From The Review Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson has become involved in the records dispute between the county Democratic Party chairman and county Recorder Theresa Bosel by filing public records requests of his own.
Johnson told the newspaper he has filed the following records requests with:
–Madison Township, seeking financial records, among other information. The township fiscal officer is Tiffany Chetock, Bosel’s Democratic opponent in the Nov. 8 election.
–County Treasurer’s Office: Nick Barborak, the Democratic Party chairman, served as treasurer from 2007-12.
–County Bar Association. Barborak, an attorney, was in partnership with his sister, Virginia Barborak, who is in jeopardy of having her law license suspended for misusing more than $150,000 in client funds. The matter is pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.
Johnson contacted the newspaper to weigh in after reading Tuesday’s story about Barborak issuing a press release criticizing Bosel for allegedly dragging her feet in complying with a records request Barborak filed with her on Sept. 29. Johnson said he filed his records requests on Oct. 14.
Johnson accused Barborak of deliberately filing an inadequate records request knowing Bosel could not legally comply, and then using her response asking for more details to create a campaign issue.
“Nick Barborak is trying to prosecute this campaign in the newspapers … His letter was purposely so he could issue a press release,” he said. “They were losing the election when they took it to the newspaper. This a typical Don Gosney/Nick Barborak tactic.”
Gosney, the former long-time county Democratic Party chairman, died in 1989. Barborak, 41, was elected party chairman earlier this year.
Johnson said Chetock has yet to provide him with the requested records. “The only response I’ve gotten from her is she’ll get back to me. When will that be? After the election?” he asked.