mayor Don L Robart. He's running his wife for the State Central Committee. Kevin and his wife, Anne, are BOTH Romney delegates. (This is unheard of in political circles.) How much is too much for two people??
For someone who talks so much about team work ("TEAM COUGHLIN" anyone?), it seems that Kevin's team is pretty small... two people - only if he includes his wife.
We can only imagine the additional laurels Kevin will give himself in his brave new world...
For someone who talks so much about team work ("TEAM COUGHLIN" anyone?), it seems that Kevin's team is pretty small... two people - only if he includes his wife.
We can only imagine the additional laurels Kevin will give himself in his brave new world...
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Hypocrite! Kevin Coughlin gets caught dealing with the Democrats!
Apparently, Kevin Coughlin has his holiday shopping done as he's been hard at work over the past few days working to undermine the 2008 Summit County Republican slate of candidates and exposing himself for what he is - a hypocrite.
Case in point -
A republican candidate for County office reported that Kevin called to discourage this person from running for County office. Further, this person claims that Coughlin indicated that he (Coughlin) has been in discussions with the Democrat chairman - and County Executive - Russ Pry in order to work out a deal for Republicans and Democrats for 2008. Kevin asked that this person not run for office. (Is Coughlin making deals with the Democrats? After he accused the party's current leadership of this conduct?)
This person told Coughlin to take a hike. Further, this person asked Coughlin how his search for a chairman has been going - apparently - there are no takers - or so Coughlin claims...
Take aways - Coughlin's up to his eyeballs in collusion with the Democrats. Other examples -
(1) Coughlin's key point person in the City of Green, David Reilly, worked to support a Democrat, Andy Padrutt, for Green mayor against Republican Dick Norton. Reilly went so far as to place his name on a pro-Padrutt mailer.
(2) Coughlin supporter Pete Kostoff has publicly supported Democrats for office, including Lee Fisher, and works for Roetzel & Andress, the politically-wired law firm where one of his partners is the Democrat Finance Chair Wayne Jones. When asked if he was involved with the "new summit republicans" Kostoff is said to have stated "Kinda sorta".
(3) Rumors have it that Kevin Coughlin (or his supporters) provided supporters of Cuyahoga Clerk of Courts, Lisa Zeno Carano, a photograph of her Republican challenger, John Widowfield, with former governor Bob Taft. The photo was used in an attack mailer against Widowfield. Where was the photo taken? The front of Coughlin's home. Who took the photo? A Coughlin staffer.
Can Coughlin be this much of a hypocrite? Or, is he just too dumb to understand that the Democrats are playing him like a violin?
Case in point -
A republican candidate for County office reported that Kevin called to discourage this person from running for County office. Further, this person claims that Coughlin indicated that he (Coughlin) has been in discussions with the Democrat chairman - and County Executive - Russ Pry in order to work out a deal for Republicans and Democrats for 2008. Kevin asked that this person not run for office. (Is Coughlin making deals with the Democrats? After he accused the party's current leadership of this conduct?)
This person told Coughlin to take a hike. Further, this person asked Coughlin how his search for a chairman has been going - apparently - there are no takers - or so Coughlin claims...
Take aways - Coughlin's up to his eyeballs in collusion with the Democrats. Other examples -
(1) Coughlin's key point person in the City of Green, David Reilly, worked to support a Democrat, Andy Padrutt, for Green mayor against Republican Dick Norton. Reilly went so far as to place his name on a pro-Padrutt mailer.
(2) Coughlin supporter Pete Kostoff has publicly supported Democrats for office, including Lee Fisher, and works for Roetzel & Andress, the politically-wired law firm where one of his partners is the Democrat Finance Chair Wayne Jones. When asked if he was involved with the "new summit republicans" Kostoff is said to have stated "Kinda sorta".
(3) Rumors have it that Kevin Coughlin (or his supporters) provided supporters of Cuyahoga Clerk of Courts, Lisa Zeno Carano, a photograph of her Republican challenger, John Widowfield, with former governor Bob Taft. The photo was used in an attack mailer against Widowfield. Where was the photo taken? The front of Coughlin's home. Who took the photo? A Coughlin staffer.
