Interview with Former Commissioner & Current Candidate Skip Claypool

Fortify Geauga President Tiffanie Broadbent sat down for a discussion with Former Geauga County Commissioner, Walter “Skip” Claypool. Mr. Claypool is running for election as Geauga County Commissioner for the seat currently occupied by Tim Lennon. His opponent in the March 19th Primary is current President of the Geauga Board of Public Health, Carolyn Brakey.

The discussion covered many topics, including:

• Mr. Claypool’s personal history of public service,
• significant happenings during his time as a Commissioner,
• recent happenings at the Geauga Board of Public Health,
• Mr. Claypool’s outspoken nature,
• misconceptions about the role and powers of Commissioner,
• NOACA,
• safeguarding Geauga County’s sovereignty, and
• the current divide in the Republican party.

Please see detailed timestamps below so you can go directly to the topics of interest to you.
Resources mentioned in this interview:
Ohio Revised Code describing the powers of the Board of County Commissioners  (ORC 307)
Fortify Geauga NOACA resources
NOACA.info
NEOSCC.com

Timestamps for interview questions and topics:

0:00       Introduction

1:39       Background (time in Geauga county, professional experience, history of public service)

2:22       Mr. Claypool describes his accomplishments in office

4:52       Mr. Claypool describes why he is running for Commissioner

5:45       What do you think the next term will hold and what would your plans be (if elected)?

9:04       Mr. Claypool describes the duties of Commissioners and misconceptions about the role

13:09    What (is) the proper or most effective role for citizens to be engaged and informed of things that are going on in the Commissioner’s office?

14:45    Mr. Claypool describes his passionate, questioning nature and interacting with constituents and colleagues

16:18    Mr. Claypool discusses recent developments with the Geauga County Board of Public Health  (March 15th meeting, budget issues, transparency, and new agreement with Lake County)

19:22    There’s been a lot of talk about officially recording Commissioners meetings and I want your opinion on that… would you support professional recording of Commissioners meetings in the future?

24:36    What governs the role of Commissioner?  What puts limits on what you can and can’t do?

26:06    What you describe as passion other people describe a little bit differently.  You have critics who say you are opinionated, headstrong…contrarian…do you think they’re right about that and do you think those are good or bad qualities for a Commissioner?

30:38    Why is the Commissioner’s position a partisan…race?  How does your belief in conservativism…impact your decisions as a Commissioner?

33:03    What are people getting if they elect you as Commissioner?  What are (your) values?

36:18    You’ve been a Republican for a long time and you’ve seen a lot of people come in and out of the party.  Can you give us your take on what’s happening in the party right now?  (Mr. Claypool describes differences in Central Committee and division within the party)

 40:07   How do we restore to the Republican party grassroots conservative values?

41:26    Mr. Claypool describes his history with the Republican party and how voting has changed

43:28    (Regarding NOACA) Do you think … we should come up with more clever ways to get what we can out of it or do you think the only solution is to get out of it and is that realistic?

48:58    What can Commissioners do to help Geauga maintain our sovereignty and maintain our rural character?

52:27    (Why should people) vote for you?

54:15    Wrap up and final thoughts

Information on Mr. Claypool’s campaign:
Campaign Website
Campaign Facebook
Skip discussing his campaign on the Buckeye Patriot Podcast
From FortifyGeauga.org:
Endorsement Letters: H. Copper, D. Giammaria
“We Must Leave NOACA: The Folly of Negotiating with Tyrants”
Skip Claypool participates in NOACA Town Hall Meeting

March 19th Primary Links:
Information on all Republican Geauga County Commissioner candidates in the Primary
Issues and Candidates
How, When & Where to Vote
Find Your Sample Ballot

See also…
Interview with Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri
…Nancy McArthur’s Legacy of Questionable Behavior
Establishment GOP Attacking Tea Party, Squawking About “Fake Slate Cards”