Although the SCPR thinks that his Republican challenger (Alan Harold) has the least chance of three Stark County Republicans who are either ahead or within hailing distance of winning in their respective races, it appears that Stark County Auditor Kim Perez is thinking otherwise.
The Report has learned that Perez has formulated a "back up plan" for his Stark County Political future.
What is the plan?
Running for mayor of Canton!
Interesting. The Report thinks that Perez (historically, the Democrats strongest countywide vote getter) is premature in his doomsday look. But, hey, maybe he has a poll that the SCRP is not privy to that tells him otherwise.
Mayor Kim Perez?
How does that sound?
Probably not too bad if your alternatives are sitting Mayor William J. Healy, II and his announced challenger Bill Smuckler (County Councilman-at-large).
Healy has lost the trust of Cantonians and Smuckler is about as exciting as "watching paint dry."
Even with his tangential connection with what local attorney and civic activist Craig T. Conley characterizes as being "Zeiglergate," Perez has come out of the whole mess with no legal culpability. However, some feel (as does the SCPR) that Perez had an opportunity, if he would have grabbed the ball and run with it, to have figured out that former treasury Chief Deputy Vince Frustaci was stealing $2.96 million in county funds (the amount of money being the conclusion reached by federal Judge John Adams).
But Perez correctly projects that he could be in political jeopardy because the functional proximity of the auditor's office with the treasury and his being one of the Stark County organized Democrats most powerful figures.
The Report is willing to say on September 14, 2010 that should Perez lose to Harold and should he run against Healy and Smuckler in May, 2010, he will win election to the mayoralty of Canton in November, 2011.
On a personal level, Perez is well liked by leadership Republicans and Democrats. Canton having a large Democratic registration margin makes the Democrat primary winner the new mayor unless maybe Janet Creighton were to run again. And that isn't about to happen.
Perez has been a councilman and auditor for Canton city government.
So even 2011 promises to be a rich political year for the Stark County Political Report!!!
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