Can Coughlin be this much of a hypocrite? Or, is he just too dumb to understand that the Democrats are playing him like a violin?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Kevin Coughlin's Leadership Crisis...
.... He doesn't have a leader for his "new Summit County Republicans"...
Less than one month before the filing deadline for the Summit County Republican Central Committee, and it is clear that Kevin Coughlin is desparate. Desparately in need of a candidate for Chairman.
Coughlin has been burning the phone wires contacting individuals, asking each to run for Chairman in his brave new world. In fact, on election night, Coughlin is rumored to have called an unsuccessful candidate for office to ask him to run for chairman. The candidate was not interested. No one is interested. At least no one that Coughlin can credibly place before the Summit County Republican Central Committee.
No one wants to be associated with Coughlin's movement, especially not at its helm.
Less than one month before the filing deadline for the Summit County Republican Central Committee, and it is clear that Kevin Coughlin is desparate. Desparately in need of a candidate for Chairman.
Coughlin has been burning the phone wires contacting individuals, asking each to run for Chairman in his brave new world. In fact, on election night, Coughlin is rumored to have called an unsuccessful candidate for office to ask him to run for chairman. The candidate was not interested. No one is interested. At least no one that Coughlin can credibly place before the Summit County Republican Central Committee.
No one wants to be associated with Coughlin's movement, especially not at its helm.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Summit County Republican Party's Five Facts
Over the weekend, people started to receive the Summit County Republican Party's first formal response to the challenge being led by Kevin Coughlin to take over the party.
The response and its attachment follow:
-------------------
November 21, 2007
We ask you to read and remember five simple facts!
Five simple facts to sweep away all the pessimism, distortion and worse being spread by a small but vocal band of ambitious agitators about your Summit County Republican Party.
Five simple facts needed to pull some in this party out of their negative, doom and gloom attitude. Facts to kick-start them back into the positive, optimistic frame of mind that wins elections and once again brings Republican values to the forefront of American life – here in Summit County and throughout the nation.
We have attached these facts for you to read, remember and pass along to your Republican friends. Over the coming weeks, we also plan to personally contact as many Central Committee members and other party faithful as possible. We want to further explain these facts and answer additional questions about your party’s future.
We want you to know, despite of all the misinformation you may hear, that your local Party has indeed been recruiting Republican candidates, supporting their campaigns, building a strong grassroots team and winning competitive races in Summit County. These are the facts, and we want you to know them!
That’s also why we have set up a Telephone Answer Line to address your questions as quickly and fully as possible. Details can be found on the fact sheet. You can also e-mail us at info@summitgop.org.
We understand why you and others would sincerely question where Republicans (here in Summit County, in Ohio and nationally) are headed after heartbreaking losses in 2006. We know why you fear for the party’s outlook for 2008. It’s hard not to feel disappointment and frustration at this point in the party’s history, when Republican values have never been more under siege.
Locally, statewide and across America, the party’s momentum is at its lowest ebb in a generation. That’s not just a Summit County phenomenon – it’s a nationwide problem that has upset Republicans everywhere. But it’s a problem that demands honest answers and decisive leadership – not a dishonest, reckless rehash of the past, or a clash of selfish personal agendas that can only lead to defeat. Rather it requires a fresh, optimistic call to action for the future!
Optimism and hope have been the keys to Republican success through the years – a spirit of enthusiasm and confidence best embodied by the great Ronald Reagan. That optimistic spirit must sustain us today.
That’s the real threat posed by this latest smear campaign to undermine your local party, sow even greater doubt about the party’s future and threaten any chance we’ll ever have to assure Summit County Republicans of greater gains in the years ahead.
That’s why we are asking you to stand today with your local party, stick with the vast majority of your fellow Republicans in Summit County and help us as we build a stronger, more successful and more hopeful party than ever before.
Sincerely,
Jonathan T. Pavloff, Chairman, Central Committee
Alex R. Arshinkoff, Chairman, Executive Committee
PS: Results of the recent November elections give us reason for thanks. We broke even in local races, despite a down year for Republicans elsewhere! With your help, we’ll continue to build on those successes -- recruiting strong candidates, giving major financial and operational support to their campaigns and keeping your Summit County Republican Party competitive in one of the most difficult political environments in America.
