In sparsely populated but wealthy Geauga County, the classic New England-style square that dominates the city of Chardon is rarely packed outside of maple syrup season. But don’t be misled by the sleepy, bucolic surface. Factional politics can be brutal and corruption has also reared its head in this county of fewer than 100,000, where the median household income is more than $90,000 a year and only 6.2% of residents live in poverty.
In 2018, a $1.8 million public embezzlement scandal that had allegedly played out over the prior eight years erupted in Geauga County. It led to the appointment of a special county prosecutor and theft indictments against the county’s former chief technology officer and his daughter, plus two Texas officials.
Amid the scandal, the county Republican Party recruited Charles E. “Chuck” Walder, a successful private entrepreneur, to try to clean up the mess as new Geauga County auditor, and to seek the voters’ support for a full term.
At his April 14, 2018, appointment, Walder pledged “new leadership, open and cooperative dialog, and technical understanding of the varied disciplines that make up the auditor’s office. I ask for your support, confidence, and vote. In return, I will honorably represent the Republican Party through action, accountability, and commitment to the people of Geauga County.”
Walder was elected in that 2018 GOP primary and then the general election, and then re-elected last year despite a determined primary challenge from longtime local political figure Diane V. Grendell -- whose husband, County Probate/Juvenile Judge Timothy Grendell, had clashed with Walder over Walder’s efforts to improve accountability for the court’s expenditures. Walder won that May 3 primary with almost twice as many votes as Grendell -- an outcome that spoke to the citizens’ desire for integrity and accountability, above all.
Now, apparent resistance from the Geauga County Department of Water Resources to Walder’s attempts to bring the water department’s information technology under the county’s overall IT department has led to a new donnybrook of accusations and counteraccusations. Not to mention a criminal investigation into possible unlawful interest in a public contract, after federal agents and investigators for the county prosecutor’s office raided the water department earlier this month.
No charges have been filed and maybe none will be. But Walder’s reaction, as reported by cleveland.com’s Adam Ferrise, was telling. “Why would you resist oversight that much?” he asked “Why would you fight it? Because you don’t want someone looking over your shoulder.”
Good government requires solid checks and balances, tamper-resistant IT and public accountability -- goals Walder is properly still pushing in Geauga County.
About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.
Have something to say about this topic?
* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.
* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
Ad Choices