Dave Betras is hardly the problem. Everyone who is close to the Oakhill situation knows that this is simply a political feud Mahoning County style. You don't just get your opponent out of office, you get them thrown in jail. George Tablack and Paul Gains are entirely behind this ploy and they always have the cooperation of the vindicator. As much as the vindicator wants everyone to think that this is not about the decision made to move to Oakhill, it is precisely about some officeholders disagreeing over the decision to move from Garland to Oakhill. Every citizen (including commercial organizations) are allowed and encouraged by the Bill of Rights to petition their government, i.e. its officials. Plain and simple that is what was done here. Nowhere is there any evidence that cash changed hands over the Oakhill decision. The prosecutors would have us believe that an officeholder hearing the petition of a citizen is accepting a bribe when he asks questions regarding the various positions of the issue and the citizen has his own attorney provide answers. The prosecutors would have you believe that such advice constitutes a bribe when in fact it is a normal part of the process. Dave Betras has reinvigorated the local party, perhaps the reason we are a one party community is that we can see that what the Republicans are selling is what they have always sold in this valley, fear and lies. Don't forget that during the last big scandal 100% of all republican county officeholders were corrupt, and yes there were some. It is significant to me that the republicans would once again try and change the subject to anything but the incompetence of their own officials at the Board of Elections. Betras has this one nailed and they don't like it.
Where are Betras’ priorities?
Dave Betras is hardly the problem. Everyone who is close to the Oakhill situation knows that this is simply a political feud Mahoning County style. You don't just get your opponent out of office, you get them thrown in jail.
George Tablack and Paul Gains are entirely behind this ploy and they always have the cooperation of the vindicator.
As much as the vindicator wants everyone to think that this is not about the decision made to move to Oakhill, it is precisely about some officeholders disagreeing over the decision to move from Garland to Oakhill.
Every citizen (including commercial organizations) are allowed and encouraged by the Bill of Rights to petition their government, i.e. its officials. Plain and simple that is what was done here. Nowhere is there any evidence that cash changed hands over the Oakhill decision. The prosecutors would have us believe that an officeholder hearing the petition of a citizen is accepting a bribe when he asks questions regarding the various positions of the issue and the citizen has his own attorney provide answers. The prosecutors would have you believe that such advice constitutes a bribe when in fact it is a normal part of the process.
Dave Betras has reinvigorated the local party, perhaps the reason we are a one party community is that we can see that what the Republicans are selling is what they have always sold in this valley, fear and lies. Don't forget that during the last big scandal 100% of all republican county officeholders were corrupt, and yes there were some.
It is significant to me that the republicans would once again try and change the subject to anything but the incompetence of their own officials at the Board of Elections. Betras has this one nailed and they don't like it.
September 10, 2010 at 3:54 p.m. permalink suggest removal