The question is, where does Barry County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Clare Tripp live? The answer isn’t very clear at all.
Ms. Tripp last month officially claimed her address as 11776 English Court, Shelbyville, in her affidavit when she filed for another two-year term on the County Board. However, in the official Barry County directory for 2005-2006, her address is listed as 11991 Lakeridge Drive, Wayland.
Making matters even murkier is that her address is 11967 Lakeside Drive, Wayland, in a whitepages.com search and in the fall 2005 SBC phone book. Further, in the 2003 SBC telephone book, she was listed living at 12209 Mallard Point Drive, Yankee Springs.
Ms. Tripp claimed the English Court address when she filed for office in 2004 and that was the address she reported in the 2003-04 county directory. But this only makes things even more confusing.
My sources tell me her husband, attorney David Tripp, actually lives at the English Court address and she has been living at 11967 Lakeside Drive. My sources also tell me she and David are married in name only, and that their relationship is a virtual separation, even though they appear together in public in a church pew Sunday mornings, have a sort of Sunday brunch at the Circle Inn, Gun Lake, and then get into their separate cars and go their separate ways for the remainder of the week. My sources also have told me Clare rarely makes an appearance at the house on English Court. According to the Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated Currentness (MCLA), “‘Residence,’ as used in this act, for registration and voting purposes means that place at which a person habitually sleeps, keeps his or her personal effects and has a regular place of lodging. If a person has more than one residence, or if a wife has a residence separate from that of the husband, that place at which the person resides the greater part of the time shall be his or her official residence for the purposes of this act.”
I’m sure many might wonder why I should bring up all this personal information. Two reasons:
1. If Ms. Tripp spends most of her time at the Lakeside Drive address, then she wasn’t really telling the truth about her place of residence when she filed her affidavit. Bill Clinton got his fanny impeached for not being truthful under oath about a sexual peccadillo, so what would the penalty be for Ms. Tripp if indeed she is guilty of a similar transgression?
2. If Ms. Tripp and Mr. Tripp are essentially, but not legally, estranged, does this have an effect on whether David Tripp should receive health care benefits, courtesy the county taxpayer? I am not entirely certain whether he does get his health care insurance through Clare, but if he does, it raises serious ethical questions about making taxpayers foot the bill for such benefits when the two of them appear to be only going through the motions for their marriage. This is a strange way to demonstrate family values.
Some observers have asked me how is it that Clare is able to drive an SUV in the winter and a Corvette in the summer when her only source of income appears to be as a county commissioner. Is David still taking care of her financially, despite the fact they rarely spend time under the same roof? People for a long time speculated on the relationship between Bill and Hillary Clinton, but from where I sit they don’t seem to have any more troubles than Mr. Tripp and Ms. Tripp. A reader of this blog named “oldscrotum” not long ago asked about a police report in 1999, in which Ms. Tripp was found in a parked vehicle with a man other than her husband late at night. Now I’ve been hearing she has been seen at various places and events with another man in her company. If you add up the score, it certainly looks like the Tripps are splitsville, which indeed is a personal matter. But it becomes the public’s business if they insist on play acting as a couple and officially keeping their sham marriage legally intact for their benefit and at the public’s expense.
The public should demand an accounting of this arrangement. If the Tripps have gone their separate ways, don’t try to fool the public, be honest. And if Mr. Tripp is getting county-sponsored health care benefits, he should drop them immediately. If this whole affair is as my sources tell me, it’s yet another example of a politician peeing on our collective shoes while telling us that it’s raining.
It's time for Clare to come clean.
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48 comments:
I'm aware of a self-employed hairdresser who must get her own insurance. She divorced, then remarried same man, for health bennies! He lives in Florida with another woman and she lives in East Leroy with another man. I sure hope he got a pre-nupt worth more than the paper it's written on.
The Secretary of State and Attorney General should investigate Tripp NOW for perjury and more. Your well read column will have the bannister moving her clothes and stuff back in, photo shoots at the house, anything to cover her and him. He should be investigated by the Attorney Grievance Commission. These are serious charges and we should reserve a room at the Leaf Motel in Hastings!
Outside Prosecutor needs to be called in for full investigation and prosecution. These are crimes.
I've said before guys/gals, start carrying your digital cameras, get their muggs on record in the situations described. Neighbors in Wayland/Yankee Springs should be interviewed. Store clerks, gas attendants also. Credit Card receipts subpoenaed. Boyfriend interviewed. Gas and Power Company records subpoenaed.
They just think we're all stupid, like the rest of the "clique" in Hastings!
