BUTLER COUNTY GOP: Failsville

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Anybody but Cindy Carpenter.  Get it done.

And Roger Reynolds is one of the best Republicans in Butler County, if not the whole state.

What an embarrassment!

BUTLER COUNTY: Carpenter Shenanigans Rebuffed

I take no small measure of delight in this Journal piece outlining the hiring of an office manager.

As usual, one commissioner tried to bring in a crony...but in a rare moment of clarity, Don Dixon decided not to back Cindy Carpenter's plan.

Carpenter really wants to find Jeff Wyrick a job. She has failed again.

Let's go to the tape...

Commissioners Don Dixon and T.C. Rogers voted for Cooper’s employment, while commission President Cindy Carpenter voted no.

Among the five finalists who interviewed with the commission, was Jeff Wyrick, according to county Administrator Charles Young. Wyrick served a deputy clerk for Carpenter when she was county clerk if courts.

Rogers said he knew going into the interviews that Wyrick was Carpenter’s choice for the position, but said Cooper impressed him because she is currently running a large office and has the educational background for the job.

That leaves us with Dixon and here is what he had to say...

Dixon agreed. He said Cooper has a number of skill sets to bring to the job, including consensus building and dealing with personality issues in the office.

“She is energetic and optimistic. It will be a fresh set of eyes,” Dixon said.

The fact that she is from outside the county is also a plus, he said.

“She doesn’t know anybody from Butler County, she has never worked in Butler County and to my knowledge she is not related to anybody in Butler County,” Dixon said.

Someone on Facebook translated that last statement as "Let me call my family...We can get someone real soon to take that high paying, rich benefit county job, and keep the gravy train flowing."

SIDEBAR QUESTION: Has Dixon managed to get all of his cronies jobs???

Anyway...

The best part of the whole story was this:

Carpenter could not be reached for comment.

Of course she wasn't available, she was too busy scheming her revenge.....

Somewhere, Chuck Furmon is smiling because he doesn't have to deal with any of this crap anymore...

BUTLER COUNTY: Commissioners Go to Back Room for Deal

If there is a need for even more evidence that the Butler County Commission is corrupt and out of control, I can't think of a better exhibit than this. Once again, we find that Cindy Carpenter and Don Dixon are incapable of doing the right thing even when the result of any vote is a forgone conclusion.

Citizens don't ask much of their government, but transparency and a willingness to do the community's business the right way is certainly chief among them. These two clowns are not acting in the county's best interests. They do whatever they want and they don't care about what you, the little people who pay taxes in this area, think about anything.

Members of the Butler County Republican Party, you folks should be outraged and yelling from the rooftops about how absurd these two buffoons are making the party look. This is NOT what represents the best of what our party should be offering and it is on YOU, the Butler County GOP, that we have these pathetic people representing us. Do a better job next time and maybe we won't have to be the laughing stock of the state. Seriously, only Cuyahoga County's shenanigans out do the nonsense we have to tolerate here. And that is a real shame...

Butler County Republicans are serious people, but allowing these tools to be our standard bearers make us out to be idiots. Don't be their sycophants, speak out. And speak LOUDLY...

BUTLER COUNTY: Cindy F'n Carpenter is an Embarassment

The latest in a long series of examples can be found here.

Cindy, if you can't buy some class, maybe you should at least consider renting...

Commissioner Carpenter Strikes Again

Cindy Carpenter is a real piece of work. As far as I know, we're still in a financial crisis in this county and she's worried about employees snacking while working. Oh, don't think I didn't notice that Don Dixon missed yet another meeting...seems like that guy has about as many vacations as Michelle Obama...at least we aren't paying for his...at least, we better not be paying for them. Looks to me like the only guy focused on the county's business is Chuck Furmon...you know, the one that just got thrown out of office for whatever reason... Somebody ought to ask the Stuttering Tea Party Savior of Butler County what he thinks of all of this nonsense...

T.C. Rogers Wins the Provisionals

The Journal-News is reporting that newcomer T. C. Rogers has won the recount for Butler County Commissioner by a margin of just 14 votes.

