An audio file has been uploaded to the dark web from inside a city council committee meeting where a Washington Court House city council woman says a “larger” portion of citizens in Washington Court House are “uneducated” and cannot properly read a checkbook.
In the recording, councilwoman Kendra Redd-Hernandez says, “we are dealing with a larger uneducated population” when it comes to understanding how to read a checkbook.
The comment came in response to a presentation by the state asking that the city join a government transparency website.
This publication downloaded the audio file after it was brought to the Guardian’s attention that the file was making rounds on the dark web in a forum thread titled “City of WCH.” The thread on the dark web had more than three dozen postings from everything about the conditions of streets in Washington Court House to addresses of where to buy drugs in town.
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According to meeting minutes uploaded to the city’s website, the statement was said during the city’s March 19, 2018 Finance and Personnel meeting, where a representative from then-republican Josh Mandel’s State Treasurers’ office was giving a presentation on “Ohio Checkbook.” The presentation centered around a proposal that the city implement the state’s OhioCheckbook.com, which is a government transparency website that allows cities and towns to openly post their spending so taxpayers can stay informed of where tax dollars are being spent.
“I also think there’s an element where they don’t grasp the level [of spending].” Redd-Hernandez, a registered democrat who was first elected to council in 2015 and is up for re-election this November, said. “My concern would be….whether we like it or not, we are dealing with a larger uneducated population….that is my concern.”
Redd-Hernandez’s comment was referring to people not being able to understand the city’s spending. It came after a statement by fellow council member Dale Lynch saying that the city has nothing to hide about its spending.
“If you don’t have a problem with anything, then why don’t you put it out there….I would have trouble arguing with someone if they said, ‘why don’t you just put it out there?'” Lynch said. “Do I think a lot of people are going to go on there and look at it? No. Do I think people who will mostly go and look at it are the ones looking for a problem? Yes, I do.”
Other council members said they liked the idea of the website.
“The program is fantastic,” said councilman Steve Jennings.
Redd-Hernandez’s words were publicized online just days after a story spread rapidly locally outlining criminal charges have been sought against the downtown business owner after she received a loan subordination from the city in September that allowed her to take out an $83,000 loan.
In 2018, the city declined the state’s request to sign up OhioCheckbook, which is free, and according to state officials, the city has not expressed any interest in resuming discussions.
Launched in 2014, OhioCheckbook.com became the first resource aiming to make all tax dollar spending information available online. There are currently more than 1,100 local government entities on the Ohio Checkbook, with more than 50 joining since January of this year.
“Since its launch, OhioCheckbook.com has garnered the interest of those hoping to learn more about how Ohio’s tax dollars are spent,” said the office of current State Treasurer, Robert Sprague, a republican. “The Ohio Checkbook allows residents to see how their hard-earned dollars are put to use in their communities,” said Treasurer Sprague.
Previous attempts to reach Redd-Hernandez for comment were unsuccessful.
Listen to the full meeting: