Today the Dayton Daily, acting for the Democratic Leadership, reported half a story in an attempt to divert attention from Greg Brush’s Clerks office. Here are the facts that Lynn Hulsey omitted:

• No documents were destroyed
• The Sheriff never approved a request to destroy records regarding foreclosure appraisals
• A clerk typed a form and made a mistake, using the term “thru” instead of “upto” on a routine document
• The document clearly shows that the Sheriff had not signed off or approved the request Certificate of Records Disposal
• The request to destroy records was in draft form to be reviewed by the Records Retention Committee which Greg Brush sits along with 4 other Democrats. Certificate of Records Disposal.
• The Clerk failed to report to the paper that his office stores electronic copies of all documents scheduled for destruction. We can’t be sure he has these, but he is supposed to. An audit of that office is now inevitable.
• This whole article was a smoke screen to divert attention from the missing filings from February 2001 that approved the appraisal rate increase.

Had the article’s author completed her investigation, there would have been nothing to write. I like the author, nothing personal, we are just trying to report the full story.  A draft request was sent for review by the Records Commission, a typo was found, a correction was recommended, the correction made, no documents destroyed prematurely. Documents which are trusted to the Clerk for electronic storage. We can thank the Clerk, Greg Brush, for leaking this story to his friend, akin to yelling smoke! when there is no fire.

This is the same clerks office that lost the filing in 2001 dealing with Appraisal pay minimums and the same Clerk’s office that has failed to issue 1099 Tax documents to real estate appraisers, is the same Clerk’s office that will be fined for this tax oversight. It is also the same Clerk’s office that employs the Clerk’s father in law.

For comments on the Dayton Daily article you will have to go to Dayton Daily Fail dot com.  The paper has arbitrarily turned comments off. We wouldn’t want citizen journalism to clear the facts would we?

Greg Brush doesn’t want to be your Clerk of Courts. He settled for that office when the Democrat’s couldn’t get him the Sheriff’s office like he wanted. He is now busy jostling for the Commissioners seat about to be vacated by Debbie Lieberman as she runs for the State House seat vacated by Seth Morgan. More on that whole mess later.

The Records Commission members are listed here. A Clerk of Courts, a former Clerk of Courts and County Commissioner, County Recorder and County Auditor. All are Democrats out to defame the Republican Sheriff.  Greg Brush and Dan Foley both have reason to point fingers at the Sheriff to shift attention from them and their questionable work in the Clerk’s office.  Karl is just hoping no one notices his undistinguished record at appraisals during his re-election year.

This is truly a case of the Fox watching the Hen House. Hopefully the GOP has candidates to challenge Mr. Keith and Commissioner Foley in 2010.  A building full of Democrats should worry the citizens of Montgomery County. It’s time a Republican offer some balance at 451 West Third.
We are attempting to get a copy of the request that is being questioned. It will be posted upon receipt. Certificate of Records Disposal