The Pullins Report (TPR)

Gibbs for Congress Website is Live!

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:56:00 GMT

Visit the site here. Presser follows:

Appeal Filed in AVPOA Derivatives Action

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:18:00 GMT

An appeal has been filed of the partial dismissal of our derivatives suit from January 27, 2009. You can view the documents here.

As you may recall, the AVPOA settled the remaining issue at the trial level. This permitted the trial issues to be concluded in order to allow the previously dismissed issues to be appealed.

Shelby Truth PAC Defeats Freytag Write In Campaign

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:00 GMT

The Pullins Group LLC managed a campaign in opposition to the write in campaign of appointed Shelby, Ohio Mayor Bill Freytag. Last night, voters supported the Shelby Truth PAC message and rejected Freytag's efforts. Congratulations Marilyn John, the Mayor-Elect of Shelby, Ohio!

Marilyn John, Mayor - Elect
Shelby, Ohio

Ohio University College Republicans Still Fighting the Good Fight

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:42:00 GMT

As the former President of the Ohio University College Republican Club and a former two term Chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation, it makes me proud to see the good work we started in Athens is continuing twenty years later. Ohio University's College Republican Club along with member and blogger Colton Henson have exposed a scheme by the OU College Democrats to pay students $5 per vote.

Coverage on this issue has exploded all over both the blogosphere and the msm. See stories here, here, and here.

Way to go Colton and friends! Keep up the good fight!

May God Bless and Protect Abby Johnson

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:50:00 GMT

HT to Bizzyblog. Nice article circulating through the blogosphere today on former Planned Parenthood employee Abby Johnson. Ms. Johnson quit after watching an ultrasound of a preborn baby being killed in the womb.

Read the full story here.

Issue 3: The Lies of a Would Be Ohio Casino Owner Exposed on Video

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:47:00 GMT

Slick Dan Gilbert is exposed as a liar by the Michigan State Police officer who arrested him for running an illegal book making operation. Watch the video for yourself! WOW!

Ohio Coal Association Targets Congressional Turncoats

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:05:00 GMT

By Erin McPike

October 29, 2009 3:30 PM

Congress Daily

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20091029_4759.php?

Votes by Ohio Democratic Reps. Zack Space and John Boccieri in favor of House climate change legislation this year have made them targets for Ohio Coal Association President Mike Carey.

"These guys represent coal-mining areas," said Carey, adding that, "they voted against their constituents."

Carey said while his association donated to Space in past races, including a $1,000 contribution Feb. 10, "we are not going to do that again." Carey said he was not sure how much his organization previously has helped Boccieri, but that he wouldn't get any financial help next year.

Now with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holding hearings on climate change legislation, Carey said the effort against Boccieri and Space is also aimed at influencing Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has withheld support for climate change over its potential impact on the coal industry.

The association has put up approximately a dozen billboards apiece in Boccieri's and Space's districts carrying the message: "Like a puppet on a string, Congressman Boccieri danced to Nancy Pelosi's tune in voting for the National Energy tax. Senator Sherrod Brown, don't make the same mistake."

The billboards feature an illustration of House Speaker Pelosi dangling Boccieri and Space by strings; they say the message comes from "the thousands of hard-working coal industry workers in the district."

Carey said the billboards are just the beginning of a "sizable campaign" that will hold the Ohio Democrats accountable for their vote. He added that, through this effort, "Hopefully we'll get Sen. Brown to know that all votes have consequences."

Boccieri defended his vote by saying, "First and foremost, I consider that vote to be about national security."

Space said he pored over data on his way before making a decision on his vote and that while Carey no longer supports him, there are other coal producers in the district who do.

He and Boccieri rattled off facts and figures on ways the legislation will benefit their districts in terms of solar power and other alternatives.

But Carey was unswayed. "I am sure that this vote affected their fundraising abilities," he said.

The coal industry's campaign complicates re-election for Boccieri and Space, who already are among four Ohio House Democrats targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which has put all four of their Republican opponents on its watch list.

Republicans still see the most likely pickups as the other two seats held by freshman Democratic Reps. Steve Driehaus, who represents the west side of Cincinnati, and Mary Jo Kilroy, who represents the Columbus area that is home to Ohio State University.

Boccieri challenger Jim Renacci raised $204,000 during the past quarter to $186,000 for the incumbent, although Boccieri has three times the amount of money that Renacci has left.

Republicans are further energized in Space's district by the fact that newly announced candidate state Sen. Bob Gibbs raised about $115,000 in 10 days, compared to Space's $262,000 for the quarter. Space holds a considerable advantage in cash on hand with $975,000 as he entered the final quarter of the year.

The NRCC has included Renacci and Gibbs among the 32 candidates given its "On The Radar" distinction for the amount of money they have raised.

###

Mansfield News Journal Profiles Our Efforts To Rid Shelby of An Out of Control Mayor

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:04:00 GMT

SHELBY -- Scott Pullins said chances of his continuing to go after the City of Shelby in court are slim, but that hasn't stopped him from going after the mayor in the political arena.

The Mount Vernon attorney represents Critical Life EMS, a private ambulance service owned by Jason Dotson, in a civil lawsuit filed Sept.8 against Shelby Mayor Bill Freytag, members of City Council and other Shelby officials.

Critical Life EMS had the city contract for service before Sept. 8 -- the day council authorized Freytag to award that contract to Mansfield Ambulance. The suit, which also names as defendants Shelby's law director, finance director and fire chief,makes a number of charges in connection with what Pullins sees as a breach of contract.

