The SCPR was struck with the vigor that newly elected Canton City Schools Board of Education (CCS - BOE) member Eric Resnick came out for a levy - in the campaign - for an expired seat on the CCS - BOE.
Usually, candidates run from any talk about putting a tax issue on a ballot.
Watch Resnick at a campaign appearance tout a new tax:
Eric Resnick is the exception to the rule in just about everything he does in the context of public dialogue.
So now that Resnick is on the CCS - BOE, discussion have begun on whether or not to put an issue on the May, 2010 ballot.
A source to the SCPR is projecting that there are three votes for not putting an issue on the primary ballot and two for placing it before CCS voters.
A renewed discussion is in the offing for the CCS - BOE as an agenda item for the Board's February 8th meeting.
The SCPR believes a tax issue is a particularly hard sell because of the recent revelation that the Canton City Schools failed to apply for a Race to the Top grant from the federal government through the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Race to the Top is a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal stimulus money infusion into the U.S. economy.
You can bet that Resnick is working furiously behind the scenes to line up the necessary minimum three votes (minimum) to get a tax issue before Canton City Schools voters. It is known, of course, that Resnick is aggressively for a tax whereas board member and former president Richard Milligan is opposed.
That leaves McIllwain (president), Carman, Jr, and Keaton for Resnick to lobby for at least two of the three total votes needed.
If Resnick is successful in rounding up the necessary three votes, then he faces the prospect that the vote will have a side factor of being a referendum on whether or not he made the correct call for his personal political future.
A landslide defeat for a tax issue would not bode well for his chance to get re-elected for a full term come November, 2011. On the other hand, if a tax issue passes, then he will be in a good position to be elected to a full term.
1 comment:
Martin, I was quite surprised when Eric came out for a new tax issue during his campaign for a seat on the BOE.
My first thought was, "What the hell is he thinking?" In this age of 'NO NEW TAXES'!, I thought he was committing political suicide. I'm not the sharpest knife in the political drawer, but I thought that the mere mention of a levy, would get Mr. Resnick flogged on the square at high noon by a bunch of 'Teabaggers'.
As I watched his campaign speech-debate on TV, I was inclined to cover my ears so as not to hear him utter the 'T' word. But it was like trying not to look at a car wreck. So, I sat on my hands, so as not to use them as ear muffs, and I listened. Afterwards, I gave a sigh of relief, and thought, "Hey, not too bad", he's gonna pull this off." Indeed he did. Know what else... I think he'll convince the voters of the great need for the tax issue.
I hope Eric has a great political future in Canton. He's a great guy, and will do the right thing for the citizens of Canton, and especially for those future leaders now attending the Canton City Schools.
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