The Columbus Partnership bows down to the notorious conman
Central Ohio's Republican shadow government will raise more than $2 million for Vivek Ramaswamy later this month—the same guy who plans to defund local governments with tax giveaways to the rich.
Yesterday, The Rooster detailed how Columbus’ “benign conspiracy” of “civic-minded CEOs” (read: Republican shadow government) were all stroking each other off over #NWSLtoColumbus while propagating the notion of grassroots support.
The plan calls for $50 million in public money to the Haslam Group, led by crooked billionaire (repetitive, I know) Jimmy Haslam, while also allowing him to destroy the only public green space in the city’s poorest neighborhood with the shortest life expectancy in the state.
Hours later, The Rooster obtained a fundraiser flyer for notorious conman Vivek Ramaswamy for an event at the Junto Hotel in the Bottoms “Scioto Peninsula.”
The host committee is a who’s who of disgustingly rich Republicans who have an outsized say on Democratic public policy in Columbus. Many of whom are directly involved in pushing the plan for a $50 million payout, including Haslam, who, along with his wife, the so-called “Sweet Dee,” is also on the list.
Jason Hall, the CEO of the Columbus Partnership.
Matt Scantland, the CEO of CoverMyMeds, the company that got a $77 million “tax incentive” from City Hall, only to lay off half his company while raking in record profits with zero clawbacks of the money despite his failure to produce any of the numbers that allegedly justified the tax cut.
His brother, Pete Scantland, serves on the Columbus Partnership Board of Advisors as CEO of Orange Barrel Media.
“Cocaine James” Hagedorn, CEO of Scott’s Miracle-Gro, the corporate sponsor of New Crew Stadium.
Kirt Walker, CEO of Nationwide, which stands to profit on the NWSL deal as well. He sits on the Executive Committee of the Columbus Partnership.
Kara Trott, the self-described “visionary founder” of Quantum Health. She also serves on the Ohio State Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the Columbus Partnership. Here she is talking about the “girls in the stands” becoming the “women who lead,” maybe of the political party that’s actively trying to disenfranchise married women before the next election?
Steve Steinour, Chairman, President & CEO of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and Columbus Partnership co-chairman.
Jeff Edwards, a downtown real estate pervert and member of the Columbus Partnership Executive Committee.
Paul Judge, CEO of Axium Packaging and member of the Columbus Partnership Executive Committee.
Jason Hollar, CEO of Cardinal Health and member of the Columbus Partnership Executive Committee.
A well-connected source estimated this group, which also includes hilarious cameos from Coingate figure and the Scottenstein’s pint-sized failson, Brian “Da Schott” Schottenstein, will net north of $2 million for the conman’s campaign.
But this is the problem with letting CEOs dictate public policy. They only care about making money and maintaining their power and influence at the expense of everyone else.
If they thought Dr. Amy Acton had a chance, they would probably be rolling out the red carpet for her and then trying to convince her to run the exact type of campaign that she’s already running. They either feed into the worst elements of the GOP, or they shower favored Democrats (like Mayor Suburbs) with cash in order to keep the left wing of the party in check.
Columbus will never reach its potential under a Republican-dominated Statehouse.
That the Columbus Partnership is trying to gaslight us into believing there’s widespread popular support for a plan that includes another eight-figure public payout to a MAGA billionaire while also stealing a public park from poor people is obscene.
City Hall politicians are apparently used to the abuse, in perhaps a textbook example of Stockholm Syndrome. But Haslam and the Partnership feting a Republican charlatan—who is campaigning on abolishing the income tax in a year where hog voters could abolish property taxes via constitutional amendment—is an affront to every Democratic voter in this city.
The Partnership operates this way because it knows the legacy press has no interest in covering fundraisers of this nature. You have a better chance of seeing Jesus resurrected on local TV than you do of seeing any in-depth reporting from our corporate-owned stations.
And worse yet? City Hall Democrats will stay silent. The County Commissioners will join them. As will Chairmain Mike “Big Sexy” Sexton and the Franklinton County Democratic Party’s leadership.
At least in public!
Because every single one of them owes their power to this group of “civic-minded CEOs.” They’ll let these guys raise millions of dollars for the party that actively defunds Columbus and Franklin County, and then turn around and demand $50 million for the Haslam Group and call it “equity for women.”
And then Democratic leaders will act concerned about “the residents being left behind,” as if it’s some cosmic mystery that can’t be solved by another “tax incentive” or “public-private partnership.”
It gets to a point.
Would you like to buy Jay Schottenstein’s bizarre collection of rich guy things?
As The Rooster exclusively reported on Nov. 25, Vivek Ramaswamy agreed to a $15 million deal for American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein’s Bexley manse that sits steps from the governor’s mansion.
