ZEIGLER'S STRATEGY? STARK VOTERS WILL FORGET OVER THE PASSAGE OF TIME? WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF TIME: 96 MILLION, 163 THOUSAND AND 200 SECONDS. WOW!

 

 The SCPR has been writing that Stark Countians should expect Treasurer Gary D. Zeigler to be in office through December 31, 2010?

Lord have mercy!  If only it were true.

But it isn't.

If Zeigler survives a coming Stark County commissioner effort to unseat him (perhaps on August 23, 2010), then he could be around for the duration of his term which he was elected to in November, 2008.

However, as informed by a knowledge source, the date of the end of Gary Zeigler as Stark County treasurer (assuming that Stark Countians do not re-elect him) will be September 2, 2013.  And, of course, the SCPR has confirmed the source by digging out the specific statute.

Over three years from today's date!

With that kind of time left in office if he can fend off the commissioners, why wouldn't he fight them to live another day?  And, undoubtedly, he is hoping that time will dull the memory and the zeal of Stark County voters to remove him from office.

Zeigler apparently does not accept the notion that the "buck stops with him as the head official" at the Stark County treasury.  He has repeatedly said that he has managed the office the way it should be managed.

He stands behind his management style and substance though he has made at least 12 corrections to internal treasury procedures as Kelli Young of The Repository wrote on June 14th (Stark treasurer makes changes in wake of investigation), to wit:

In the 14 months since Treasurer Gary Zeigler fired his chief deputy treasurer on suspicion of theft, Zeigler has implemented at least a dozen changes in the office, including additional security for the county vault and improvements to the office’s cash-handling procedures.

Also, on the fact that former Zeigler Chief Deputy Vince Frustaci had access to Stark County treasury checks with which he obtained $230,000 in Stark County taxpayer money, the persistently "unrepentant" Zeigler had this to say:

Zeigler said his office stopped using checks last year. All transfers between county accounts are now handled through electronic wire transfers, which require two signatures. The auditor’s office handles any checks that need to be reissued, he said.

“It’s a much safer way to transfer the money.” (FirstMerit to repay money stolen from Treasurer's office, Young, August 12, 2010)

So Treasurer Zeigler "admits" specifically that something could have been done better under his watch?

Hmm?

But it is irrelevant that Zeigler could have or should have done managed the treasury better.  He's staying, if Ohio law allows him to, for the duration.

What does the duration look like?

Okay, one more look.