Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

As the McAuliffe trial rolls along now the dribs and drabs, names without relationships are getting a little write up here and there. I?’ve had a number of people reach me over the weekend asking questions and requesting insight. Asking who are some of these people being mentioned within the newspaper articles? While the papers, particularly the daily paper in Lancaster, are devoting more ink to the current federal trial those people in the area that only get Franklin County daily or weekly papers are really missing an opportunity to connect all the ?“players?”.

The current trial really only addresses the federal charges of arson, mail fraud, insurance fraud, and conspiracy related to the Millersport fire. How unfortunate as close watchers of the trial and consistent PATA readers are getting the connections the papers aren?’t making.

The first week of the trial has had as audience members former Pickerington Mayor Lee Gray, former Pickerington Councilman Craig Maxey, and Craig?’s cousin Jeff Wright. One of the things these individuals have in common is that they are all members of Brian Fox?’s Screening Committee for the Fairfield County Republican Party. It was that screening committee that supported the endorsement of Judge McAuliffe to the complete Executive Committee. Now they sit and watch testimony as to the ?“character?” of the man being exposed for all to see. A man they had previously screen and supported wholeheartedly. Makes you wonder what they are doing there doesn?’t it.

The other ?“curious?” audience attendee has been a Lancaster attorney named Mike O?’Reilly. Lancaster press has recently noted the connection between the former Judge and this attorney as that of representing the Judge?’s interests.. ?“In December 2002, Faller was served papers from McAuliffe's attorney, Mike O'Reilly. McAuliffe was suing him for the $150,000 he loaned him to purchase construction equipment for their partnership in Judge-R-Work.?”

Now PATA readers may recall the O?’Reilly name in connection with previously (and still posted) documents;

1. From the Secretary of States business filings records related to Schoolhouse Ltd and it?’s potential involvement with Homewood?’s Reserve at Pickerington Ponds and the former Mayor Gray?’s involvement with the acquisition of the RT 256 Plaza. There is O?’Reilly?’s name as representing agent.

2. From the Helwig Farm acquisition and rezoning where a notation is also available on PATA?’s ?“Our Pages?” with the attendance of a Mike O?’Reilly, as well as McAuliffe, at the rezoning of this land that BGM (Berry & Miller) were acquiring for promised commercial development that turned into apartments and condo?’s while Mr. Maxey directed the actions of Pickerington?’s Service Committee.

If folks do there homework they will find numerous limited liability corporations (L.L.C.?’s) that include these ?“players?” sporadically noted in multiple places here and the papers there but never really connecting all the dots together. Connecting these dots might not fall in the scope of the current federal trial, however since the former Judge seems adamant about pressing charges against his former ?“Judge R. Works?” ?“partner (Faller) perhaps a number of these LLC?’s need closer scrutiny with local and state legal actions and potentially multiple cases.


By Bob Harding

Connecting the dots - cont'd.

Next week as the trial continues Faller, now a federally protected witness for the prosecution and a man already admitting to assisting the former Judge with the arson as well as the Judge?’s on again off again girl friend (Westmiller) will likely be accused by the defense (the Judge?’s trial attorney) of the ones being responsible.

If anything Don McAuliffe is consistent, he always blames others no matter how many facts come to light. He did it when he was Pickerington?’s Law Director and he has taught these traits to so many other Pickerington office holders. Frankly, it deserves being named ?“The McAuliffe Syndrome?” and like Don many of his ?“Syndrome?” disciples need to get ready for their days in court. No, not as audience members ?– as defendants.


By Bob Harding

Who ties up the lose ends?

Does anyone know if drug cases go to the municipal courts rather than to the common pleas courts?

It seems to me that if they go to the municipal court then the Judge under indictment for arson could have the inside track on where the drug dealers were and when they would be raided. If this judge in question also was in cahoots with the previous local sheriff who also happens to be in jail for some other offense then could they have worked out a deal of extortion of the local drug dealers?

Now the question seems to be just how many scams was the Judge in question running? Was he working with the local Pickerington Developers to run off serious Commercial developers and pave the path for residential developers to buy and rezone and sell local farms at a 500% mark up in a matter of months? Did they keep the local City Manager under control by offering options that would never become public record? How did they ensure the votes on the Pickerington City Council? How did information that was protected by executive session also find its way to the local developers? Local property owners were contacted with this information.

Did some of our local farmers get taken when they couldn't pay the taxes and they had to sell to developer with zoning guaranteed to the developer? What about going into a nursing home and paying around $5,000 per acre to a family and this Judge was representing this nursing home confined patience.


So who is the bag men for these scams if they really are happening? Maybe we need to start to connect the dots for our local law enforcement?