BUTLER COUNTY: 527 Media Slams Republicans in a Story About Democrats

Yup, no Ron Wardrup sighting...you could count on a Rawnica Dillingham / Kay Rogers / Mike Fox reference if this were about a Republican, but since it is a Democrat, it's just another "in a line of Butler County elected official scandals." 

That's objective journalism!  ...or something. 

Oh, wait, check out page 2:

Earlier this month, former county Commissioner Greg Jolivette was reprimanded by the Ohio Ethics Commission and ordered to repay the county $6,629.66 for voting to hire his son as a summer intern. County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt recently surrendered his ability to write prescriptions after the state medical board discovered he had not properly documented medicines prescribed to his employees.

Former Commissioner and Children Services Director Mike Fox and former Auditor Kay Rogers are awaiting sentencing for their roles in the Dynus and NORMAP fiber-optics scandals. And in 2007, Carole Mosketti resigned as county treasurer after pleading guilty to an ethics violation for hiring her granddaughter.

Un-frakking-believable.
This is a story about DEMOCRATS and these tools STILL bring up Republicans without mentioning Ron Waldrup.  At least they let poor Rawnica Dillingham alone this time...

BUTLER COUNTY: Democrat Indicted for Theft in Office

I just want to make sure that everyone is aware that this leader of the Elections Board that just got indicted for theft in office is a Democrat.  I have to reiterate that point because most folks seem to think that if there is trouble in Butler County, a Republican has to be involved.  Yes, I blame the lamestream media for that too...

Channel 12 coverage is here.  And Cincinnati Enquirer coverage is here.

Where is Mikey Pitman's coverage for the local rag?  Sure can't find anything here.  Wonder why that is.....

Speaking of the local rag, I'll mention this totally non-related incident, but since it was a Butler County Democrat story, we can run even more people through the mud and remind everyone of the Butler County Democratic Party chairman who was charged with a DUI.  The Ron Wardrup Party strikes again.  I'm sure I'll see mention of this whenever Mikey gets around to writing up his story.....no, I'm not holding my breath, why do you ask?

UPDATE:  Yup, no Ron Wardrup sighting...you could count on a Rawnica Dillingham / Kay Rogers / Mike Fox reference if this were about a Republican, but since it is a Democrat, it's just another "in a line of Butler County elected official scandals."  That's objective journalism!  ...or something.  Oh, wait, check out page 2:

Earlier this month, former county Commissioner Greg Jolivette was reprimanded by the Ohio Ethics Commission and ordered to repay the county $6,629.66 for voting to hire his son as a summer intern. County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt recently surrendered his ability to write prescriptions after the state medical board discovered he had not properly documented medicines prescribed to his employees.

Former Commissioner and Children Services Director Mike Fox and former Auditor Kay Rogers are awaiting sentencing for their roles in the Dynus and NORMAP fiber-optics scandals. And in 2007, Carole Mosketti resigned as county treasurer after pleading guilty to an ethics violation for hiring her granddaughter.

Un-frakking-believable.

Butler County Democrats STILL Don't Get It

I've been saying all along that the Butler County Democrats don't understand why they have been failing in a climate that otherwise should have been beneficial for them.  This bit from loser Butch Hubble is a perfect example of why Butler County Democrats continue to be losers: (Source)

Hubble could not be reached immediately after Tuesday’s election, but said the next day as he was collecting campaign signs that he was “devastated.”

“I thought my chances were really good to win this thing,” Hubble said. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Hubble said he respects Carpenter and said it was a pleasure to get to know her during the campaign, but said the county needs to conduct business differently in order to get back on track.

“I thought this county had enough, but apparently it hasn’t,” Hubble said. “I want to stay positive .”

Hubble wouldn’t comment on his political future, saying, “I’m leaving all the options open.” However, he doesn’t know if he can take another defeat. He lost to Commissioner Chuck Furmon in 2008.

“With all the positive feedback I’ve received — and I beat her everywhere but at the polls,” he said.

Emphasis added.

