Another Bob Ney outrage~And I need the help of DUers.

[ohio_liberal]

I just finished this post on dKos but as usual I don't think it will get much attention because so many of us right now into the Newsweek story. Here's part of what I wrote:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/17/115847/348

In 1991, the city of Bellaire (OH) was happy to announce that an individual had purchased the historic Bellaire Toll Bridge. For a little background, the bridge opened in 1926, and was featured in a scene from "The Silence of the Lambs".

The current owner's name is Roger Barack. He's a Bellaire businessman. At the time, everyone thought it was fantastic that the bridge would stay open and provide a most necessary access to and from Benwood WV. Now this bridge is just a bloody eyesore. <snip>

The bridge has sat unused, rusty, and falling apart ever since. The Coast Guard went after owner Roger Barack in 2002 and demanded that he have the bridge demolished. The Coast Guard maintains that "When the bridge no longer serves a purpose, the owner must tear it down." Mr. Barack has not done so, and as a result continues to be assessed civil penalties .

Meanwhile Ohio Congressman Bob Ney worked to pass a federal transportation bill with $1.7 million dollars earmarked to tear down the bridge.

Why? Why does Bob Ney want to bail out a private individual when the city of Bellaire can't obtain federal money for other important projects? Bob Ney doesn't even represent Bellaire anymore.

So who is Roger Barack? I did some digging and found this so far:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=BELLAIRE&st=OH&last=barack&first=roger

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=NEFFS&st=OH&last=barack&first=roger

Well. I don't even know what to say.

Would you like to help me do some more digging? I'm trying to find connections, anything, between Bob Ney and Roger Barack.

[goodboy]

1. I'm from Martins Ferry originally (HUGH bellaire rival) what can I do.

[ohio_liberal]

5. Me too!

Nice to meet you here!


Bring back any memories?

I'm digging up email addys for the local papers and TV news orgs. This bill just passed and the city of Bellaire has made a point of questioning this bill on television. I can't help but think there must be a business connection between Ney and Barack somewhere, or perhaps Mr. Barack is a playa in the local Repub party. I'm hoping someone with good Google skills and/or Lexis Nexis might be able to dig something up.

[goodboy]

8. What year did you gradjidate?

[ohio_liberal]

9. 1986

n/t

[goodboy]

10. you were 11 years ahead of me...sorry. I don't mean to make you feel

old.

[ohio_liberal]

11. Heh

I'm not old. I'm mature. :D

[goodboy]

13. like a fine wine! (nt)

[Zorra]

2. Ney is an enemy of the people of the US.

I detest that arrogant fascist (expletives deleted).

If Ney does it, you know it's evil.

[ewagner]

3. Something strange

about those contributions on Newsmeat....notice that going back to the beginning all the amounts are odd amounts... Not even numbers. My suspicion is that Barack is a "bundler" for Ney....in other words he collects money from others and bundles it to donation to Ney.

[ohio_liberal]

6. Could be, could be

I'm convinced there's more to this than meets the eye. I just gotta find it.

[JHB]

4. Barack is a (car) racing promoter...

...among other things. Don't know what those "other things" are, however, aside from "Republican political donor".

http://www.racefan.com/ContProv/Belleville/BHB_Results.asp?StoryID=14799&TrackID=1186

Foundation for future laid at Cannonball Motor Speedway
by Randy Matheny

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH (March 15, 2000) — After a successful stock car show at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Cannonball Motor Speedway owner, Roger Barack, has released his schedule for the 2000 racing season at his 3/8-mile clay oval track.

A large amount of interest has been generated from fans that said they would like to see the track open after it has been closed for over 13 years. Barack purchased the facility in 1998 and ran a few shows in October of 1999 just to see how the track surface would hold up, and how receptive fans might be to a clay oval racing facility in the area.

After a successful two-race schedule in October of 1999, Barack has released a schedule that will reflect Friday night racing beginning April 14 with Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pure Streets. Two Sunday races will begin racing with daytime racing on Sunday, April 2 and Sunday, April 9.

