1. Judge O'Donnell lives almost directly behind the Mayor. Since Judge O'Donnell lives in Lakewood, I feel he should have recused himself from the case at the beginning.
2. Several known close friends of the mayor have donated to Judge O'Donnell's past campaigns. Specifically:
Jay Carson (Civil Service Commission member) donated $250.
Leo Spellacy, whom I believe is the brother of Lakewood's ex-law director donated $250.
Murman & Associates, the law firm of a likely relative of a recent appointee to the Lakewood Public Library Board donated $250.
Joe Gibbons, a prior LHA member, donated $100.
McGinty, Hilow, & Spellacy donated $150. This is the law firm where the gentleman that hung the huge Summers banner on his house on Lake Ave works.
Also, I found it interesting that several of those involved with the mayor and the hospital deal have also donated to Armond Budish's campaign for County Executive.
Thompson Hine LLP (the first batch of lawyers that council hired for the hospital deal) in-kinded over $450 in food for a Budish campaign findraiser.
Lucinda Einhouse donated $50 to Budish's campiagn. She and her husband are very vocal BuildLakewood and Mike Summers supporters.
Chris Sinagara donated $125 to Budish's campaign. He was a member of Jay Foran and the mayor's Active Living Task Force. He is most likely a staunch BuildLakewood and Summers supporter.
Armond Budish's campaign committee gave $50.00 to one of Tom Bullock's political campaigns.
Armond Budish's campaign committee gave a $70.00 contribution to the Lakewood Democratic Club, of which Summers and most of his close associates are members of.
Armond Budish's campaign committee gave $2,500 to Fitz!'s campaign for governor.
All of this combined with MLM's interesting & almost overnight rise to fame in Budish's office makes me extremely skeptical now that a pre-trial has been postponed for a second time. I also find it interesting that several others who were in Lakewood politics now work at the county.
I am almost certain that some out there will rebut my skepticism, so I will sit back and prepare to be blasted!
