Civilian Surveillance Program Simply Political Theater

I have to say that I am surprised and deeply disappointed to learn that Clerk Kenny Brown has established a video feed from his offices, which is nothing less than surveillance of Boone County citizens.

Republicans like Senator Rand Paul are opposing civilian surveillance programs in Washington and State Representative Diane St. Onge is introducing legislation in Frankfort to prevent civilian surveillance by the government, I am shocked and disappointed that an elected county official would use cameras purchased for legitimate security purposes to broadcast who is in line in the clerk’s office.   I have to wonder why he waited until the week after he appeared in the media standing alongside an outspoken advocate of civil liberties like Judge Andrew Napolitano to announce this intrusive violation of personal privacy.

This is without question an unnecessary surveillance of citizens seeking to do business with the county and provides those with illegal or inappropriate intentions an opportunity to know who may be away from their home or place of business.

The actions of the incumbent represent those of an individual who continues to demonstrate the lack of leadership skills to manage this office.  The reality is that by the time someone leaves their home to drive from Union to Florence or from Hebron to Burlington the video is absolutely useless from a customer service perspective. Even the clerk admitted it is not live time.  If not for pure political theater, why would any elected official expand or implement civilian surveillance in a Clerk’s office?

The camera should be pointed at his desk.  This clerk has managed to come into the office every day of ONE week since October 3^rd.  One week!  And that was last week, still only managing a 29 hour work week.  This, after I started going public with his horrible work ethic.  He’s such an extreme right wing clerk, and is so concerned about the waste of taxpayers money, yet he’s taking our tax dollars as his salary and managed to come in to the office approximately 100 hours total during October and November.  As of 11:30 a.m. this morning, he is still not in the office.

An objective analysis of his work history will show Kenny Brown never managed anything except a bar before becoming clerk.   And he got that job only because he was friends with the restaurant manager.  Somehow he thinks using video cameras is effective management.  As Clerk, I will pull the plug on that system instantly. I do not agree with surveillance of Boone County citizens.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Can you believe that our present County Clerk is as ignorant as he is?!?!  He claims Pearl Harbor was NOT an act of war because the Japanese had no boots on the ground.  This disrespects all our WWII veterans and their families!

December 7th, 1941 was a Sunday.  We were at peace with the nation of Japan.  On that day the Japanese attacked not only Pear Harbor but Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Malaya.  On December 8th, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

The President of the United States said on December 8th, "I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Empire of Japan."

At 1:00 on December 8th, Congress (with one dissent) declared a state of war.  December 7th is "a day that will live in infamy", but apparently not in the little mind of the current clerk who never served and would certainly not understand the sacrifice that it takes to give him the freedom to spout such ignorance.

Please take a moment to remember all those who died in theses horrible attacks.  Please remember their families.  Please remember to thank ALL veterans who have served and are currently serving.  None of us would have the freedoms we enjoy without the sacrifices they have all made!

Your Tax Dollars at Work?

Are you a taxpayer in Boone County? I am. I chose Boone County 14 years ago as my home. It's a wonderful place to raise your children. It's clean, safe, and offers many things for families to enjoy.

 

But there's one problem. We have an elected official who chooses not to show up to work. He's admitted it under oath, that he stays home a couple of days a week to do his email. My tax dollars ...pay his salary. Since October 3rd through November 30th, he was in the office 6 full days! 6! That's horrible! Including those 6 full days, he has been in the office approximately 102 hours! That means we, the tax payers of Boone County are paying this man approximately $150.00 per hour to be our clerk. And yet, many people in the "good ole boy" network" swear he's doing a great job!?!? 

 

I personally, am disgusted. Let's restore FULL TIME leadership to the clerk's office! Vote May 20 for Ramona!

An Afternoon With Santa!

Join us for our first fundraiser!  You can email me at ramonaforclerk@gmail.com to order tickets! 

This is a great opportunity for dad and the kids to spend the afternoon while mom finishes up her last minute shopping or for grandparents to spend some fun time with the kids!  There will be at least a dozen projects for your children to do and they will have many things to take home with them so they remember their afternoon with Santa and Mrs. Claus for years to come!

