GOP chairman to GOP officeholders: WHAT are you thinking?

SALEM

David Johnson, chairman of the Columbiana County Republican Party and a resident of Salem, has blasted his party’s members on city council over the party’s leadership regarding city finances.

Johnson’s complaints surfaced recently in a confidential memo bearing his signature sent June 11 to Mayor Jerry Wolford, Republicans on council and city Auditor James Armeni.

Johnson on Thursday would not comment on the memo without seeing it. Johnson responded by phone from Kansas City, Kan., where he was visiting a Summitville Tile facility, which he owns.

“With the exception of Jim Armeni, I think you are taking us in the WRONG direction,” Johnson wrote. “And trust me, there is a not a day that goes by that Republican supporters [don't] ask me ‘what the devil are the Republicans we elected in Salem doing kowtowing to the unions and proposing huge new tax increases?’”

He questioned how Republican council members can take a pension benefit for themselves as well as allowing city employees to have the highest benefit package in the county.

Read more of the chairman's complaints in Friday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.