Very hard to prove this.
Fulton Sheen claims homestead on his home at Sheen Hollow in Otsego Twp (the 80th District) while claiming a house in the 88th as his residence. His wife and minor children live at Sheen Hollow.
A former Allegan County Commissioner claimed her residence as a blueberry storage shed when she was commissioner (it had a camper on-site and no running water). She was rumored to live in Ottawa County.
It's a dead end Pol. These things usually are referred to the Michigan State Police to investigate and they turn up nothing.
Detroit Police required officers live in their City. They had a Residency Squad that followed the officers to their suburban home each day, instead of the house which ten officers listed as their residence. It can be done with Private Investigators or citizen snoops and criminal complaints made.
You said it, the State "investigated." Right, leave them on the Highways.
It doesn't have to be a deadend. We just have to organize and take turns following these people at a reasonable distance (don't want stalking charges filed by an annointed prosecutor!).
One person could dig up enough evidence to prove these charges. Who out there has the time??????????
So far I haven't heard any facts. This Clare Tripp may be a second one out there. I know this might keep Englerth up at nights to find out there may be two women named Clare Tripp out there.
Organized stalking? This is getting sick. Defeat Tripp on the issues, not on rumor and innuendo.
Organized Stalking is worse than Organized Perjury and Fraud? Where have our priorities and integrity gone to, the toilet? We need to get committees organized, I would pledge $200.00 for a Private Eye, as long as it's not 911's Dick Tracy!
Residency is a VERY BIG issue, with me anyway! If true, she should do her time!
If she did something good for our County it shouldn't matter. Why don't we bring in Donald Trump to be Board Chair, at least he has the guts to "Fire" someone, instead of just ignore problems in the County!
The investegators of this type of thing for the SoS and AG's office ARE the State Police. It's hard for them to devote the manpower to investigate such claims.
Get Tripp on the issues, not via the gossip mill.
Anyone can conduct an inquiry and turn their findings over to the SOS and AG, and State Attorney Grievance Commission. There are also investigator positions in the State Government which are not State Police related. The former head of the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Police Academy was retired from the Kalamazoo City Police and last I knew still was an investigator for the AG, part-time. Check the SOS laws, they also have their own investigators.
I agree though, alot is covered up. But, it is possible to get something done when people gather together, our prosecutor is gone!!!!!!!!
The address listed with verizon.com is 11967 Lakeside Drive, Middleville, MI for Clare Tripp. This also creates a residency issue for her district since this address is in District 2 in Thornapple Township. I think that this is a serious issue that should disqualify her from representing the district that she is the commissioner of.
This Clare tripp controversy is just evidense of a serious problem in this county. there are multiple cases of women latching onto men that are in either controlling positions or those that make higher incomes. These calculating women have control issues and use their status as the "doctors/attorney's/sheriff's wife" to manipulate their way into positions of authority. Most times these woman have no other qualifications for the job other than a desire to control and much time on their hands - a dangerous situation. Apathy and a lack of common sense on the part of the local voting population has let this occurr and now these individuals think they actually can dictate to us what we are going to do.
Go to www.barrycounty.org then select property/parecel search. Enter in the name Tripp. You get 22 hits 3 of which are personal adddresses (I believe). If you look at the address listed it also gives you the mailing address and those are different. Interesting stuff.
To the poster above: There's a bad apple in every bushel but that is no reason to criticize all apples. I know many women/mothers who have husbands that work full time while they stay-at-home and many of them volunteer and do a lot of good work.
There are two possible violations here. Both related and both provable.
First one must be able to prove that Tripp lived somewhere other than she declared on her affidavit of candidacy WHEN SHE FILED.If she did she committed perjury.
Second one must establish that Tripp lives outside of her district. Both are related and can be proven by an investigation triggered by a complaint to the Barry County Elections Commission and/or the County Clerk.
The facts regarding the Tripps marital situation are irrelevant to the matters above. They are married. People who are married and living apart for any reason may do so.
As far as I know adultery remains a crime in Michigan. It is also a crime that is never prosecuted.
Where's the attorney grivence issue here?
The only investigatable issue involves Clare, not Dave.
Ethics, morals, etc. Believe the bannisters have a code of conduct, don't they? Adultery a possibility, from these readings? Did he give her legal advice in filling out her campaign papers? Is he seeing she gets her mail to make it look like she is living with him? They might have conspired to make it look right and legal. He is held to higher standards as an Officer of the Court, is he not??????? Goes to Church and then brunch, to make it look good????
