I know Jim and I like Jim. I would love to give my blind support to him at this time. Hopefully, this will happen in the near future.Former state representative Jim Trakas of Independence is back in politics. Well, not quite. The Republican, forced out by term limits in 2006, announced today his bid for the state senate in Ohio's 24th District. He hopes to replace fellow Republican Bob Spada, who can't seek another term because of term limits.
Trakas, a commercial sales representative for Nature Stone Floors of Bedford, ran briefly for Secretary of State last year.
Trakas, the former Cuyahoga County GOP chairman, is the biggest name to step in so far. But some party leaders have pushed State Rep. Thomas Patton of Strongsville to consider running, though he still can seek another term in the House.
Unfortunately, I cannot and will not support any GOP candidate unless they support School Performance Audits as a way to decrease the spending of bloated school districts from raping the citizens of Ohio.
I am quite confident that I will have this discussion with Jim, and will declare my support at such time.
As for Patton, I would NEVER support this pompous, self absorbed ass!
Wasn't Patton a democrat at one time?
Yes he was.
ReplyDeleteHi King - Could you say more or direct me to more info on the School Performance Audit concept? I googled it and didn't get much. I did find some audit info (including some stuff released today) from Mary Taylor's office, but what's listed are almost all called "Financial Audit" - what were you thinking of? Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteOk - here's one performance audit on her site. Hmm - I may just call to get closer to more info about them - but if you know, I hope you'll leave a link. thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.auditor.state.oh.us/Public/Press/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=434
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3316.042
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lbo.state.oh.us/122ga/pdf/122/hb0412hp.pdf
http://downloads.heartland.org/21661f.pdf
Performance Audits
The first item for discussion was performance audits. Mr. Johnson asked what the law currently says about performance audits. Ms. Weir responded that school districts that are in fiscal emergency, watch or caution may be subject to performance audits by the Auditor of State. Mr. Davis asked if we should focus on best practices. Mr. Baker asked how these audits could be made meaningful for school districts. He noted that the State Board looked at performance audits several years ago and generated good data. We need to be specific about what we want. Senator Gardner suggested that the committee needed to consider performance in relationship to spending. He also expressed interest in promoting best practices.
Mr. Woods noted that performance audits promote best practices. He wants to make sure that performance audits compare like districts. Mr. Hartnett raised the issue of what is meant by greatest need. Mr. Davis would prefer random audits rather than necessarily those with the greatest need. Representative Hartnett opined that if the Legislative Office of Education Oversight (LOEO) is to evaluate these pilot performance evaluations the LOEO staff should be consulted on how the evaluation would be conducted. There was consensus that the audits should be representative of Ohio's school districts, not just for the school districts with the greatest need. Mr. Johnson expressed concern about conducting performance audits for all school districts. There was consensus to confine the performance audits to the pilot school districts for the FY 2006-2007 biennium. How the state would proceed with performance audits in the future would depend on the outcome of the pilot evaluations. In general, the focus of these performance evaluations should be on fiscal efficiency and academic performance.
This is from --
http://www.blueribbontaskforce.ohio.gov/committees/OE_2-6-04_minutes.asp
You can also go to the auditors site, go to the search engine....
Type in - School Performance Audits
Thanks, King! I did do the search at the auditor's site and the only relevant thing I saw was a pdf from Betty Montgomery's office of a brochure about the process. Doesn't refer specifically to schools. I did also find (through a google search I think) a reference to Toledo looking at a school performance plan in place in Texas.
ReplyDeleteAnyway - this idea is very interesting to me. I'm going to think on it and probably write some thoughts about it too. Thanks very much for mentioning it in your post.
Oh - and another thing, sorry to be posting so many comments (I don't have an email for you so I'm not sure how else to communicate!).
ReplyDeleteThat legislative office for education oversight? The General Assembly shut it down in August '05. IMO, a terrible decision. We need something like it and I'd love to hear more ideas on what to resurrect and how to resurrect it.
I guess these types of tings aren't important if you place party before country.. hey the communist did!
ReplyDeleteIn the [Constitutional] convention George Mason argued that the President might use his pardoning power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection." James Madison responded:
[I]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds [to] believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty...
Madison went on to [say] contrary to his position in the Philadelphia convention, that the President could be suspended when suspected, and his powers would devolve on the Vice President, who could likewise be suspended until impeached and convicted, if he were also suspected.
Great point! Idiot!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell does your post have to do with Jim running?
On your post....
So that means Bill Clinton should have been impeached and shoule bar Hillary from running.
and your previous loser, Kerry, should not have been allowed to run.
The point of my response to your post is one of priorities and values. The last line of your post was: "Wasn't Patton a democrat at one time?"
ReplyDeleteBush commutes a crony felon and you have nothing to say about it, but worry that a local pol might be a democrat. I reference a few founding fathers as a way to offer perspective from a group that had something to say about the structure & operation of our govt.
To James Madison's way of thinking, yesterday was a big event. He addressed this situation directly and advocated impeachment of the president.
An event this significant and you have nothing to say. Why? Is it truly all party all the time.
For the sake of party, somehow calling Clinton out for lying was a travesty to dems, but the same GOP crowd that rightfully called a felony a felony, now can't seem to find the moral compass to do that same for Libby & Bush's sentence commute.
The Clinton, Kerry or reference to any other scary boogie men is a distraction. I read your blog because I seek an insightful GOP perspective. The action taken by the president seems contrary to GOP stated values as well as those of the founding fathers.
Could ya offer some views on this one.
Thanks