Commissioner Todd Bosley may be the "second coming" of an 19th century political figure Henry Clay, Sr., of the state of Kentucky:
Wikipedia (the online dictionary) describes Clay this way:
Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) ... an American statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Known as "The Great Compromiser" and "The Great Pacifier" for his ability to bring others to agreement ...In the assessment of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report), Bosley has come a long way from his days as a Nimishillen Township trustee. Bosley had the admirable quality of being a battler as trustee but he did create some political enemies along the way in Nimshillen because of his pugnacious ways which had the effect of showing up at least one public figure. And most likely, more than one.
The Report believes that Bosley now realizes that finding common ground while sticking with one's principles is an art form that he has adopted and which he is well on his way to perfecting.
It all started with the Stark County Veterans Commission funding issue. As we all know, Ohio law requires that counties fund veteran commissions at a much higher rate than Stark County has been doing of late. Fed up, the veterans decided to sue for compliance with Ohio law.
Neither Commissioners Harmon nor Vignos had an answer. But Bosley did. "Let's talk," he said to the veterans. And they did. Bosley negotiated a compromise thereby positioned Stark County to avoid a lawsuit which most likely would benefit neither side.
The Report has learned that in the process his individual dealing with the Veterans Commission matter, Commissioner Harmon has earned the antagonism of Stark County veterans because they think he "thumbed his nose at them" and their lawful request for more compliant funding.
It was only through the exercising of skills that Bosley is honing, that Stark County did not find itself in messy litigation.
Now there is another difficult situation that the Stark County Board of Commissioners must resolve.
It involves the sticky matter of an area developer making application to develop some land in Summit County that can only be accessed through a Stark County (Lawrence Township) neighborhood. There are noise issues, wear and tear issues, traffic issues, sanitary sewer issues and other issues for Stark Countians whose neighborhood would be violated by those accessing the Summit County development.
What to do?
Fight, fight, fight - right?
It could still come down to that, but maybe not with the entry of Commissioner Bosley into the matter.
Bosley, Harmon and Vignos have been meeting with the affected Stark Countians in an quest to find a solution to the problem.
Lo and behold! Bosley has come up with a possible answer that satisfies everyone.
What could the solution be?
Here it is. Get a Clean Ohio "open spaces" grand from the $200 million bond recently renewed by Ohioans on November 4th.
Watch the accompanying video of a meeting held last Thursday evening at Lawrence Township Hall to see Bosley skillfully at work selling the Clean Ohio solution to affected residents as well as Stark's Summit County neighbors.
The question: Is Bosley on a trek towards achieving "diplomatic" greatness in developing his blossoming ability to bring opponents together?
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