COMMISSIONERS RACE: "FOLLOWING THE MONEY" - A DIFFERENCE MAKER? REGULA THE CANDIDATE OF THE "FAT-CATS" AND "THE CONNECTED" AND SMUCKLER MORE THE CANDIDATE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE?

There is still about 20 days left for candidates to raise money before election day, but the bulk of the fund-raising has been done as of the close of the pre-general campaign (PG-CFR) reporting date of October 17th.

In the Stark County commissioners race to replace Commissioner Pete Ferguson (who chose not to run for reelection), it appears that former Republican Commissioner Richard Regula (2003 - 2006) has a leg up on the money factor.

With a little over $66,000 on hand compared to former Democratic Canton Councilman Bill Smuckler's $52,000 plus, the question becomes whether or not the $14,000 or so difference to spend will be a difference maker.

Of course, the real answer will be on how Regula spends it.  Will the advantage be effectively used?

Going beyond that particular question is who is supporting the respective Regula/Smuckler candidacies?

One of the most difficult things to do in terms of fundraising is to raise money for local campaigns:  commissioner, sheriff, prosecutor, coroner, recorder, clerk of courts, engineer, trustee, city/village councilman, board of education, what have you.

But if your name is Richard Regula and your father is Ralph Regula (retired congressman [2008] who had served the 16th congressional district [which included all of Stark County]), then fundraising gets a tad easier.

While the PG-CFR shows Richard has the edge on competitor Bill Smuckler, it is interesting to note that the bulk of it came from daddy.

As of October 17th, Father Ralph's campaign committee has contributed $32,000 or nearly half of the $66,000 that Richard has on hand.

So it appears that Richard is highly dependent on Father Ralph on whether or not he returns to the Stark County commissioners' office.

The Stark County Political Report recalls former Stark County commissioner Todd Bosley describing the machinations going on behind the scene (in terms of securing campaign advisers) by Ralph on behalf of Richard.

Readers will recall how Bosley came out of political obscurity (a Nimishillen Township trustee) to stun us all in narrowly defeating the-then incumbent commissioner Richard Regula in 2006.

Bosley was feeling his political oats so much so at defeating Richard, he began talking immediately about possibly taking on Ralph for his congressional seat.

But the point of the heavy contributions of Ralph to Richard and Richard's frequent invocation of the name of his father whenever seemingly he can fit it in has to make one wonder as whether or not Richard can stand on his own two feet?

Other Richard Regula significant contributors in terms of money and/or political clout (PG-CFR reporting period) include:

• Benjamin/Nancy Suarez - $1,000,
• Janet/William Creighton - $100,
• Richard/Susan Gessner - $2,000,
• Nancy/Robert Gessner - $1,000
• Jeff Jakmides - $250,
• Richard Nicely - $1,000,
• Jane Vignos - $50,
• Gregory/Tammy Colander - $1,000
• Robert DeHoff, $1,000
• William R. Timker, Jr - $1,000,
• Ward/Jane Timken, Jr - $1,000,
• Jay Timken, $1,000
• James Percorelli, $1,000,
• Gaetano Cecchini, $5,000,
• Neil Genshaft, $250,
• Anna/Andrew Zumbar, $25,
• Rhea/John Regula, $100,
• Gerald Schroer, Jr, $1,000,
• Charles Frank Hammontree, $250,
• Patricia/Dennis Saunier, $50,
• Buckeye Patriot PAC, $750,

When you add other large contributors ($500 or above as defined by the SCPR), of Richard Regula's $66,000 on hand; some $50,000 or 75% Regula's campaign largesse came from heavy hitters.

Hmm?

Turning to Smuckler.

