Not until Thursday night did an email go out to Stark County Republican Party executive committee members informing them that the committee is set to meet Tuesday evening at the Hampton Inn (in the Belden Village area) to select one of the party's two representatives sitting on the board.
Undoubtedly, the Thursday to Tuesday ploy is a Braden/Matthews inspired "squeeze-out" for any potential rivals to get things together.
What's more, the notification referenced an application but no application form was attached.
By Ohio law, local boards of elections have four members (2 Democrats, 2 Republicans) and in the event there is a tie on any vote taken by the board members (which occurs frequently - especially of clearly partisan issues) the Ohio secretary of state, who is now a Democrat, breaks any ties.
BACK TO THE STARK COUNTY REPUBLICANS
The SCPR Republican source complained to yours truly about the Braden/Matthew nexus and the destructive negative effect they are having on party viability.
Other musings by the Source:
- How Braden had undermined former (to Braden) Stark County Republican Party chairman Ron Dougherty to become chairman himself.
- The lack of diversity in the Stark Republican Party and how this election would be a terrific opportunity for the local GOP to advance a woman into the board slot. (Editor's Note: Braden and the other GOP board member William Cline are both from the second Ward in North Canton - how about some geographical diversity?)
- Talk within the Stark GOP to the effect that Braden's longer term goal is to re-establish himself.as chairman and in the meanwhile he is content to collect the nearly $20,000 per annum for doing virtually nothing
- How there is much dissatisfaction within the party about Braden and Matthews.
- Travis Secrest is a front man for Chairman Matthews in an effort to secure the executive director's position when it comes open in May.
- The Young Republicans are the only factor within the party organization enabling the party's candidates to win any seats because a main party infrastructure for recruiting, supporting and empowering candidates simply does not exist.
- Jason Wise (who is soon to leave for the military) as executive director has been "lapdog for Chairman Matthews."
Interesting, interesting indeed!
SCPR readers know full well that The Report has long been critical of Braden and Matthews and their "uninspired" leadership as being the primary reason that Stark Repubicans have been largely relegated to having member elected to boards of township, boards of education (both of which are "offcially - nonpartisan") and village/city council seats.
Yes, they have some mayor seats but two of them (Louisville and North Canton) are a "weak" mayor form of government. Only Alliance stands out as a significant non-county office held by Stark Republicans.
Why should the general run of citizenry care about the fate of the Stark Republican organization?
Answer: political competition is sorely needed within Stark to enhance choice to the voters and accountability that goes with choice.
It surprises not the SCPR that Braden and Matthews are "short-circuiting" the local party processes to structurally ensure that they continue their stranglehold on the Stark GOP for their personal agrrandizement.
Stark Democrats under former chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., appeared to be a "setup" type operation a la what the Republicans are experiencing under Braden/Matthews.
A rift remains among Democrats because of a Maier engineered ouster of union member (Ironworkers) and long time board of elections member Billy Sherer.
Maier left it to successor chairman Gonzalez to clean up the mess. Gonzalez has a tough way to go because of his work against union member Kathleen Kelly when she ran for Jackson Township trustee on two occasions.
BACK TO THE REPUBLICANS
Will the dissident Republicans be heard on their complaints about the Braden Steamroller?
Not likely.
The likes of Braden and Matthews are experts at "gaming the system" for the advantage of themselves and their loyalists.
People like Braden and Matthews would rather see the party decline than see their "special privilege" be diminished.
Braden, Matthews, Maier, Gonzalez and the like and their self-serving ways are a primary reason why scores of everyday citizens are turning away from party organization politics. These folks are turning to alterntive such as the tea party movement.
Expect a further deterioration in the Stark County Republican and Democratic organizations as citizens create more alternative organizations as a way to get the concerns of day-in, day-outs before the Stark County public.
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