The Summit County Republican Party – with your help – contributed $5,909,356 to local and state candidates in hard-fought campaigns since 2000 ($1,016,750 in 2006 alone!) ¹. It’s a record of support matched by few, if any, other urban counties of similar size in America.
Fact 2
We’re winning elections! Not as much as we’d like, but it’s a far stronger record than naysayers claim. Like Republicans nationwide, we had a disappointing election in 2006. But this year in Summit County, we broke even in the November races – a result that other Republican county organizations would envy! No, it’s not perfect, but it’s called momentum, and it bears out the fact that Republicans hold a higher percentage of offices today in Summit County, compared to Democrats or Independents, based on our relative numbers of registered voters.²
Fact 3
Your Summit County party has successfully recruited and supported candidates for competitive races, year in and year out. A number have gone on to statewide office or federal positions. Yes, we’ve conserved our resources and targeted races where any fair observer would give us some chance of success. Our track record is strong – and getting stronger!
Fact 4
Perhaps most important of all, your party has provided vital grassroots support for our candidates – at levels unprecedented for Republicans in urban, historically labor-dominated counties. That means an amazing support system of Central Committee members, booth workers, phone-bank callers and campaign volunteers. Your Summit County organization is among the best of urban counties across the country and second to none in Ohio!
Fact 5
Akron and Summit County present one of the most difficult political environments that Republicans face anywhere! Yet, it’s a fact that your local party has raised record funds for candidate support; we’ve recruited and elected Republican officeholders at greater percentages, based on voter registration, when compared to the other party; and we’ve built grassroots support that’s the benchmark for local Republican parties nationwide.
The response and its attachment follow:
-------------------
November 21, 2007
We ask you to read and remember five simple facts!
Five simple facts to sweep away all the pessimism, distortion and worse being spread by a small but vocal band of ambitious agitators about your Summit County Republican Party.
Five simple facts needed to pull some in this party out of their negative, doom and gloom attitude. Facts to kick-start them back into the positive, optimistic frame of mind that wins elections and once again brings Republican values to the forefront of American life – here in Summit County and throughout the nation.
We have attached these facts for you to read, remember and pass along to your Republican friends. Over the coming weeks, we also plan to personally contact as many Central Committee members and other party faithful as possible. We want to further explain these facts and answer additional questions about your party’s future.
We want you to know, despite of all the misinformation you may hear, that your local Party has indeed been recruiting Republican candidates, supporting their campaigns, building a strong grassroots team and winning competitive races in Summit County. These are the facts, and we want you to know them!
That’s also why we have set up a Telephone Answer Line to address your questions as quickly and fully as possible. Details can be found on the fact sheet. You can also e-mail us at info@summitgop.org.
We understand why you and others would sincerely question where Republicans (here in Summit County, in Ohio and nationally) are headed after heartbreaking losses in 2006. We know why you fear for the party’s outlook for 2008. It’s hard not to feel disappointment and frustration at this point in the party’s history, when Republican values have never been more under siege.
Locally, statewide and across America, the party’s momentum is at its lowest ebb in a generation. That’s not just a Summit County phenomenon – it’s a nationwide problem that has upset Republicans everywhere. But it’s a problem that demands honest answers and decisive leadership – not a dishonest, reckless rehash of the past, or a clash of selfish personal agendas that can only lead to defeat. Rather it requires a fresh, optimistic call to action for the future!
Optimism and hope have been the keys to Republican success through the years – a spirit of enthusiasm and confidence best embodied by the great Ronald Reagan. That optimistic spirit must sustain us today.
That’s the real threat posed by this latest smear campaign to undermine your local party, sow even greater doubt about the party’s future and threaten any chance we’ll ever have to assure Summit County Republicans of greater gains in the years ahead.
That’s why we are asking you to stand today with your local party, stick with the vast majority of your fellow Republicans in Summit County and help us as we build a stronger, more successful and more hopeful party than ever before.
Sincerely,
Jonathan T. Pavloff, Chairman, Central Committee
Alex R. Arshinkoff, Chairman, Executive Committee
PS: Results of the recent November elections give us reason for thanks. We broke even in local races, despite a down year for Republicans elsewhere! With your help, we’ll continue to build on those successes -- recruiting strong candidates, giving major financial and operational support to their campaigns and keeping your Summit County Republican Party competitive in one of the most difficult political environments in America.