This is a pretty significant victory for the Tea Party movement in Butler County. Now hopefully, those groups will pass the hat and get this guy some public speaking lessons because the PR chick the Democrats are running against him in the general will CRUSH him in any appearance that they might end up doing together.

Exit Question: What will Corky Combs do now? He was beat by Roger Reynolds for Auditor and now beat by someone nobody had heard of prior to this race for Commissioner.

UPDATE: Apparently, the J-N has mislead us...this was the counting of the absentee and provisionals and not the actual recount. Apparently, we have to drag this thing out even longer... So...I have changed the headline from "Recount" to "Provisionals"

VIDEO: West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum: Commissioner - Part 3

Part 3:

VIDEO: West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum: Commissioner - Part 2

Part 2

VIDEO: West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum: Commissioner - Part 1

Part 1 of the session with the candidates for Butler County Commissioner

VIDEO: West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum: Commissioner - Opening Statements

Opening statements from Butler County Commissioner candidates...

West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum -- Liveblog

I'll be reporting tonight from the West Chester Tea Party Candidate Forum moderated by George Lang from 6:30 - 9:30 PM tonight (or until I am exhausted and have to leave).

Hoping to be able to do some liveblogging, so check that out below if we're successful.



If the liveblogging thing doesn't work, I'll report what I can tomorrow. We should also have video of the event as well.

2/10 UPDATE: What do I think? Both incumbents did what they needed to do. Mary Swain fended off the attacks fairly well. Jeff Wyrick stated his case as well as he could, but I personally didn't care for his style.

Chuck Furmon turned in his usual professional job answering questions about the situation the county finds itself with his usual sober truth. Corky Combs handles the crowd better, but really failed to land any punches. TC Rogers is not ready for prime time.

The big news of the night was Democrat Jodi Billerman. She's in the wrong party. Fiscally conservative (except for SB5/Issue 2, but I suspect that has more to do with the D at the end of her name than anything else. She continued to hammer SB5 for things that weren't in the final bill. I hate it when Democrats do that...) Her experience in the PR field makes her the smoothest candidate on the stage and if she gets any kind of traction in the general election campaign she might be tough to beat.

In the end, it was great to see so many candidates come out and face the electorate; but, I didn't see any real game changers.

UPDATE 2: Oxford Press take can be found here. I know that Howard Wilkinson of the Enquirer was there, but haven't run across his write-up (if there was one) as of yet.

UPDATE 3: Video for the Clerk session is here.

BUTLER COUNTY: Carpenter Crap and Jolly's Follies

Two stories worth mentioning this morning.

The first is that as reported here yesterday, it does indeed appear that Greg Jolivette has some problem with his petitions. That hearing will be today, so we should know more about that situation as it develops.

And now on to the Main event...

Cindy Carpenter is, in my opinion, a dangerous and vindictive manipulator. I've tried to give her second and third chances, but she can't seem to stay off my radar. Stories like this one isn't improving her image:

The employee agreed to make controlled, recorded calls to Carpenter as part of the investigation.

During the first phone call, the woman told Carpenter she was in kind of a “pickle” because she told a coworker “about what you said that night over at the IHOP,” according to the investigation report.

When Carpenter asked, “What thing?” the woman answered, “About when you were suggesting that I just screw up the files and stuff.”

Carpenter replied, “Uh-huh and reiterated ‘that I suggested to you that you screw up the files?’”

The woman said, “Yea, because I had some problems actually that same week with the files and they were questioning me what was going on.”

Carpenter, who was not interviewed separately by BCI agents, answered, “So you didn’t say you did it on purpose.”

The woman replied, “No, I was trying to cover, didn’t want them mad at me ... I was trying to get myself out of a situation.”

The woman agreed to a follow-up controlled telephone call. In the conversation, the woman told Carpenter she was concerned the restaurant conversation would come back to her since there was an investigation.

