DEAR EDITOR:
I attended the first hearing on the court consolidation on Tuesday. I have to say it is appalling how our commissioners have turned a million-dollar savings for the taxpayers into a political circus.
Commissioner Fuda was trying to make a point about delaying this decision because they could do this consolidation at the end of anybody's term. Commissioner Heltzel had to stop Fuda from talking because Fuda was about to give away their strategy. That is, if they can delay this until the end of Judge Campbell's term, they can try to get rid of a Republican on the bench.
Saving the taxpayers money, immediately, should be a top priority. That is not the case. The commissioners have to hold two hearings to check the political winds. They have the authority and support from the Ohio Supreme Court to make this decision, but they won't do the job we pay them to do. Saving the taxpayer money is the last thing on their mind.
As a side note, the commissioners have to deal with the SCOPE closing now. Fuda says in the Tribune "this isn't an easy one." Looking at the struggle the commissioners are having with the court consolidation, which is "an easy one," I can't imagine what we will see next out of these guys. If it takes two hearings for "an easy one," how many hearings will it take for a hard one? Most all the people at the hearing were for consolidation. One holdout was the man who wants to be judge in the Eastern District.
It is time for new commissioners. We need conservatives in office who will properly represent the taxpayers.
Allen Ryan Sr.
Champion