DISCUSSION: IS THE NORTH CANTON CITY ADMINISTRATION BEING WISE?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) was given (along with other area media) an e-mail "heads up" yesterday on the North Canton administration's refusal to certify citizen-activist Chuck Osborne's (a former councilman) ballot initiative to redirect economic development money into the city's operating fund.

The Report disagrees with Osborne's position on the issue and believes that North Cantonians will also disagree if allowed to vote in November. So is it wise for the administration to choke off this "democracy-in-action" effort?

The Report does not believe this was Zumbar's decision alone. Mayor David Held had to be part of the decision making process along with Daryl Revoldt (council president).

The Report understands that North Canton has a questionable economic future and the city's leadership is trying to right a economy badly off course with the demise of the Hoover Company as the economic mainstay of the community. As The Report sees it, a November vote likely would be an opportunity for city leaders to have voters endorse their leadership.

Something seems wrong with this picture of stiffing a citizen-activist. Mere overreaction? Or, is something else afoot? Why not allow democracy take its course?

What The Report does not like about the matter of the CIC money, if true, is its alleged use to take jobs from Massillon. Mayor Held claims North Canton is saving the jobs for Stark County because he is sure the company would be heading to Sharon, Pa or to California.

In previous posting on this site, Mayor Cicchinelli of Massillon in his own words (via video) asserts Held's claim is nonsense and North Canton is trolling Stark County looking for jobs to shift to North Canton. The Report is against intra-county raiding, but is not sure who is correct on the the Myers matter.

Over the long haul, will being hyper-technical to thwart citizen exercise of the franchise on the direction the city should be heading be counterproductive? 880 petitioners is a highly significant number, isn't it?