Photo courtesy of .

Sheriff Leis continues to campaign for the new jail using taxpayer dollars.  (See the earlier Beacon story, Simon Leis: Campaign Solicitations on the Taxpayer’s Dime?) Look at the pictures provided in this article and note the signs saying “Support the New Jail” on the different sheriff’s vehicles in the Harvest Home Parade.  Even the tractor-trailer carrying the sheriff’s riot tank has a sign.

Per Section 9.03(C) of the Ohio Revised Code: “… no governing body of a political subdivision shall use public funds to do any of the following: (1) Publish, distribute, or otherwise communicate information that does any of the following: (a) ... (e) Supports or opposes the nomination or election of a candidate for public office, the investigation, prosecution, or recall of a public official, or the passage of a levy or bond issue.” (emphasis added).

This parade of force, with instructions to “Support the New Jail,” is reminiscent of the May Day parades in the old Soviet Union.  In the United States, by contrast, people are supposed to be able to freely cast their vote without an implied threat of force. It is no step at all from this to uniformed soldiers marching in a parade with signs saying “Vote Republican” or “Vote Democrat.”

(If you cannot see the slideshow, view the evidence .)

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