Basically what Butch is saying here is: "The Butler County electorate are a bunch of idiots, but I want to stay positive."  The level of arrogance usually is seen in Washington DC elite, but here in Butler County we can see it in the Democratic party!  It isn't the electorate's fault that you lost.  How do I know?  That last sentence...  Butch, apparently you didn't talk to enough people.  You got beat like a bongo drum and you act like you didn't see it coming?  That is a failure on your part to get the job done. 

Why do I go to all this trouble to "help" our political rivals?  Because it is imperative that we have a loyal opposition in this county to keep us all honest.  Crappy candidates who talk to their closest 500 friends ain't gonna get it done.

Yes, Butler County IS fed up with the corruption from days gone by...that is why we voted those folks out.  And I'll give a friendly warning to my fellow Republicans: stay on the righteous path lest ye be next.

Butler County Dems Still Using 2006 Playbook: Lying About Republicans

Once again, Mikey Pitman is doing the Democrats dirty work.  This time, he's got a piece that attacks Republicans in Butler County for ethics problems that happened years ago and by people who are no longer affiliated with the party.

And he kisses up to the Butler County Democratic Party with this ridiculous statement from the chairwoman Jocelyn Bucaro:

“For too long, local Republican elected officials have violated the ethics and criminal laws of Ohio, only to say they did not know their conduct was illegal. At no time have they expressed a desire to reform government or commit themselves to a higher ethical standard. If ignorance really is a defense to misconduct, then now is the time for education.”

That bolding is in the original...

Nevermind the fact that Jo has her own little ethical dilemma on her hands...but has she met Auditor Roger Reynolds or Treasurer Nancy Nix?  The new blood in the Butler County GOP is all about straightening out the mess left behind (note the past tense) by those who Jo uses to castigate the majority of voters in this county.

Granted, there is still a LOT of work to do, but let's not pretend Butler County is still being run by folks who look inept at ethics challenges when compared to Cuyahoga County Democrats...

MIKEY: You can reach the Butler County Republican party at (513) 893-5292...  Just trying to help...

BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSION: Demonstrating Experience vs. Talking About Experience

I note this Mikey Pitman piece about the upcoming "discussion" with GOP candidate Cindy Carpenter and Democrat Also Ran Butch Hubble because I see a pattern emerging.  Let's see if my headline and this clip leads you to the same conclusion:

Hubble said potential voters he has spoken with view Carpenter as representing the organization that “has caused us to be in this hole.”

“She’s trying for a position I feel I’m better qualified at,” said Hubble, who unsuccessfully ran against County Commissioner Chuck Furmon in 2008. “She’s being sponsored by the people who’ve gotten in this hole in the first place.”

Carpenter, however, believes her experience in county government gives her a leg up over Hubble.
“I think I’ll be able to hit the ground running,” she said. “I have been studying and working with the people, departments and agencies, and talking with them about the problems they’ve been having and talking about solutions.”

“I think I have an advantage about knowing the players, knowing the system understanding the budget,” she said. “It’s complicated and every agency and every department is important.”
Hubble said he believes the county residents are set to separate from “the one-party system” and “the good old boy routine.”

“I want people to walk away from this roundtable to compare her qualifications to mine,” he said.

Near as I can tell, the only "experience" Butch Hubble has is losing elections.  Cindy Carpenter is many things, but unqualified and inexperienced aren't among them...

Times are Tough for Butler County Democrats

How tough is it?

They aren't even phoning it in anymore...they have outsourced their nonsense to former Michiganders who have transplanted themselves to California.

Shame on Cox Newspapers for taking advantage of that loony liberal like that...

Ohio House 54: Dem Bruce Carter Lying About Endorsement

Check out Butler County Democrat Bruce Carter's website page for Endorsements. At the bottom of the list is a section called "Other Endorsements" and lists the Ohio League of Conservation Voters.

Just one problem with that...

The Ohio League of Conservation Voters released their 2010 endorsements and Bruce Carter isn't one of them.

The OLCV did not endorse either candidate in the 54th District of the Ohio House.  See press release below.


2010 Endorsed Candidates Press Release List 97-2003   

OOPS!