The racing facility, formerly known as the St. Clairsville Speedway, was abandoned and fell into a state of decay and disrepair for many years. Barack, an avid dirt racing fan and a local businessman in the Belmont County, Ohio area, saw the need to present to race fans a facility that could offer a high level of quality stock car racing with a short amount of driving time involved.

[ohio_liberal]

7. One of the other things

is that he owns a construction company.

http://guniteconst.tripod.com/

[JHB]

14. Know if they have any government contracts? n/t

[ohio_liberal]

15. No clue yet

Still digging

[ohio_liberal]

12. I need to make this more clear

This privately-owned bridge falls under the jurisdiction of WV. Ohio's jurisdiction occurs at the WATER LINE, which only included the access ramp from the Ohio side. Why did an Ohio Congressman push so hard for a bill to demolish an eyesore that belongs to a private citizen? Hmmmmm...

[ohio_liberal]

16. www.wkkx.com

This story has been picked up by local talk radio, which reports that Mr. Barack previously received $850,000 in government funds to demolish the bridge in question and never did it.

You can stream live at:

http://www.wkkx.com

[ohio_liberal]

17. Kicking for the night crew

:kick:

More info

Mrs. Lana Barack, Roger's wife:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=NEFFS&st=OH&last=barack&first=lana


I spoke today with a talk radio host and a producer for the local news. Neither had a clue that one can look up contributions on the internet. The producer lady seemed very interested in the info. She said she had been to Roger Barack's office and his secretary slammed the door in her face.

Still searching for other connections between Ney and Barack.

[ohio_liberal]

18. Here's one thing DUers can do

Contact the local newspaper and ask them to cover this story.

Christina Elliott, Editor
[e-mail]

[notadmblnd]

19. addy and company name

Barack, Roger A., Owner
Gunite Construction Company
P.O. Box 430
Neffs, OH 43940
FAX: [phone]

[ohio_liberal]

20. Thank you

Appreciate it very much :)

[doc03]

21. Some more info

The bridge was originally owned by the Interstate Bridge Company (a handful of local investors). They walked away with I believe it was 1.7M for the bridge ramp right-of-way for Ohio route 7. Then Roger Barack purchased the bridge for $1.00. After he received the $850,000 from the taxpayers he bought the Speedway. I have also heard he received a CDBG for the track in addition to that. Bob Ney had an office in Roger Barack's building for years and recently on WKKX he said he didn't know Mr. Barack. Bellaire has a population of less than 5000 and Bob Ney doesn't know one of it's richest citizens?

[ohio_liberal]

23. Thanks very much

I heard today that he had received the $850,000 but I didn't know who or what it came from. I only know the money is gone and he is now owner of the Cannonball Speedway. And thanks very, very, very much for the information on how Bob Ney might know Mr. Barack. I've been googling for hours on a connection and you found something for me. :D

You're right, Bellaire is a very small town and Roger Barack is a very regular contributor to Bob Ney's campaigns. I guarantee they know each other.

[doc03]

25. Problem is I have no links

This is some stuff I picked up from callers to WKKX when it was a hot topic a couple months ago. All our local papers are owned by a Repug named Ogden Nutting and you just don't find much news critical of a Repug. On a recent trip to Columbus I read a long column in the Columbus Dispatch on Ney's Indian casino Tom Delay connection, nothing here but a few lines.

[ohio_liberal]

26. It's ok

It can be verified in other ways. I talked to David Bloomquist today. There's more info to come, within the next week or so. It's just tough to find info online because the eastern Ohio newspapers do a dump of their websites every week. It's all still on paper. Just a matter of finding it.

[doc03]

27. I didn't know the subject had resurfaced on WKKX

Both David Bloomquist and George Kellis were hot on this a couple months ago then it just seemed to die out. Good luck!
Another thing for people out of the range of AM 1600 WKKX in Wheeling, you can listen to it on WKKX.com, David Bloomquist is on from 1-3pm and George Kellis is on from 3-7pm Monday thru Friday.

[doc03]

22. This was a local story a couple months ago

then just died out, I am glad to see it has surfaced again.

[ohio_liberal]

24. Me and another guy in Licking County

are on this like stink on a monkey.