IF JOHNNIE A. MAIER, JR. WERE TO LOSE THIS FALL IN MASSILLON, WOULD MASSILLON EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN?

There is some good political news coming out of Massillon these days insofar as the SCPR is concerned.

Really?

What's that?

First, Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., apparently, is going to have a general election opponent this year.  For The Report it is particularly good to see because Maier is an "old school" politico who sees political power in and of itself.  Power used to place in office those whose primary goal seems to be to have a public job.  The public good for these folks is an afterthought at best.  Moreover, The Report believes that Maier is a "divide and conquer" type politico for his personal political advantage.

Second, Ward 6 Councilman David K. McCune, it seems, is going to have opposition to retain his seat.  McCune generated a flap in Massillon over trying to get the administration of Frank Cicchinelli to "forgive" his daughter's handicap parking place ticket (which was refused), and, then got into a imbroglio with other Massillon councilpersons over his effort to get Massillon's timeline for paying parking tickets extended.  Problem was, he never told the chair of the appropriate committee (Kathy Catazaro-Perry) about the personal element to his pursuit.

Third, it could be that there is going to be a Republican candidate for council-at-large that may be a threat to Democratic dominance at that level.

ON THE MAIER RACE

In 2005, Stark County Democratic kingpin Maier was challenged by Republican Megan Todaro.  Well, it wasn't much of a race as Maier swamped Todaro.

One would think that Maier would have been happy to win and just let it go at it.  But not Maier, he took offense that Todaro had the gall to run against him.  From a blog of May 5, 2009:

Hopefully, the passage of 6 years will make Todaro-Kirchner more competitive.  The SCPR believes that Massillon would be a whole lot better off if Maier was not part of the political mix in Massillon.  Undoubtedly, the mayor would at least "privately" say amen! to that.  One has to wonder as to whether or not Cicchinelli will be lurking in the background rooting for Todaro-Kirchner. 

ON McCUNE

When one acts the way McCune did on the handicap parking incident, the remedy is for voters to remove the politician from office.  The SCPR has the feeling that McCune is a political bully.  It is wonderful to see that there is a possibility of opposition come November.  It would be icing on the cake if a Democrat were to surface to take him on in May.


ON COUNCIL-AT-LARGE

If only Massillon Republicans could elect someone citywide for any office, it would be good for Massillon just to give a political competition (not Democrat fighting with one another) factor at play.

However, the mayoralty does not look likely and probably not even the clerk of courts race (which probably includes more than just the city).  Perhaps, council-at-large?

Chovan appears to be a serious candidate.  He has a website up and running in which he deals more with issues than personalities.

So if Massillonians would vote Maier out, an opponent to McCune in and, perhaps, a Republican councilman-at-large to boot, then maybe things would change for the better in Tigerland?