Oct 8, 2015 By Karan Panutta 4 min read

Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink calls herself a “watchdog.” Perhaps the citizens of Fayette County need a “watchdog” for the “watchdog.”

Please allow me to give you four prime examples for the “watchdog” needing a “watchdog.” All four cases involve lawsuits which Commissioner Zimmerlink personally was responsible for and cost Fayette County hundreds of thousands of dollars. As you read the items below, please remember these are not accusations, they are not theory, but fact. Facts anyone can research and all my examples are decisions rendered or agreed upon to settle civil suits filed in a court of law.

My first example is Commissioner Zimmerlink’s improper use of her position to force the Fayette County Planning Commission to target the Cellurale family on behalf of a neighbor whom I will not mention, but with whom the Cellurales have had a long standing feud. The ending result was the county paid $150,000 to the Cellurale family which was targeted by Zimmerlink and the Fayette County Planning Commission and an additional $50,000 in legal fees. The total cost to the county was $200,000.

My second example is the federal suit Commissioner Zimmerlink brought against her fellow commissioners Vince Vicites and Vince Zapotosky. Zimmerlink alleged she was being kept out of the loop (a claim she still banters today, I guess some things never change) and this somehow caused her harm. In reality, this was nothing more than Zimmerlink looking for a reason she could start an election cycle with no accomplishments to speak of, and have someone else to blame for her lack of accomplishments.

A federal judge threw out her suit, obviously because it lacked merit and was just frivolous, a week or so before the general election. Zimmerlink appealed the federal judge’s decision, costing Fayette County more money, and a three-judge appellate court upheld the first judge’s ruling. In short, a total of four federal judges felt Zimmerlink’s suit was without merit and frivolous. This trip to court cost the citizens of Fayette County over $350,000.

My next shining example of the “watchdog” needing a “watchdog” is when Commissioner Zimmerlink leaked confidential information to the local press about an infant being cared for in protective custody through Fayette County Children and Youth Services. This stemmed from Zimmerlink’s paranoid thought that there was a secret meeting being held and she was going to show them. The end result was a $30,000 payment plus legal fees.

My last and fourth example falls under the “yet to be determined” category. It relates to Commissioner Zimmerlink’s failed attempt to fire six department heads in one fell swoop. I’m sure everyone remembers Zimmerlink’s false allegations against Fayette County Prison Warden Brian S. Miller, Deputy Warden Michael Zavada, Tax Claim Bureau Director Sarah E. Minnick, Planning and Zoning Director Sara Rosiek, Chief Clerk Amy Revak, and Election Bureau Director Larry Blosser. These six individuals, who have served the county without any disciplinary action in their records, were all victims of false allegations generated by Commissioner Zimmerlink. Some individuals referenced above were even suspended without pay only to have their employment records restored to reflect no disciplinary action and have their back pay restored from when they were suspended.

I file this under the “yet to be determined” file as all six individuals have good standing to bring suit against Commissioner Zimmerlink, which will cost the county more money, for her witch hunt of false allegations.

In total, Commissioner Zimmerlink “The Watchdog” has cost the citizens of Fayette County $580,000 plus legal fees, not to include the yet to be determined six employees who have approximately two years to bring civil action against the county for Zimmerlink’s “political witch hunt.”

Keep in mind the above are not my opinions, not hearsay, but actual facts anyone can look up. The way I see it, Fayette County can’t afford another four years of Zimmerlink “watchdog” politics. Vote wisely.

Karen Panutta is a resident of Merrittstown.