MAY, 2011 DEM PRIMARY IN FULL SWING? HEALY TRYING TO FORCE A VOTE ON CHRIS SMITH WATERPARK ISSUE?

It is "political" game on for Mayor William J. Healy, II.  He is in a delightful side of this game.

Which side?

Answer:  either side.

At last Council meeting, he had Communications Director Adam Herman agitating various members of Council to force an "up or down" vote on Councilwoman Chris Smith's effort to get Council approval of using $495,000 in Ohio grant money to fund the building of some version of a waterpark in Smith's ward.

Why and "up or down" vote?

Because Healy wants to put prime 2011 opponent Councilman Bill Smuckler on record one way or the other on the issue.

Smuckler's "real" position is that the finances on the project are shaky and that a prudent councilperson would vote "no" on Smith's pet project.

However, if he votes that way, he has no hope at all that Smith and others representing "inner-city" wards will be neutral in a Smuckler/Healy primary in 2011.

His preference?

Keep the measure bottled up in committee and then he does not go on the record at all.

For Healy's part, he thinks he wins either way.

If the the project gets approved, he can say that it was his Administration that provided the heft to get the bill out of committee and up for the approving vote.

If the project gets voted down - even if Smuckler votes for it; Healy can and will say that the Administration tried.

So what will the Smuckler game plan be?

Keep Smith's measure bottled up in committee.

Will Smuckler's game plan work?

Probably.

Smuckler's key ally Greg Hawk is chair of the Finance Committee!