Butler County: Dueling Complaints Update

I smell a rat.

Michael Pitman gives us this quote from Carter

“The complaint about a flier that we did not circulate or approve for an event that did not happen is an effort to distract voters of Combs’ record of failure to provide jobs, failure to help the economy recover or a lack of work to approve school funding,” said Carter.

Yet the flier in question appeared on the Journal News site back in February and we're supposed to believe that NOBODY distributed it.

Come on...

The event was organized by the party chair, for goodness sakes...and don't tell me that it's okay because she wasn't the party chair back in February. Anybody want to take odds on whether or not that excuse would fly if Dave Kern did this?

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

DISCLAIMER NOTE: The complaint in this case was filed by former WMD blogger Don Carpenter.

Combs: Butler County Dems Do It Too!

Release:

Hamilton, OH–Butler County Republicans today responded to the false statements spread against State Representative Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton), who is running for reelection to the 54th Ohio House District. Bruce Carter, the Democratic candidate, has committed the same offense that his county party is accusing Combs of: failure to include a disclaimer on campaign materials.

Recently, the Butler County Democrats filed a complaint against Combs for failing to include a campaign disclaimer on a yard sign. In reality, the complaint against Combs is false, as evidenced by the attached photos—which show the disclaimer embossed in the lower left-hand corner.

Concurrently, Carter circulated the attached fundraising invitation without his campaign’s disclaimer and listed Jocelyn Bucaro, now-chairwoman of the local Democratic Party, as the contact to RSVP for the fundraiser.

According to Hamilton Journal-News, Bucaro chastised Combs by saying, “It’s ‘Campaign 101. If any of my candidates would have done this, I’d call them out on it.” Dave Kern, Butler County GOP Chairman, was quick to point out the irony of Bucaro’s comments.

“The desperation of the Butler County Democratic Chairwoman is pathetic,” said Kern. “This is an attempt to remove the focus of the election from the important issues like jobs and taxes to innocuous behavior, which in this case includes both parties and is waste of everyone’s time and tax dollars.”

UPDATE: Here is the complaint that Team Combs is filing and the offending Carter letter...


OEC Complaint Combs

Carter Fundraiser

Butler County Update

Wow. Ohio Democrats either had money to burn or thought they had a chance against Roger Reynolds. Either way, they wasted some cash on a seat they had very little chance of winning. Over at the Western Star, our favorite intrepid reporter broke down the numbers so I don't have to! (How thoughtful of him!)

Jack Zettler's bid for Butler County auditor was backed with more than $67,000 from the Ohio Democratic Party, according to campaign finance forms filed last week, suggesting the party saw the seat as key in breaking Republican control of this county.

Still all that money didn't work. Zettler lost to Republican incumbent Roger Reynolds, collecting only 44 percent of the vote.

In addition to backing from Columbus, Zettler shelled out $67,108 in the final weeks of his campaign. Reynolds spent $37,617 during the same time period, plus more than $20,000 from the Ohio Republican Party.

The Butler County Democratic Party spent $11,700 backing Zettler of its total budget of $15,000 between Oct. 15 and the Nov. 4 election. The county GOP had $51,916 available in that same time period and donated $200 of it to Reynolds, according to records.

Dems spent $145,808 on Jack the Liar while GOPers spent $57,817 on our man Reynolds. That is a difference of $87,991...

And what are the numbers on the judgeship that the local Dems held?

The inverse to this was the race for Butler County juvenile judge, where Judge Kathleen Romans became the only Democrat elected to countywide office.

Romans spent $24,384 in the final weeks of her campaign. Her challenger, Tim Evans, spent $15,968 and received more than $8,000 of in-kind contributions from the state GOP.

I'm not sure how this qualifies as an "inverse" but okay...as I see the math, GOP spent $23,068 which works out to $-416.

Bottom line: The Democrats wasted a boatload of money on Jack the Liar and the Republicans barely got outspent on a judgeship that was going to be an uphill battle anyway. Who handled their finances better??? Now THAT is a story...