According to the documents, Carpenter said, “Since that was a table full of 18 people, goofing off and joking, that’s not a conspiracy by any stretch of the imagination.”

way to go, Butler County! You managed to elect yet another corrupt lunatic!

BUTLER COUNTY: Furmon Deserves Butler County GOP Support for Re-Election

Seeing this reminded me that I needed to jump back in here after my extended holiday weekend to reiterate that The Butler County Republican Party really owes Chuck Furmon a debt. If not for Furmon's action in calling law enforcement attention to the Dynus scandal, the scandal-plagued corruption and filth from that era would not only still be surviving, but thriving.

While I may not agree with every decision the commissioner has made over the years, I have come to know him as a thoughtful and considerate man who has the best interests of the county at heart. He has always acted with the highest levels of integrity and decency. These are qualities that are to be supported and encouraged when found in politicians because they are as rare as any precious metal.

I fully support and endorse Chuck Furmon for re-election and it is my sincerest wish that the BCGOP would do the same.

UPDATE: This just came in to the mailbox from a reader. I wanted to pass it along because this is just another reminder of the kind of guy Chuck Furmon really is:

Saw your recent posting about Commissioner Furmon and I must say I agree 100% with what you said. Having had the opportunity to work with Commissioner Furmon for 20 plus years, I to had disagreements and differing opinions from time to time with him but he was always willing to talk, LISTEN and discuss my concerns. What I found was a man who really had the best interest of Butler County in mind. Most importantly I found a man who appreciated all of the county employees and the hard work they do. I hope the Executive Committe has the wisdom to see what you and I see when they make their endorsement.

BUTLER COUNTY: Furmon Cleared

Very glad to hear that justice has finally been rendered on the annoying matter of Commissioner Furmon's former son-in-law. This is the part of the story from the Fairfield Echo that matters:

Commission President Charles Furmon was cleared of any wrongdoing involving pay increases of his former son-in-law while a county employee, the ethics commission found.

Seriously, Ethics Board, that case was brought up in April of 2008...what took so long? One might draw the conclusion that the Board was trying to make matters worse for Butler County Republicans or something...

In other news, Jolivette was "guilty" and has to repay the county for hiring his son.

Combs (Jones) vs Furmon

Updating a previous item on WMD...

It appears, at least according to this Dayton Daily Democrat News piece from Pitman that if both Furmon and Dixon go for re-election, then Combs will square off against Furmon.

Previously Combs was quoted as saying:

My focus will be to bring Butler County back to where it was when I left; the top county in the state with all elected office holders working together.

...which makes the choice of Furmon's seat kind of strange seeing as he is the only still-serving member of Commission from when Combs last served there.
So what is this really about?

Sheriff "Spotlight" Jones.

Say what?

Combs and Jones have been inseparable.  Whenever Jones needs a legislator to legitimize his issues, Combs is the go-to guy.

Butler County does NOT need a third Jones stooge on the Butler County Commission.  He already has Dixon and Carpenter.  Jones really ought to have the stones to run himself, but he's too afraid to risk giving up all the fiefdoms he already has under his control.

Every time I think the Butler County Republican Party is on the verge of resolving their severe case of the stupids, something like this comes up.  Republicans still have a LOT of work to do to defeat the evil cabal operating in the shadows...

Combs vs. Dixon or Furmon?

So if Combs is going to run for County Commissioner again, who is his target?  According to the Journal piece on the decision, Furmon has already drawn an opponent by the name of T.C. Rogers of West Chester.  The logical choice would be Dixon.

And THAT is going to be fun to watch.

Dixon has talked a good game; but so far, all I have seen as far as action is concerned is a lot of finger pointing and behind-the-scenes political horseplay with Cindy Carpenter. 

BREAKING: Combs on Cates Seat

Release:

COLUMBUS - After much thought and prayer, it is my intention not to seek the Senate seat recently vacated by Senator Gary Cates. I am pleased to have been considered for this seat but my allegiance is to the constituents of the 54^th House district.

