Local State Representative Bud Cook (R-49) took Thursday afternoon to address constituents from the Washington County Courthouse steps. His concern, as it has been for the last five years, is the “fair, accurate and transparent” accounting of Local Share Account funds distributed annually from revenues generated from gambling at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows. Cook detailed his investigation into how grants are applied for and awarded and came away making claims that the process is fraught with lack of accountability and cronyism. He made the claim that roughly $10 million is unaccounted for. Cook states that local government leaders need to be more transparent with how grants are approved. In an interview with WJPA, Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughn detailed the process from start to finish, making the statement that when the process for grant awards was established, then Governor Tom Corbett hailed the procedure calling it the best he had seen across the Commonwealth. Cook called out LSA Grant Committee Chairman Jeff Kotula for conflict of interest as Kotula is President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and The Washington County Tourism and Promotion Agency. Those groups have received grants for marketing in 10 of the last 13 years. In an interview with WJPA Kotula used Cook’s words against him stating that Cook is working on a gut feeling and has no actual facts. Kotula went on to say that at no time did Cook ever contact him to discuss the process or even ask to attend a meeting. Cook states that he wants to stop being an investigator and get back to legislating. Cook promised more updates in early 2022.