Political Action Committee formed to hold elected officials in the valley accountable
EDITOR'S NOTE: Trumbull county auditor Martha Yoder reached out to 21 News Thursday morning to say that she did not authorize anyone in her office to email 21 News on her behalf and that the email saying she would not speak to a reporter for this story was sent without her knowledge.
A series of text messages, complete with memes targeting current valley officeholders, has been going out to residents.
Those getting the messages say they're from a Political Action Committee (PAC) called "Protect Our Valley Taxpayers." 21 News looked into the group, and what they seek to accomplish.
The PAC filed with the state. The paperwork listed on the Secretary of State's site only lists a Wisconsin address, and not much more.
One flyer posted by the group is asking Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder to resign.
Protect our Valley Taxpayers also made posts targeting Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez, and Columbiana County Democratic Party Chairman Charley Kidder.
According to the group's website, their goals are to expose corruption of elected officials, ensure taxpayer dollars are accounted for and to elect fiscally conservative leaders.
21 News sent out a public records request to see who started this group, but have not gotten a response yet. 21 News also reached out to Hernandez, Kidder and Yoder for a reaction to the flyers. Kidder did not respond and Hernandez referred any comments to his attorney.
Here is the statement from attorney Mark S. Finamore on behalf of Hernandez:
“Having known Commissioner Rick Hernandez as a friend and legal client of mine before and after he entered politics over the past 45 years, I believe Commissioner Hernandez would say as I did during my terms of local elective public office, that he welcomes and encourages all citizens to get actively involved in local government affairs, educate themselves on how local government works and operates, seriously educate themselves on political candidates for office, their character, integrity, intelligence and political positions on the important issues which affect their quality of life, when voting, and attend as many public meeting as they can and be willing to knowledgeably and articulately speak out the meeting, asking good questions and advocating for their positions on the important issues of the times."
21 News also sent a crew to Yoder's office for a response, and was told via email by someone working in her office that she will not talk to us.
