DISCUSSION: HOPE FOR STARK COUNTY?

Normally, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) does not like "one-party-government." Especially when the party head is a Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. (an old style political boss).

But when the choice is "one-party-government" and having a John Hagan as an elected official, The Report opts for "one-party-government" with The Report being the watchdog.

Congratulations to Doctor Peter Ferguson on being elected.

Readers of The Report will recall that during the election we had very little positive to say about Ferguson because he was not nearly specific enough to assure voters he would be a good choice for commissioner and because party-insiders were telling The Report that he was running a lackluster campaign.

Ferguson was fortunate to be matched up against lame duck state Rep. John Hagan. Hagan. At the end of his campaign, Ferguson did pick it up by detailing how Hagan shafted Stark Countians and all Ohioans in being a major force behind Senate Bill 221. A bill which enabled the likes of American Electric Power (AEP [Ohio Power]) to ask for gigantic rate increases (52% residents; 62% industrial users - over the next 3 years).

So congratulations to Stark County voters for reassigning John Hagan from public official to being "Joe - err - John the Plumber." The Report hopes that Hagan can be Stark County's greatest plumber but encourages him to give up public officialdom. Hagan is devastation in public office to the interests of ordinary people.

Under the leadership of the now "senior" commissioner (in terms of service) Todd Bosley, the board can now get down to the business of working harmoniously to bring Stark County into the 21st century.

A bevy of former Republican commissioners (but the list does include Democrat Gayle Jackson [now a Strickland appointee as a lottery official) over the last several decades has put Stark County in negative territory in terms being "behind the eight ball" on its economic viability front.

The Report hopes that this new board will harmonically work together to pull Stark County of the economic doldrums. Tom Harmon has the potential to be a critical factor is turning things around. But whether or not he can break free of his "old school" political ties to do so, remains a serious question.

The Report encourages Ferguson to look to Bosley for leadership. Bosley's work as Nimishillen Township trustee and in his first two years as commissioner show that he does have an eye properly directed towards efficiencies, empowerment and enlightened, energetic leadership.

With Bosley, Harmon and Ferguson, will Stark County pick up the pace in bringing Stark County into the 21st century as a enlivened poltical entity?