Remember, he has some $52,000 plus on hand has of October 17th:

• Richard Kempthorn, $100,
• Stanley Rubin, $300,
• Steven Okey, $50,
• Carlene Harmon, $200,
• Thomas Harmon, $50,
• Dennis Clunck, $100,
• Adam Rossi, Jr, $100,
• James Jefferies, $1,125,
• Local 18, Patterns Union, $250,
• Local 33, Sheet Metal Workers, $1,350,
• Local 92, Teamsters, $550,
• Local 94, Plumbers and Pipefitters, $1,100,
• Local 249, FIREPAC, $150,
• Local 540, IBEW, $3,250,
• Local 550, Ironworkers, $400,
• Local 1015, Laborers, $975,
• Canton Police Patrolman's Ass'n PAC - $50,
• District 1, United Steelworkers, $100,
• East Central Ohio Building Trades, $1,100,
• Hall of Fame AFL-CIO, $200,
• Joe Martuccio, $100,
• Stephen Slesnick, $650,
• Robert Slesnick, $50,
• LaVerne Dale, Jr, $50,
• Steven Chandler, $1,000,
• Judge Taryn Heath, $450,
• John Eslich, $1,000,
• Matthew Eslich, $1,000,
• Kody Gonzalez, $50,
• Randy Gonzalez, $25,
• Keith Bennett, $250,
• Peter Ferguson, $225,
• Steve Hamit, $500,
• Kathy Catazaro-Perry, $150,
• Terry Nolan, $500,
• Jacqueline DeGarmo, $250,
• Ralph Dublikar, $25,
• Anlthony Flex, $25,
• David Worshil, $50,
• Rosemary Rubin, $300,
• Thomas Winkhart, $500,
• Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths and Dougherty, $100,
• Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, $250,
• Dennis Saunier, $50,
• George Elum, $50,
• Phillip Elum, $50,
• James Babcock, $25,
• Mary Cirelli, $150,
• Jim Griffin, $25,
• Karl Kraus, $25,
• Edmond Mack, $150,
• John Mariol, II, $100,
• Allen Schulman, $500,
• Cynthia Timberlake, $25,
• R.A. Mallonn, $50,
• Gary Young, $80,
• Gust Callas, $50,
• John Guia, $100,
• Bradley Iams,
• John Ferrero, $25,,
• Johh Kurtzman, 
• Thomas Ascani, $50,
• Mike McDonald, $50,
• Andrea Scassa, $25,
• Rick Campbell, $50,
• Arnold Shiftman, $50,
• Paul Hervey, $250,
• Kristine Maggiore, $250,
• Marshall Belden, Jr, $50,
• Joseph Sommer, $300,
• Stark County Democratic Party Executive Committee, $2,000,
• Kim Perez, $25,
• Phil Giavasis, $50,
• Richard Watkins, $25,
• Daniel Jonas, $25
• Richard Jones, $200,
• John Varavyas, $500,
• James Carman, Jr, $300,
• Jane Carman, $100,
• Julie Carman, $50,
• Douglas Foltz, $25,
• Gerald Ortman, $100,
• Marty Ortman, $150,
• Joan Ortman, $100,
• Michael Vanckunas, $250,
• Debra Vanckunas, $50,
• Amy Smuckler, $225,
• Hershel Smuckler, $300,
• Hillary Smuckler, $100,
• Howard Smuckler, $200,
• Linda Smuckler, $100,
• Marlene Smuckler, $250,
• Megan Smuckler, $100,
• Pauline Smuckler, $25,
• Randi Smuckler, $100

As readers can see, Smuckler's fundraising is much more diverse and not nearly as concentrated in the $1,000 and above contribution.

Certainly, there are no $5,000 (Cecchini) and $32,000 (Richard Regula's dad) in Smuckler's campaign finance portfolio.

Smuckler's contributions do contain nearly $11,000 in union related campaign donations.

Kind of surprising to the SCPR.  Smuckler was not the beneficiary of much in the way of union contributions when he ran in the March Democratic primary against Mayor William J. Healy.

And speaking of Healy, no money for Bill?  A little retribution, just maybe?  Hmm?

Guess being a Democrat runs just so deep?  At least he didn't contribute to the Regula campaign!

So does the campaign contribution patterns make Regula the candidate of the connected and the well-heeled, and Smuckler the candidate of the everyday person?

Hmm?