Five Facts
You Need to Know About
Your Summit County Republican Party
Fact 1
You Need to Know About
Your Summit County Republican Party
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Questions or comments? Call 330-253-6446 or email us at info@summitgop.org. We’ll be back to you as soon possible.
__________________
¹ Based upon campaign finance reports on file with the Summit County Board of Elections for the Summit County Republican Party, county, municipal, and state elected officials; campaign finance reports for federal candidates on file with the Federal Elections Commission; campaign finance reports for state elected officials on file with the Ohio Secretary of State; and records of the Summit County Republican Party.
² Out of about 390 elected positions [in Summit County], Democrats hold 50 percent of the seats, while Republicans have 39 percent. The political breakdown of the 374,594 registered county voters is 22 percent Democrat, 11 percent Republican and 67 percent nonaffiliated. Per Akron Beacon Journal 9/23/2007 Document ID: 11BE367240F8A840.
__________________
¹ Based upon campaign finance reports on file with the Summit County Board of Elections for the Summit County Republican Party, county, municipal, and state elected officials; campaign finance reports for federal candidates on file with the Federal Elections Commission; campaign finance reports for state elected officials on file with the Ohio Secretary of State; and records of the Summit County Republican Party.
² Out of about 390 elected positions [in Summit County], Democrats hold 50 percent of the seats, while Republicans have 39 percent. The political breakdown of the 374,594 registered county voters is 22 percent Democrat, 11 percent Republican and 67 percent nonaffiliated. Per Akron Beacon Journal 9/23/2007 Document ID: 11BE367240F8A840.
He's BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK....
Kostoff breaks the surface again...
Pete Kostoff, former Summit County GOP loyalist, present-day Democrat supporter, Roetzel & Andress partner and Jim Petro backer has again come to the forefront of the movement to take over the Summit County Republican Party. He was initially reputed to be part of the movement, but disavowed any involvement.
Some months ago a defamatory web site known to those in Summit County as "the pink site" surfaced containing all manner of lies. Summit County insiders wondered who was behind it. While many thought it was Kevin Coughlin, others wondered. Recently, Pete Kostoff was asked whether he was behind the slanderous pink site. His alleged response? "Kinda sorta."
Clearly, it seems that Kostoff is pulling the strings of Kevin Coughlin's Pinocchio. It appears that the folks at R&A want to consolidate both political parties under their control - R&A partner Wayne Jones is the Summit County Democrat Party's finance chair and favored candidate for its chairman in 2008. Now Kostoff wants to pull the strings on the SCRP. How cozy...
Pete Kostoff, former Summit County GOP loyalist, present-day Democrat supporter, Roetzel & Andress partner and Jim Petro backer has again come to the forefront of the movement to take over the Summit County Republican Party. He was initially reputed to be part of the movement, but disavowed any involvement.
Some months ago a defamatory web site known to those in Summit County as "the pink site" surfaced containing all manner of lies. Summit County insiders wondered who was behind it. While many thought it was Kevin Coughlin, others wondered. Recently, Pete Kostoff was asked whether he was behind the slanderous pink site. His alleged response? "Kinda sorta."
Clearly, it seems that Kostoff is pulling the strings of Kevin Coughlin's Pinocchio. It appears that the folks at R&A want to consolidate both political parties under their control - R&A partner Wayne Jones is the Summit County Democrat Party's finance chair and favored candidate for its chairman in 2008. Now Kostoff wants to pull the strings on the SCRP. How cozy...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Kevin's New Chairman II
This just in from our sources in the Coughlin camp. Rumors have it that the latest name being bandied about for Coughlin's candidate for Summit County Republican Party Chairman is Former Hudson City Council President George Roth.
Roth, a long-time Republican and construction big-shot, served as a member of the Summit County Republican Executive Committee while President of Hudson City Council. Roth was also co-chairman of a Hudson fundraiser for Senator Mike DeWine that hosted President George H.W. and Mrs. Barbara Bush.
The chairmanship would certainly not hurt Roth's construction business...
