DISCUSSION: WILL COMMISSIONER BOSLEY EVER GET ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELP FROM COMMISSIONER HARMON?

One would think that Commissioner Todd Bosley is the commissioner running to retain his office this year.

Why would the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) make such a statement?

Because Bosley appears to be the lone commissioner out pushing hard, hard, hard for economic development.

The Report notes a sideline in The Alliance Review report on the most recent meeting of the Stark County Commissioners entitled: Molly Stark Hospital's asbestos is standing between Stark Parks, county commissioners.

The sideline has much more significance to the future economic well-being of Stark County; not to minimize dealing with Molly Stark.

Here is what The Review had to say about an exchange between Bosley and the other two commissioners:

In other business, Bosley also gave an update to the board on a meeting he attended earlier on Thursday with the Ohio Development and Stark Development boards. He said the meeting was held to view potential sites for automobile manufacturing. "I will give more updates as this moves forward," he said. "We are trying to get the county lined up for the future. I am also still talking with Fiat about the possibility of bringing one of their production plants here."

Now to the commissioner who is running this time around.

Commissioner Tom Harmon has been a major disappointment to The Report. From the get-go, The Report took Harmon at his word when he got the appointment (endorsing his appointment) - as he spelled out in general terms - his program for Stark County.

But The Report now believes Harmon (who is retired from being clerk of the Canton Municipal Court) is vegetating on the economic development issue from the county perspective.

And this is not good for Stark County. Because there is no one in Stark County who has more contacts and a more diplomatic way about him (which is a terrific asset in bringing others on an economic development express) than Tom Harmon.

The Report makes no bones about it. The Report's mission is to get Harmon of his duff and out pushing hard like Bosley in a joint quest to solve the county's economic dilemma.

His opponent Travis Secrest is not likely to be a viable alternative this time around.

One more note: No matter who is elected between Hagan (Republican) and Ferguson (Democrat) in the other county commissioner race, neither is equipped or energized to help Bosley out. What either might do is serve as an "amen" type commissioner and Harmon already occupies the "amen corner."

Question: Does Tom Harmon need to have a fire lit under him? Or, is Stark County destined to have an economic development committee of one because Harmon is comfortable and staying put in the "amen corner?"