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.''

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.

Five Facts
You Need to Know About
Your Summit County Republican Party

Fact 1

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.

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.

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.

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

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.)

Once a hypocrite, always a hypocrite. Does Kevin shoot crap for relaxation? He sure spouts enough....

A RINO Can't Change His Stripes...

Once a liberal, always a liberal...

RAB Reports today that Senator Kevin Coughlin has officially endorsed Mitt Romney. Apparently, Coughlin is looking for someone who changes positions on issues as frequently as himself.

Read more about it.... http://www.rightangleblog.com/2007/09/12/ohio-state-senator-kevin-coughlin-endorses-governor-mitt-romney/