DISCUSSION: AN "ERA OF GOOD FEELING? IS A MERGER OF THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES IN THE OFFING?

The base article (not the photo; not the write over, moreover, the e-mail address of the writer has been removed) in the adjoining graphic was recently published in The Independent (Massillon).

It brought a smile to my face. Maier used to single out to me one of the Democrats' elected Stark County officials as someone who was a pipeline to Stark County Republican Party officials with "inside the Democratic Party information."

Now that Maier has been recruiting candidates (DeHoff and DeOrio) fresh out of the Republican Party, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT wonders if he would make the same criticism of the official today.

DeHoff almost became an appointed office holder as a Republican and DeOrio was big time in the Stark County Republican Party at one time. Besides that, you have Sheriff Tim Swanson who has been known to support a Republican or two.

Some local union officials have long suggested they question whether or not Maier is an authentic Democrat. They are so upset over what they perceive to be maltreatment of staunch Democrat Billy Sherer (former Stark County Board of Elections member) by Maier, that they are squarely behind an effort to persuade Lawrence Township trustee Mike Stevens to run as a "write-in" against DeHoff and Republican Todd Snitchler in November. Stevens narrowly lost to DeHoff in the March Democratic primary despite Maier's taking sides in the primary and getting big money from the Ohio Democratic Party to put in DeHoff's campaign.

With the Republicans down-and-out in terms of holding county wide office and totally bereft of elected officials in Canton and Massillon (except for a judgeship) and in a minority in the Alliance City Council, perhaps neophyte chair Jeff Matthews is discussing with Maier a merger between the two local parties?

Maybe in time Matthews and Maier can agree between the two of them whom, among their loyalists, to serve in what offices.

Question: Will the local party bosses take the excitement out of local elections? Has the "Era of Good Feelings (circa 1815-1824) resurfaced in Stark County, Ohio? Is Stark County in for a "Unity" slate of candidates?