Roth, a long-time Republican and construction big-shot, served as a member of the Summit County Republican Executive Committee while President of Hudson City Council. Roth was also co-chairman of a Hudson fundraiser for Senator Mike DeWine that hosted President George H.W. and Mrs. Barbara Bush.
The chairmanship would certainly not hurt Roth's construction business...
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Kevin's New Chairman
The identity of Kevin Coughlin's slate of officers for the Summit County Republican Party's leadership is a better kept secret than Lou & Hy's Cheesecake recipe. Kevin has claimed that he's not a candidate for Chairman. Apparently, he wants a Chairman other than himself so that the Chairman can endorse his candidacy for any future office that Kevin might seek.
While pundits initially pegged former SCRP friend Pete Kostoff as the leading candidate for Chairman, it appears that even Kostoff doesn't want to be associated with Coughlin. So who's the candidate? Maybe Elvis is alive? Howard Hughes? Jim Petro?
Kevin has been dolling out hints to staffers and pundits in Columbus. The latest hint - The person ran against Alex Arshinkoff for Chairman. There are two living people who ran against Chairman Arshinkoff for Chairman - Mark Figetakis and Attorney Don Varian. Mark Figetakis hasn't been involved in Republican politics in decades. Thus, all eyes turn to Varian. Thirty years ago, Republican leaders wouldn't pick Varian because he was the law partner of the Democrat chairman Bob Blakemore.
Today, while Varian may not be partner of the Democrat chairman, his ties to Democrats and Roetzel run deep. Also, his participation in Republican politics has been scant - other than his contributions to the campaign of "pay to play" master Jim Petro. Can Summit County's Republican Party afford Don Varian as its Chairman. We don't think so.
While pundits initially pegged former SCRP friend Pete Kostoff as the leading candidate for Chairman, it appears that even Kostoff doesn't want to be associated with Coughlin. So who's the candidate? Maybe Elvis is alive? Howard Hughes? Jim Petro?
Kevin has been dolling out hints to staffers and pundits in Columbus. The latest hint - The person ran against Alex Arshinkoff for Chairman. There are two living people who ran against Chairman Arshinkoff for Chairman - Mark Figetakis and Attorney Don Varian. Mark Figetakis hasn't been involved in Republican politics in decades. Thus, all eyes turn to Varian. Thirty years ago, Republican leaders wouldn't pick Varian because he was the law partner of the Democrat chairman Bob Blakemore.
Today, while Varian may not be partner of the Democrat chairman, his ties to Democrats and Roetzel run deep. Also, his participation in Republican politics has been scant - other than his contributions to the campaign of "pay to play" master Jim Petro. Can Summit County's Republican Party afford Don Varian as its Chairman. We don't think so.
Lies... Damn Lies... And... Well... Kevin Coughlin...Part II
Some people would not know the truth if it slapped them up-side the head. Unfortunately, for his constituents, Tom Noe-trained Kevin Coughlin has a truth problem.
Kevin couldn't tell enough lies and half-truths on his regular website so he created a shadow website to spew the venom that was too defamatory for his regular website (it takes work to make that much stuff up, but no lie is too big for Coughlin). Some of Kevin's "anonymous" attacks:
1. Kevin claims Summit County's leadership is under investigation by the FBI - Kevin's confusing his own friends with our party's leadership.
2. Kevin claims that the Summit County Republican Party "cut off Don Plusquellic's 2003 opponent late in the campaign, leaving the Republican candidate twisting in the wind." The City of Akron's campaign finance laws permit the Summit County Republican Party to give a Republican Candidate for Mayor of Akron $300. That's right folks, $300. Anything more is a crime.
3. Kevin claims that "In 2006, [the Summit County Republican Party Chairman] stated that there were conditions under which he and the Summit County Republican Party would support Ted Strickland for Governor." That is false. The Summit County Republican Party raised over $346,000 for the Republican Candidate for governor, Ken Blackwell. (See http://keepsummitcountyrepublicansstrong.blogspot.com/2007/08/summit-county-republican-party.html.)
Kevin Coughlin simply cannot tell the truth. It's just not in him to be honest.