AN AFTERNOON WITH SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS 

Saturday – December 21^st, 2013

2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Richwood Station Event Center - 10915A Dixie Highway, Walton, Kentucky 41094

 

Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus with crafts, games, cookies, pictures!

$10.00 per person (2 and under are FREE)

Or

$25.00 for your entire family (limit 5 people)

Price includes everything except photos!

Parking is free at the Richwood Flea Market – simply tell the gate attendant you are there for the Event Center!

 

SPONSORED BY THE CAMPAIGN OF RAMONA CROUSHORE FOR COUNTY CLERK

Committed to Serving

I want to take a minute to let you know that I am committed to fulfilling the full term if elected to serve as your Boone County Clerk.  I categorically rule out using the clerk’s office as a stepping stone to run for higher office. 

I am disappointed but not surprised by Kenny Brown’s comments in an October 22 posting on NKY.COM that if he were to run for state office he would have to move or run in Kenton County, which is  a result of legislative redistricting that left Brown’s home precinct split into multiple legislative districts.

Given Kenny’s unsuccessful run in the 1996 Democratic primary for a state house seat, representing Boone and Gallatin counties, I am not surprised at his continued interest in running for the legislature.  Voters deserve to know I am absolutely, categorically not using this office as a political stepping stone. 

 

I question Brown’s suggestion that he would “mail a letter to voters” whose polling place may change as a result of redistricting.  I am pretty confident if you ask 100 voters in Boone County what precinct they vote in, by name, less than 20 percent could tell you.  County Clerks and Boards of Election across Kentucky adjust precinct boundaries and polling places annually based on population shifts.  It appears my opponent is using the unfortunate situation as an opportunity to mail a puff piece outlining the redistricting process just in time for his re-election campaign. Mailing this letter would amount to little more than a publically funded campaign mailer.

 

I share the outrage of State Senator John Schickel in the whole redistricting process.  I am disappointed the Republicans in the Senate followed the House blindly by supporting a plan which is so grossly unfair to one of the state’s major economic engines.

However, I find it unbelievable the precinct split was a punishment for Brown’s lawsuit against the legislature which prompted a special session costing tax payers over $300,000.  The plan Brown filed suit against split 122 precincts statewide; the current plan splits 115, and tore Boone County into 5 house districts. I truly wonder what was achieved to the benefit of the people of Boone County. Lawsuits against redistricting have become common place. It stretches the imagination to believe the members of the Kentucky house care what precinct the Boone County Clerk votes in.

Thank you to all who have served!

Today I am thankful to live in a country where we have so many freedoms. 

As the wife of a disabled army veteran, the daughter-in-law of an air force retired veteran, and the mother-in-law of a currently serving army captain, I am extremely grateful for all the sacrifices that our veterans have made and that are still being made today. 

Sacrifice is a word an average citizen doesn't begin to know the meaning of until they have served their country. 

Ramona B. Croushore, a Hebron Republican, has filed to run for Boone County Clerk in 2014 calling for the exploration of expanded services at no additional costs, improved customer service, merit based hiring, performance based pay, and full-time leadership in the County Clerk’s office.

Ramona Croushore is a paralegal in the law offices of her husband, Paul Croushore, and cites her life experience as qualifications.  Croushore is a small business owner, has served as PTA/PTSO President for 6+ years, was a member of the Site Base Council at Conner Middle School, a graduate of the first Boone County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy and former Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children in the Boone County court system. 

In deciding to run for clerk, Mrs. Croushore said, “I have been an active member of the community and I am constantly hearing people complain that the morale is low and the hours are just not convenient for working people.  I have the private sector- and life- experience to bring a more businesslike and customer friendly approach to the operation.  We need a system where hiring is based solely on qualifications and salaries and promotions are based on merit, productivity and customer service.”

Mrs. Croushore said, “When I am elected I will restore full-time on-site management of the office by the elected official.”  She continued, “tax payers expect full-time leadership and they deserve nothing less.”

Croushore plans to explore a number of options to improve operational efficiency in the office.  She said, “I’m convinced through effective full-time leadership we can achieve positive results.  There are a number of options I’m exploring to make the Boone County Clerk’s office more responsive to the residents of Boone County.”