Butler County Courts Update

Let's start with two posts from intrepid reporter Josh. The first details the entirely expected partisan move on the part of T-Shirt Ted in appointing the two candidates that the local Democrats have put up for election on the bench before the people have their say.

Governor Ted Strickland today announced the appointment of Glenda Smith to the Butler County Municipal Court Area III and the appointment of Kathleen Romans to the Butler County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division.

All you really need to know about these two is that they will be losing in November.

The second is the response from Butler County GOP to these partisan appointments. Chairman Tom Ellis gets down to business:

“The governor has politicized the election process, but we are confident that the conservative voters of Butler County will see through this and elect our conservative team of Tim Evans for Juvenile Court and Dan Haughey for Area Court. Both are highly qualified and both will keep the same conservative, common sense approach of their two predecessors,” said Ellis.

Here in Butler County, our citizens are going to send the Governor a strong message in November; keep your liberal politics in Columbus, and let us select our own judges.”

It is absolutely shocking -- SHOCKING -- to discover that one of T-Shirt Ted's appointees, Glenda Smith, was not only the former chair of the Democratic Party in Butler County but worked for T-Shirt Ted's campaign. In the last administration some guy named Marc Dann called that sort of thing "pay to play" and we all know what an upstanding citizen he was.

Now, let's learn a little something about the guy who is going to make T-Shirt Ted wish he had left his liberal politics in Columbus.

The Butler County GOP is throwing its support behind an Oxford attorney for Butler County Area III Court judgeship based in West Chester Twp.

The party's executive committee unanimously voted via secret ballot Wednesday, Sept. 3 to endorse Republican Dan Haughey, according to Tom Ellis, chairman for the Butler County GOP.

"It's unusual that someone gets 100 percent," Ellis said. "I thought it was quite a ringing endorsement."

Having participated in a few of these votes myself, a unanimous decision on a position like this is indicative of party unity standing solidly behind a candidate. T-Shirt Ted's flunky isn't going to know what hit her come election day. Until then, she's a lame duck in a robe.

Butler County: Zettler Sticks Nose in to Seniors Surplus; Still Running Negative

Intrepid reporter Josh has posted a letter from Jack Zettler being negative, as usual. While I agree that the surplus ought to be refunded to the taxpayers, this sort of rhetoric is not welcome or necessary:

“The surplus money collected is not the elected official’s found treasure to be squandered on their next pet project or to be used to hire more of their friends and relatives,” Zettler said in a prepared statement.

This is politics as usual and not change we can believe in...

Hey, Jack, you are running for Auditor -- against the better qualified and better mannered Roger Reynolds -- not County Commissioner... I'm just saying...

Butler County: There Are Democrats Here? Edition

Intrepid reporter Josh managed to find some Democrats in Butler county and wrote a whole story on them!

Well, let's take a peek and see what the "opposition" is up to these days, shall we?

Mmm...very good...and not at all surprising. They've traded in the drunk for a union boss for party chair. Those ads write themselves! And is the new chair related to their sacrificial lamb running against Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner? Keeping it in the family, I suspect...

They convinced Jack Zettler to run against Roger Reynolds again...how quaint! Hey Jack, a memo: a significant amount of new blood was added to the GOP since those scandals. And all of us are riding herd on the troublemakers and throwing them out is tops on our agenda. So, feel free to throw around those "scandal" charges all you like...it will only serve to energize our base.

Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans is running to replace Judge Niehaus...I'm not overly impressed with what I've been able to uncover about her so far: she's a magistrate, a Democrat Central Committee Member and an alum of Fenwick High... I like our chances if our candidate is either Tim Evans or Jeff Milbauer (more on that later).

Glenda Smith, a criminal defense attorney, will be running for Area III, the court that Judge Hendrickson just resigned from in order to clean Laura Curliss's clock for 12th District Court of Appeals. Glenda ran, and lost, a race of the 53rd District of the Ohio House. The first name I've heard on the GOP side for this race is Dan Haughey...

I can't resist this comment from the new chairman:

"We're getting our (butts) handed to us right now, and we need to do something about it," he said

I'd recommend turning the other cheek, Chairman...