Kevin couldn't tell enough lies and half-truths on his regular website so he created a shadow website to spew the venom that was too defamatory for his regular website (it takes work to make that much stuff up, but no lie is too big for Coughlin). Some of Kevin's "anonymous" attacks:
1. Kevin claims Summit County's leadership is under investigation by the FBI - Kevin's confusing his own friends with our party's leadership.
2. Kevin claims that the Summit County Republican Party "cut off Don Plusquellic's 2003 opponent late in the campaign, leaving the Republican candidate twisting in the wind." The City of Akron's campaign finance laws permit the Summit County Republican Party to give a Republican Candidate for Mayor of Akron $300. That's right folks, $300. Anything more is a crime.
3. Kevin claims that "In 2006, [the Summit County Republican Party Chairman] stated that there were conditions under which he and the Summit County Republican Party would support Ted Strickland for Governor." That is false. The Summit County Republican Party raised over $346,000 for the Republican Candidate for governor, Ken Blackwell. (See http://keepsummitcountyrepublicansstrong.blogspot.com/2007/08/summit-county-republican-party.html.)
Kevin Coughlin simply cannot tell the truth. It's just not in him to be honest.
We've been away...
While some public officials have been collecting their paycheck as a State Senator and working to tear apart the Republican Party in Summit County, our party's leadership has been focused on what they do every day - working with candidates to win elections.
Thus, we haven't had a chance to keep our blogspot presence up to date. Beginning today, we will be catching you up on the current news in Summit County.
Thus, we haven't had a chance to keep our blogspot presence up to date. Beginning today, we will be catching you up on the current news in Summit County.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Coughlin and Casino Gambling...
Kevin Coughlin alleges the Summit County Republican Party's leadership is in the hands of pro-casino interests because an independent contractor for the party and many of its candidates, Terry Casey, represents proponents of indian reservation casino gambling.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, "We thinks the Senator doth protest too much." According to the facts, Coughlin has been a central player in the movement to bring casino gambling to Ohio.
From http://www.ohiogaminglaw.com/news/2005/04.html
To paraphrase Shakespeare, "We thinks the Senator doth protest too much." According to the facts, Coughlin has been a central player in the movement to bring casino gambling to Ohio.
From http://www.ohiogaminglaw.com/news/2005/04.html
Once a hypocrite, always a hypocrite. Does Kevin shoot crap for relaxation? He sure spouts enough....Proponents of Expanding Gambling in Ohio Meet in Columbus
April 20, 2005
Gambling proponents from across the state recently met for the first ever state gambling summit in Columbus. Kegler Brown attorneys attended the meeting. The meeting was a three hour, closed door session, which included proponents from all aspects of the gambling industry. There were approximately sixty participants in the meeting, including representatives of municipalities, horse tracks, Indian tribes, and vending machines. In addition there were members of the Ohio General Assembly in attendance. Representative Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) organized the meeting, and was joined by fellow legislators Senator Kevin Coughlin ( R-Cuyahoga Falls); Senate Minority Leader, Senator CJ Prentiss (D-Cleveland); and House Minority Leader, Representative Chris Redfern ( D-Catawba Island).
The attendees at the summit vowed to stick together as proponents of expanding gambling in Ohio. The next step is to conduct opinion polls of Ohio voters regarding casino gambling in Ohio. Participants in the gaming summit agreed to contribute towards the poll, which it is estimated will cost $80,000 to $100,000. Senator Coughlin commented that it is tiring to watch money funnel out of Ohio to bordering states which have casino gambling. Ohioans are gambling, yet Ohio’s not getting any of the profit, Coughlin commented. Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, who was in attendance, is advocating for a home rule approach, where the citizens in each community could decide if casino gambling is right for them. Representative Seitz commented that he would like to see a plan put before Ohio voters which gives the greatest chance for economic development, and which keeps the money from flowing out of Ohio to neighboring states.(Emphasis added.)
Lies... Damn Lies... And... Well... Kevin Coughlin...
Although it's harvest time here in Summit County, it appears that our good Senator Kevin Coughlin has his seasons confused and he has his manure spreader on high.
What's the latest tall-tale you might ask. Well grab your waders. This one comes right from his own personal Pravda, http://www.newsummitrepublicans.com/. Let's just take a couple piles of Kevin's manure, road apple by road apple.
