Investigation launched over Leis allegations

As promised, we have returned to update you on the investigation we announced yesterday regarding the allegations made by The Whistleblower about Si Leis and the Blue Ash Republican Club. We have contacted Club President Lee Czerwonka and sent him a list of questions about this situation. We promised to publish his answers unedited. The text of our email to Mr. Czerwonka is reprinted below:

Mr. Czerwonka, I am the creator and main author of a local group called Republicans for Higher Taxes. Our mission is to promote higher taxes and spending from within the Republican Party, provide support to Republicans who do the same, and counter the lies and disinformation of far right groups like COAST. Yesterday's edition of The Whistleblower claims that you have invited Sheriff Simon Leis to speak to your club's next meeting on September 12th, but have prohibited the other side from speaking at this meeting. This report seems to accuse you of using your position as club president to promote a pro-tax agenda. They even implied that Sheriff Leis would not agree to speak unless you promised that the other side would be banned from presenting their arguments at the same meeting.

We are highly skeptical of these claims and are launching an investigation to get to the bottom of these allegations. Our group strongly supports this safety plan and believe it can withstand any criticism, and believe that our Sheriff would be willing to debate this issue with anyone. We suspect the anti-tax side is welcome to present their ideas, but would rather plant rumors about the supporters of the Sales Tax increase than debate it in the open. To help us get the truth out, we have a list of questions regarding these allegations that we would like for you to answer. We will print your responses, unedited. We will be publishing an update to our investigation by Sunday afternoon, so we would appreciate a response by the end of Saturday.

1. Is the Blue Ash Republican Club (BARC) promoting or supporting the Sales Tax increase for the safety plan on November's ballot?

2. Is it true that the BARC is refusing to allow a representative from the anti-tax side to present their arguments at next week's meeting on September 12 when Sheriff Si Leis is making his pro-tax pitch? If so, are you worried about creating the perception that you are using your club to promote pro-tax policies?

3. Did Si Leis request or demand that the club prohibit the anti-tax side from speaking at this meeting?

4. What is your position on this ballot issue? Also did The Whistleblower accurately report that all 5 Republican members of the Blue Ash City Council who attended the club's picnic, including you, woud not sign the petition to place this issue on the ballot?

5. Will the BARC allow a representative from the anti-tax side to present their views at October's meeting? Will the pro-tax side be allowed to make an additional presentation at this meeting?

6. Ultimately will the BARC be giving equal time to both sides to present their arguments between now and Election Day?