 

I am presently the Chairman of the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee, an appointment I enjoy immensely. This committee has been the most productive committee in the House for this session, having already had heard 27 bills with countless public testimonies. I am also the Vice Chair of the State Government and Elections Committee, which will play a big part in the upcoming redistricting process for the state of Ohio.

 

I am committed to fulfilling my elected term and enacting many more pieces of legislation that I have sponsored including; House Bill 24, which fixes a legal loophole by requiring nursing homes to notify their residents of a sex offender living in their facility. House Bill 25, which increases penalties for those who commit cruelty to companion animals and includes companion animals in restraining orders. House Bill 119, which will slow the growing epidemic of skin cancer in our youth by restricting the sale of indoor tanning beds to minors. And my most recent legislation, HCR 11, which declares Ohio’s support for the State of Arizona in their current legal battle with the federal government over the lagging enforcement of illegal immigration laws.

 

I will be term limited in 2012, after serving 9 years in the Ohio House and having been supported convincingly by the 54^th district in four consecutive elections. It is my intent to run for County Commissioner of Butler County, a seat I held proudly for 18 years. My focus will be to bring Butler County back to where it was when I left; the top county in the state with all elected office holders working together.

BUTLER COUNTY: Crazy Commissioner Carpenter Caught in Confrontation

I flagged this story in my email because, as I said on Facebook last week, I have been busy but some stories just have to be covered on WMD. 

There is a certain paranoia that surrounds Commissioner Cindy Carpenter like an aura or thick fog.  It does not matter what she does or says, if it backfires, she tries to blame somebody else.  I have no recollection of her taking responsibility for anything she has done or said that didn't come up roses, rainbows, sunshine and unicorns.  Near as I can tell from her public record, she makes absolutely no mistakes and is perfect in every way.  That's because when she does goof up, she blames somebody else for it.

The latest example is Carpenter shooting off her mouth leaving a county administrator having to file a complaint due to the nature of the "poor choice of words" employed.

Mikey Pitman has the story over at the Journal News:

Office of Management and Budget Director Pete Landrum reported on April 5 that county Commissioner Cindy Carpenter said, “Line them up and shoot them” during a conversation in which she was expressing frustration about the public defenders project and how items are placed on the agenda.

Landrum wouldn’t comment Thursday evening on the event other than to say, “Something was said and I reported it as county policy demands. I was following county policy. If I didn’t, I’d be reprimanded.”

Carpenter admitted making the statement as hyperbole to make a point. She said she immediately apologized for the frustration she demonstrated and didn’t think it upset Landrum.

The complaint was taken to Commission President Chuck Furmon and Prosecutor Mike Gmoser who now have to spend time "investigating" this nonsense because Cindy Carpenter can't understand that she isn't supposed to threaten people who work for the county.

Why would Landrum think that Carpenter held animosity towards him?  Back to the Pitman story for that:

Before Carpenter took office, the jobs held by Landrum, Administrator Bruce Jewett and Budget and Financial Planning Manager Tonyia Burnett were part of an alleged plan she and Commissioner Don Dixon developed. As part of such a plan, Landrum and Burnett would have been fired while Jewett would have been demoted and transferred.

She's been gunning for him anyway...

I wish I could say that this was the first time I've heard of an incident where Carpenter made people feel uncomfortable or intimidated but it isn't.  I've said it many times before and I'll say it again here: Carpenter is a Mike Fox protegee and we'll be seeing LOTS more incidents like this one until she is either voted out of office or learns that the days "old style" politics in Butler County are over and will no longer be tolerated by the community she has been elected to serve.

More importantly, note how she tries to deflect the blame and point fingers at Furmon and Dixon near the end of the piece:

But said since she took office, Carpenter said she has had felt resistance with her fellow commissioners, Jewett and Landrum.

“Since I came on board, the commissioners have made it as difficult as possible, Bruce has made it as difficult as possible, Pete has made it as difficult as possible,” she said. “It is resistance, it is incredibly frustrating. It’s a dysfunctional office.”