I would hope the average bannister holds himself/herself to a higher standard. McShane all over again!
Whatever the specific issues....Clare Tripp has shown that she does not have integrity. And this woman is the chair of the country commissioners?....very sad. Barry County deserves better...she should have the decency to step down....for the sake of the counties good name. I'm not sure how this will play out, but Clare Tripp has to go.
I've rarely heard of an attorney committing adultery as a charge to go before the attorney grievance commission. Usually there's something like a murder that brings it to the attention of the AGC.
Any affair is small town gossip.
As for advising her... you're making an assumption that there was advice given. The form is so innocuous (she paid her $100 and signed the form), that I doubt she consulted him. Besides, what is at stake is Clare's validity to state the residence she has on the form and signing the affidavit to that fact.
Now if Clare committed perjury, and is disqualified from the ballot, and there is an accounting of what benefits went to Clare and her family, then maybe David has done some wrongdoing. So far that's an awfully large threshold to get to before we're at that point.
I don't know yet if there's been a complaint filed against Clare. Until there is, this whole business is moot.
"This whole business" is about voters discussing their concerns over elected officials and their conduct, until we get to the polls. Everything is relevant to me and my decision. And, Clare hopefully will be asked these hard questions at the debate? I will be watching her face closely to evaluate her answers.
Yes, the Attorney grievance committee watches out for its own. Previous greviances in this County have proven that. But, an investigation has to start somewhere, with allegations. And, this could be a no-brainer investigation even a rookie cop could do. "Just the facts Ma'm!"
The "gossip" in this County gets the "clique" moving, why not us? So much for a Code of conduct, as the bannister says. Do what we want, don't set an example!
I doubt that Clare will show at the debate...I wish I could put money on it. She's hid it all this time...why would she face the music now. She know's her voters are not well informed and she will try to keep them that way...she counts on it to keep her seat. Uninformed docile voters lead poor government
Is Mrs. Tripp Republican? I only ask because Sen. Santorum has been playing a residency game for quite some time now in Pennsylvania. Maybe it's time for some ethics training in Barry County - like that will do any good.
Barry County would be a good source for Ethics Instructors to get plenty of examples of unethical conduct/persons for their training! We could have Stars!
Where are the closest taxi's, Grand Rapids? Let's pool our moola and send five taxis to all Clare's possible addresses and provide her a ride to the Debates and back!
I was always told to start out with what you can prove first. The main question is the residency of Clare. A complaint would go to the Clerk , who'd pass it along to the Prosecutor or the SoS. I doubt Julie would touch it, due to being in an election herself. The SoS elections dept., backlogged as they are, would pass it along to the State Police to investigate. By the time the wheels of justice have sorted it all out, the election will have taken place.
In the end, the anti-Clare folks should concentrate on defeating her at the polls rather than concentrating on this mess. It's time for those lobbing these allegations to put up or shut up.
Most investigations start out with allegations, not proof! The investigation substantiates the proofs, through sometimes painstaking interviews, surveillance, subpoenas, etc. You seem to trivialize Clare's actions, which reportedly come from several sources, at least one I talked to personally and believe.
When you look to the fact she is the Chair of a Board which fails to fulfill their duties, the buck stops with her, she needs to go. She should do the honorable thing and resign before humiliation.
Defeating her at the polls is the whole idea for these discussions here. You seem to want to curb Freedom of Speech? Did you take an Oath of Office? I wish more people were on here to read about her, check things out with people they know, get some of her neighbors talking. Citizens want to know, she should quash rumors if that is what they are.
State Police are too busy investigating Direct TV violations, "real" police work. Tell me why I still have to watch commercials when paying almost $100. State won't investigate something unless it involves headlines and TV cameras.
If they can't sort it out before election then she loses in my book. She can debate the issues and tell us face-to-face where she lives. Maybe Dave can set in for her? Probably would take the fifth! Remember, have to commit murder before Grievance Committee will look at it. Probably plea bargain it down to "Don't do it again!"
If it comes up before our current prosecutor, she will get nothing and may even get a hug as she goes on her merry way.
COME ON. You have no idea what the current would or wouldn't do as she hasn't been asked to do anything, has she?
As the online Bannister would likely say, SHE is the County Board's Legal Counsel. An outside Prosecutor would have to come in and handle the case. She would hand it off sooner or later, maybe hang on to after the elections or primary anyways. Probably the Attorney General would have to intervene. Big question though: How many Clare Tripps are there in Michigan? Probably hundreds, not just the possible two someone mentioned might live in Barry County, to account for all the addresses with that name attached.