Road Apple #1 - The Republican Party will give the Democrats the Summit County Sheriff's office (an office the GOP currently holds) AND the County Executive AND the County Prosecutor - Apparently, unlike Bill Clinton, the folks at the Coughlin camp are inhaling - HEAVILY. This is plain WRONG.
Road Apple #2 - The Democrats will allow the GOP to win the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Clerk of Courts race. - Who really thinks that the Democrats will give up a patronage base they have had for DECADES. We think the Coughlin folks have been drinking a little too much of their mediocrity cool aide. This is another LOSER.
Road Apple #3 - The Democrats will allow the GOP to win the Green mayor's race in 2007. - Now this is a great way to discount Dick Norton's strong showing in the September primary. If you believe this, we have some swamp land in the Portage Lakes to sell you folks. Andy Padrutt, the Democrat in this race, has been campaigning for this office since he was in preschool. Moreso, Kevin's own folks have been working with the Democrat Padrutt. This is one hot mess from the Coughlin folks that's too out there to believe. WRONG, Kevin. The word is WRONG.
Road Apple #4 - Republicans will also get the two new common pleas judgeships that will appear on the ballot in 2008. - When you manure the fields you have to be careful. Too much compost and you'll burn your plants roots. There's so much dung in the Coughlin camp that nothing is going to grow there for decades. Kevin, you're WRONG four for four.
Road Apple #5 - Arshinkoff avoids fielding candidates in expensive races in order to finance his opulent lifestyle and bloated headquarters overhead. - This is why the Summit County Republican Party has a strong and funded candidate in every race it can win in 2007. It just keeps getting deeper and deeper. And, you're still WRONG, Kevin.
What the Summit County Republican Party Already Does - "Our party should educate the public on Democratic corruption, incompetence, and loony leftism, where appropriate. And it should strive to field qualified candidates in every race." - Kevin, We couldn't have said it better. You've stated everything we do year in and year out. By the way, right now, you're in the lead for the head of the "loony left."
What's the latest tall-tale you might ask. Well grab your waders. This one comes right from his own personal Pravda, http://www.newsummitrepublicans.com/. Let's just take a couple piles of Kevin's manure, road apple by road apple.
Road Apple #1 - The Republican Party will give the Democrats the Summit County Sheriff's office (an office the GOP currently holds) AND the County Executive AND the County Prosecutor - Apparently, unlike Bill Clinton, the folks at the Coughlin camp are inhaling - HEAVILY. This is plain WRONG.
Road Apple #2 - The Democrats will allow the GOP to win the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Clerk of Courts race. - Who really thinks that the Democrats will give up a patronage base they have had for DECADES. We think the Coughlin folks have been drinking a little too much of their mediocrity cool aide. This is another LOSER.
Road Apple #3 - The Democrats will allow the GOP to win the Green mayor's race in 2007. - Now this is a great way to discount Dick Norton's strong showing in the September primary. If you believe this, we have some swamp land in the Portage Lakes to sell you folks. Andy Padrutt, the Democrat in this race, has been campaigning for this office since he was in preschool. Moreso, Kevin's own folks have been working with the Democrat Padrutt. This is one hot mess from the Coughlin folks that's too out there to believe. WRONG, Kevin. The word is WRONG.
Road Apple #4 - Republicans will also get the two new common pleas judgeships that will appear on the ballot in 2008. - When you manure the fields you have to be careful. Too much compost and you'll burn your plants roots. There's so much dung in the Coughlin camp that nothing is going to grow there for decades. Kevin, you're WRONG four for four.
Road Apple #5 - Arshinkoff avoids fielding candidates in expensive races in order to finance his opulent lifestyle and bloated headquarters overhead. - This is why the Summit County Republican Party has a strong and funded candidate in every race it can win in 2007. It just keeps getting deeper and deeper. And, you're still WRONG, Kevin.
What the Summit County Republican Party Already Does - "Our party should educate the public on Democratic corruption, incompetence, and loony leftism, where appropriate. And it should strive to field qualified candidates in every race." - Kevin, We couldn't have said it better. You've stated everything we do year in and year out. By the way, right now, you're in the lead for the head of the "loony left."
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