Cindy, have you considered the possibility that the problem is...YOU?  You weren't even sworn in and you conspired with Don Dixon to fire officials and then are left wondering why people don't trust you or your motivations.  As I recall, you tried to blame that on Dixon so at least you are consistent.

We deserve better from our elected officials.  Fortunately, the bulk of our Republican leadership are grown ups who understand that they can't go around threatening people.  When you wield political power, you have to be more careful with the words you use, who you talk to, and how you are perceived.  Some people call it being tactful.  This is a lesson that Cindy Carpenter desperately needs to learn if she is going to be successful going forward.

BUTLER COUNTY: Note to Interim Prosecutor Gmoser

Well, the Commissioners did it...they picked one of the candidates who is running for the remainder of the term as their choice for Interim Prosecutor.

Note to Interim Prosecutor Mike Gmoser: DON'T waste money on stationary, pens, forms, etc. until AFTER the Central Committee votes on the issue.

This was a bad move on the part of Commissioners Furmon and Carpenter.  I would be interested how Don Dixon would have voted if he had not been out sick...

UPDATE:  I need to revise and extend my remarks in regards to why I think it was a bad move.

My objection stems from the fact that we didn't learn anything from the Wyrick Incident.  Sources tell me that there are several qualified folks who could have run the office for a week that aren't candidates for the position.

The responsibility for appointing for the remainder of the term for this position rests with the Central Committee of the Butler County Republican Party and by elevating one candidate over the others, these two commissioners are stating their preference.  Which I don't have a problem with at all except for the fact that it has the risk of backfiring with the CentComm.

This isn't a "dealbreaker" for me, but I am disappointed.

BUTLER COUNTY: Shadow Government Fallout and What's Next

While it made the headline, the actualy content regarding the esprit de corps among Butler County's workers is an important story that gets somewhat buried in the re-telling of what we already know in this Michael Pitman article.  So allow me to highlight it one more time here:

[M]any county employees were waiting for the next shoe to drop.

“Everyone’s waiting for the rest of it,” said one county employee who asked to remain anonymous.
“What’s going to happen next?” another county worker said, before adding that employees “are not surprised by anything much anymore.”
The mood at the Government Services Center in downtown Hamilton on Wednesday was somber. County employees, who did not want to be named out of concern for their jobs, expressed shock, anger, bewilderment and disbelief that Commissioners Don Dixon and Cindy Carpenter were having private meetings and discussions about firing, demoting and replacing top administrators.

My own e-mailbox can concur with Pitman's reporting here as several of my sources (and a few new ones) checked in with similar expressions of sentiment.

This is one of those side effects of running government like it is a play thing.  Real people get hurt.  Dedicated employees who have been loyal to the community start wondering whether or not their jobs are on the line next and I'm not talking about budget cuts.  These stories highlight the political manuevering intended to deliver messages and for those keeping score at home, it shines a light on those who think they are powerful enough to do whatever they want.

I keep hearing Commissioner Furmon remarking that this story illustrated a very high level of arrogance.  I would go so far as to call it hubris.  Dixon and Carpenter have done far more damage than they realize.  They have wounded the morale of the very people they are supposed to be leading.  Dixon said he wanted to work on leading "a little more pronounced” but I would settle for actual leadership based on principles and values rather than the power struggles we've been enduring the last few years.

So...what's next?  The Butler County Republican Party has to replace the county prosecutor since Robin Piper was elected to the 12th District Court of Appeals.

I was discussing this with a veteran Butler County politico yesterday and I think that this is going to come down to who does the better job in the presentation to the Central Committee.  My gut tells me that Gmoser is probably edging Philabaum right now, but only because Philabaum (like Wyrick in the Clerk appointment race) thinks he's running a nomination campaign for an election rather than using a strategy geared towards the appointment process.

The appointment process is all about finding the right candidate who can do the job professionally right after being sworn in.  Typically, experience and professionalism trumps politics and electibilty.  Not always, but usually...  The Central Committee has an excellent track record in making these appointments and I fully expect that whomever gets the nod will do an excellent job.