Hundreds of Tripps, Nystroms, Neils, Forbes, Sarvers, James, Wings, Boysens, Browns, etc! How do we sleep at night? No wonder businesses are fleeing Michigan by the dozens. Last one out catch the lights!
O.K. I have seen enough, anyone want to count the amount of money we have spent so far? Investigations, court dates,interviews, surveillance, subpoenas!
And to do what?
Prove that she doesn't sleep with her husband.
Next case please!
I've heard enough too, enough to believe no one should vote for her. Convinced she's not worthy of holding office. Can you place a dollar amount on honesty, integrity, and service. She leaves your tax dollars in the Hastings City Bank for .5% interest, when Fifth-Third Bank is offering 4.5%. Who the heck gets .5% on their accounts, do you????? I don't think I ever have received so little! Who's got who in their pocket? Today's Banner is astonishingly indicative of something "going on" besides just blaming it on dead brain cells.
NO, I want to see more. I want to see more people get on here and learn what she is all about. I don't want to let up until election day and she is in the history books.
You can leave this particular section of the blog! Like they say, change the channel if you don't like what you see. The pressure needs to stay focused on her, no let up til she's gone!
No offense, just my choice!
Your energy is better spent out in the field putting up signs, and knocking on doors convincing people to vote for Mark Englerth. I've seen this type of wild goose chase first hand. It goes nowhere fast. While y'all are yackin' away about does she or doesn't she...
Clare has cleaned up and won another term on the commission.
Want to prevent this senario? Call/Write Mark Englerth and offer to help on his campaign. All this hot air is doing nothing in here.
Try passing this blog site address on to as many people as you can, also the links on here. More info than what's on a sign. No comment on .5% interest?
I hate telemarketers and people who come to my door unannounced! I am supporting Englerth in my own way. Going door to door in a District not my own is stretching it a little I feel?? I am contacting people I know in those Townships and expressing my concerns, as her membership on the County Board effects us all! This is not hot air to me, I feel better informed as more people share their comments. Hopefully this will build and build until election time.
Give us a little vent time, I'll do you the same LOL
By the way, if you ever want to send a particular story to someone. You can either click the little letter icon at the bottom of the particular post which is blogger's way or doing it or you can click on the time at the bottom of the post which takes you to a direct link for that story and just copy and paste that link for people. In this case the direct link is:
http://westmichiganpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/06/come-clean-clare.html
Where's all the comments on the .5% interest "given" to Hastings City Bank????? No one upset over that???????
3
To tell you the truth, although the rate is suspicious, and needs more investigation. I kinda like the idea that the money is in a local vault.
Fifth Third is just another cookie cutter get rich quick money whore (did I say store? I meant whore) whose common stock is traded through NASDAQ. They could be bought out tomorrow by the Chinese.
They also have had some shady dealings as this link will show. http://www.cincypost.com/2003/05/22/fifth052203.html
Although buisiness is buisiness and all corperations have had issues at one time or another. When is the last time Hastings City Bank was investigated by the SEC?
Aren't they all cookie-cutters trying to get rich? Can't we all be bought out by the Chinese and Japanese tomorrow?
I would suspect Hastings City Bank being investigated falls in with the chances of Clare and the rest of the hoods being investigated!
Most places prefer to do business local! But, can't believe HCB would't have given more a long time ago when threatened with a giant withdrawal! Try canceling your cell phone, credit cards, etc., and see what better offers they come up with.
Ford moving to Mexico, announced this weekend. Only way to combat this trader onslaught is to quit buying their products. Everyone has outside influences, more and more foreign in nature. The prediction is you and I will be in the minority if not already!
Nelson C. Riley
Isn't our deposits insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)?
Nelson C.
to $100000 yes, that is not my point.
The Thornapple Valley Credit Union has around 7% but there might be laws against a municipality sticking money into investment vehicles at a CU. The CU industry better wake up. If Calley wins, he and his banker friends will try to emasculate credit unions. He is already beholden to them with the campaign contributions he's received.
Most responsible Treasurers have their entitie's monies invested at a number of locations, not all in one egg basket. Maybe this 100,000 ceiling is another reason for that! Would seem it would also create a better bargaining position, with all the various financial institutions vying to have you invest with them? Responsibility, accountability, integrity, is what its all about.
Nelson C.
Can anyone put a dollar figure on the money we have lost, in just the last 3 years for starters. How bout if we were even getting just 2%?
Nelson C.