An extension of a temporary restraining order Pullins requested at the suit's outset -- which kept the city from entering into the contract with Mansfield Ambulance -- was declined Oct. 7 by Richland County Common Pleas Judge James Henson.

In other words, the city's contract with a new ambulance provider is a done deal: Mansfield Ambulance has a one-year contract, with the option of four one-year renewals.

"Right now we have to decide whether to take this to court or not," Pullins said Friday. "It's not that likely we will right now, but I'd say there's a higher chance we'd do a breach of contract suit with the city."

In the meantime, Pullins and Dotson on Thursday launched the political action committee Shelby Truth PAC, sponsored by Critical Life, to oppose Freytag's campaign for re-election in November.

Freytag, the incumbent in a three-way race, is running as a write-in candidate.

Pullins declined to say how many people are involved in Shelby Truth PAC, but PullinsReport.com -- a Web site connected with the Mount Vernon man's law firm announcing the committee's formation -- indicates a number of businesses and residents in Richland County are part of the group.

In addition to questioning the mayor's role in the city's new ambulance service contract, Shelby Truth PAC also charges that Freytag broke his promise not to seek election this year. The group also blasts the mayor's recent veto of an ordinance permitting prayer before council meetings.

"I'm no legal expert like the law director, but it's clear to me that the U.S. Supreme Court has said this type of prayer is constitutional," Dotson, of Mansfield, said in a news release. "It's unfortunate that Mayor Freytag would rather listen to the ACLU(American Civil Liberties Union) than the good citizens of Shelby,Ohio."

Freytag responded Friday by questioning the group's motives, pointing out that Pullins works in Mount Vernon in Knox County.

"Pullins is only trying to sabotage my campaign," he said. "He has no connection to Shelby except through Critical Life. It's just sour grapes that they didn't get that contract."

As for the prayer ordinance, Freytag previously cited concerns about the measure being unconstitutional,which could have led to a lawsuit.

Dotson, Critical Life's president and CEO, said he was disappointed in the court ruling that allowed Shelby to sign on with a different ambulance service.

"Our company bids contracts all the time, but I've never been in a process this questionable," he said Friday.

According to Pullins, Critical Life's contract with the city -- entered on Oct. 1, 2008 -- was a five-year deal.

Freytag said the contract was only a one-year agreement, with the option of four one-year renewals, and the contract was not renewed after the first year.

Freytag said the decision came down to the rates. According to his numbers, Shelby taxpayers requiring medical care will save 39 percent for advanced life support, 44 percent for basic life support and 11 percent per mile with Mansfield Ambulance Service versus Critical Life.

Freytag said Critical Life also enforced surcharges for EKGs, which Mansfield Ambulance does not.

However,the city's switch last year from its traditional use of five-year contracts to one-year renewables may play a role if Critical Life pursues its case in court.

"On Oct. 1, 2008, the same day we awarded Critical Life the contract, the safety committee decided we would no longer have a subsidized contract like we'd always had in the past," Freytag said, explaining why the five-year deals were nixed.

"We still believe we had a five-year contract and that issue has never really been litigated," Pullins said.

Dotson said the loss of the Shelby contract hasn't affected his company severely.

"The contract was to receive 9-1-1 calls, which averaged about 2.2 per day in Shelby," he said. "We still get calls from customers who call us directly and from other areas."

jkinton@nncogannett.com
419-521-7220

Windows 7, This Time Will Be Different?? Not Likely.

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:32:00 GMT

Watch the new MAC commercial making fun of Windows 7. HT to Tim Sloan.

PAC Formed to Oppose Write In Campaign of Shelby Ohio Mayor

scott@pullinsreport.com (Scott Pullins) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:15:00 GMT

Here's the presser from a group I'm working with in Shelby Ohio.

Shelby, Ohio - A group of local Richland County citizens and businesses, led by Critical Life EMS and its President and CEO, have formed a political action committee to oppose the write in campaign of Shelby, Ohio Mayor Bill Freytag. Freytag broke his promise not to seek election to the seat and has mounted a desperate, long shot write in candidacy. The name of the political action committee is the Shelby Truth PAC and information can be found at www.shelbytruth.org.

Critical Life EMS and its President and CEO Jason Dotson got involved in this effort after Freytag scrapped a longtime policy of having competitively bid EMS contracts and signed an unbid contract with a competitor that would likely increase the overall cost of EMS services for Shelby residents. Dotson, along with other group members, were also shocked by Mayor Freytag’s veto of an ordinance permitting prayer before council meetings.

“I’m no legal expert like the law director, but it’s clear to me that the U.S. Supreme Court has said this type of prayer is constitutional,” said Dotson. “It’s unfortunate that Mayor Freytag would rather listen to the ACLU, than the good citizens of Shelby, Ohio.”

At last night’s Shelby City Council meeting Mayor Freytag forbade the full to capacity crowd from speaking on any issue and launched a verbal tirade against Critical Life EMS, their CEO, and their longtime attorney and public affairs consultant. Freytag went as far as ordering the local police department to attempt to silence several elderly residents that had gathered outside.

“Last week Mayor Freytag scrapped the council’s constitutional right to pray before a meeting, this week he’s trying to silence the constitutional right of local citizens to oppose his actions,” continued Dotson. “It’s time for voters to show this out of control, unelected Mayor, the door.”

For more information, please visit www.shelbytruth.org.

Paid for by the Shelby Truth PAC, David E. Betts, Treasurer, 157 North Gamble Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875