 |
November 2008 |
 |
|
|
|
|
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
A former Wapakoneta law enforcement officer’s future is now in the hands of seven state Supreme Court justices.
Former Wapakoneta Police Chief Dave Harrison’s 6-year-old sex crime case reached the pinnacle in Ohio’s court system Wednesday, as justices heard arguments from Harrison’s attorney Dean Boland and state prosecutor Scott Longo.
Each party had 15 minutes to present their case to the justices. After both attorneys argued their cases, a single word in Harrison’s sentencing entry and a grilling delivered to Longo by justice Maureen O’Connor left Boland optimistic about his client’s future.
In June, 2003, Harrison plead guilty to a six-count bill of information after child pornography was found on his computer. After entering his plea, the man who served as police chief from 1988 to 2002 was sentenced to one year in jail.
Seven months after he completed his sentence, it was discovered by county prosecutors that Harrison should have been sentenced with an additional five years of mandatory post release control, or probation.
During a court hearing, Harrison was given the option to either be re-sentenced or withdraw his plea. Harrison chose the latter, taking things back to square one.
With the plea withdrawn, the state of Ohio slapped Harrison with a 23-count indictment which he was ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to six years in prison.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Tuesday, 30 September 2008 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Three candidates made their case Monday to serve as Ohio’s 12th District senator during a debate in St. Marys.
Incumbent Republican Keith Faber, of Celina, Democrat Thomas Matthew, of Wapa-koneta, and non-partisan candidate Jack Kaffenberger Sr., of Darke County, addressed the crowd and painted a different picture of the future of Ohio during a debate sponsored by St. Marys Rotary at Memorial High School.
“This election is about jobs and the economy,” Faber said. “It’s about how we work together to pull Ohio out of this tailspin.”
Faber, who helped secure funds for Grand Lake St. Marys, said the lake is a vital resource to the area. If re-elected, he would continue to push state officials to move Grand Lake St. Marys higher on the priority list of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“As a state senator, I always tried to get ODNR to get it up higher on the priority list,” Faber said while answering the question asked to all three candidates. “Grand Lake St. Marys is the other great lake in Ohio and ODNR and the governor have not made that a priority.”
Faber also took the spending habits of current legislators to task during his answers. The Celina resident said Ohio’s sagging economy can be traced back to its tax burden and spending methods during the past several years.
“The problem in Ohio isn’t a tax problem — it’s a spending problem,” Faber said. “We need to get rid of the things that aren’t working, and we can do it by reprioritizing our efforts.”
Faber also credited the work of the Auglaize County Airport Authority for its efforts at keeping the Neil Armstrong Airport among the best in the state in terms of airport quality.
Faber said he viewed the airport as a necessary component of the region’s economic health and future.
“It’s a wonderful commodity,” Faber said.
Kaffenberger, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2000 and 2004 against current U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, said he believes Ohio’s working poor are being swept under the rug.
Kaffenberger said if elected, voters would send a message that they are tired of partisan bickering in Columbus.
“The poor people are getting trounced,” Kaffenberger said. “I am a blue-collar worker and I’d like to go to Columbus as an independent.”
Kaffenberger said Ohio’s system of funding public schools is broken and needs fixed.
The U.S. Navy veteran also attacked the funding of charter schools and the voucher program during his address to the audience.
“There needs to be a focus on consolidating,” Kaffenberger said, noting parents should be responsible for paying costs associated with sending their children to outside school districts.
Kaffenberger also voiced his opposition to the high tax burden being used to repair the projected budget deficits in Columbus. Kaffenberger said legislators need to focus on areas that can be eliminated.
“I am opposed to raising taxes,” Kaffenberger said. “We need to do away with the regulations and (cut) programs that don’t work.”
While he supports green energy, Kaffenberger cautioned against overspending just to jump on the bandwagon.
Kaffenberger said the options should be explored, but only if it is fiscally feasible.
“If they are going to mandate it, we should put caps on it,” Kaffenberger said. “We should have been going into this a lot sooner than now.”
Matthew, who previously ran unsuccessful campaigns in the Democratic primary for the 78th Ohio House District Seat and for Wapakoneta City Council, attacked the previous Republican leadership in Ohio throughout his address. Matthew said if elected, he would represent a change in thinking and offer new ideas in Columbus.
“It’s about taking care of people and change,” Matthew said. “I am a proud Democrat, but I will first be for the people. I will support the Democratic caucus, but I will be my own man.”
Matthew said he supports Ohioans rights to bear arms within the letter of the law.
The Democrat also said current laws provide enough protection for Ohioans as well as provide for consequences for those who commit crimes with guns.
“I believe in it and support it 100 percent,” Matthew said. “I believe our citizens are capable and once in a while they might have to protect themselves.”
Matthew said he is pro-life and said abortions are acceptable in three circumstances. He also said the topic is one often abused during election season.
“I am against abortion however there are issues like incest, rape and the mother’s health,” Matthew said. “I think it’s the biggest subject we use for political purposes.”
Matthew criticized Republicans for failing to address the school funding issue in Ohio. If elected, Matthew said he plans to address the topic and fix it.
“What did our Republican friends do with the school mess,” Matthew said. “Every election we have hear about it but they never did anything.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 October 2008 )
|
|
|
|