State law ties the hands of what a county can invest in. That being said, they could of gotten a bigger bang for the buck even with the permissable investment tools at hand.
Also shouldn't some of the blame go to the County Treasurer, Susan VandeCar? Shouldn't she have yelled, screamed, streaked through the Board of Commissioner's chambers when she learned they went to such a low interest rate. I mean, she is the county's depositor.
The finance committe showed Hastings City Bank the offer from 5th/3rd bank and got them to raise it to 3% a couple of weeks ago. The committee is has now asked for bids from local banks....So the issue is moving forward.
Mike Callton
3 months Mike? I would think a Board Member or the Treasuer could have walked into the bank in one day and said "whats up, we're moving our funds!" We're talking some big bucks, not little Johnnies piggie bank deposit. If something needs to be streamlined in the Commission protocol or State Law, so be it. Brian C says he can do it? Someone needed to kick Newell in his arse if the peoples money ccouldn't be handled reasonably. Does Clare have a day job? As Board Chair it seems she could have been a mover and shaker and taken a stand here, alot sooner. The bid request should have gone out 3 months ago, they're just requests. You seem reasonable Mr Callton, please don't sweep this under the rug.
Nelson C
1% compounded daily on 100,000 is about $1100 a year. I don't know how much money is averaged in the account. If you assumed 2% more for about 3 years on 100,000, we lost out on less then $7,000.
Not alot, but Wes Vandenburg did not double dip alot either, and look what happened there.
Banker Boy
Nelson C and Banker Boy
Actually we're talking bigger bucks than that. I called Micheal Brown yesterday so that I could understand the issue better, since I'm not on the finance committee...I've been out of the loop.
The amount of money that is subject to this conversation is about 1.5 to 2 million dollars. This is not money that the county has in longer term investment, but money that is in the checkbook (so to speak) which is used to pay wages and bills, and so it varies day to day.
If you were talking about the difference between 0.5% and 4.5% on 1.5 million dollars for three months...that would be a difference of about $15,000.00 for that time period.
Now that it's at 3.0% the difference is smaller. Bids are now being taken, but that takes a little time. Also it's no easy matter to move that kind of money around and the service that Hastings City Bank offers is a consideration. You don't automatically take the highest bidder, you've got to look at the whole taco.
So I'm no trying to belittle your issue, I'm just giving you good information.
Mike Callton
Mike C: Thanks again. Your answer is the type of answer that should have been given to the speakers at the Board Meeting. Clare evaded an answer like that by saying "We're getting more than .5% now." Nevins says we're working on the "issues". We had a County Board Meeting at our local Twp Hall sometime latter part of last year. I thought it was 7:30PM. Got there at 7:20PM and was told by the locals it started at 7PM and boom it was over. No one from County Board was there. Nothing substantial was discussed, apparently all occurs in these committee meetings and the Board just quickly gets briefs and says yea/nea and out the door.
And, people wonder why we bring these things up on here? The Board is not communicating with the People! You are serving the people more fully by coming on here than any of the others!
One question though? The rest of the money, not in the short term area, what % are we getting on that? Thanks
Nelson C.
One guess who the prosecutor was? Oh No, I take that back! Fred Jacobs? The last prosecutor would have hung anyone associated with Jacobs. If he declined there must have been absolutely no grounds for a prosecution. And, with who the Sheriff was, I would bet it was investigated more thoroughly than the Jimmie Hoffa case has been.
Mike C: You were doing good, appreciate it! However, "takes time to move that kind of money around," and "You have to look at the services Hastings City Bank provides", is the type of answer Clare would give. Can you give us an idea of how much time it would take and what services HCB gives that the others don't.
I'm not a millionaire, but if I have 5 million in HCB and get peeved at them, my money better be moved in less than 3 months? I also think I could pretty much dictate the same services with whatever other bank I choose? Thanks again!
The County Treasurer was yelling and screaming at the Board of Commissioners to get a better rate of return. Why was she ignored? Does the Barry County Administrator have too much control over the board?
Jay, good question (I hate that cliche)! Just what are Mike Brown's duties and power? Very little power I have heard! Another: Would this County be better off with a Strong County Manager form of government vs. a County Board seat of power? Just asking?
Why was she ignored? Same reason, WE'RE ALL IGNORED BY THESE BAFFOONS?
That's why I say Calley could be beaten or someone get close. People like you and I, plus Joe Sixpack, are fed up! But, do we outnumber the commutor population who has no idea who is who?
Got to go, headed to O'ville for Church and Brunch, camera in hand!
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