"HEAR JOE MARTUCCIO" IN HIS OWN WORDS: HIS PLAN TO RETIRE AS CANTON LAW DIRECTOR

VIDEO

CANTON LAW DIRECTOR

JOSEPH MARTUCCIO

IN HIS OWN WORDS

ON HIS PLAN TO RETIRE

On September 22nd, The Stark County Political Report (SCPR) published a blog to the effect that a source at a Republican political event was overheard saying that Canton Law Director for 17 years Joseph Martuccio would likely be retiring somewhere near the end of 2017.

Of course, using the two source rule, the SCPR talked with an "off-the-record" source who confirmed the Republican's account in its essentials.

But there is never anything better than going to the subject of the blog for actual confirmation.

At last Monday's Canton City Council meeting, the SCPR interviewed (1:42) Martuccio and he indeed confirmed that he has retirement plans in the works:

An amazing thing about Martuccio's tenure as law director is that in the four elections for Canton law director since he was originally appointed in 2000 by Stark County Democratic precinct committeepeersons (Canton Municipal Court district) to succeed current mayor of Canton Thomas Bernabei, he did not have an opponent in any of his election candidacies.

The Report offered to Martuccio that having had no opposition was a testament to his have the highest respect of his peers.

In typical humble Martuccio fashion, he replied "or nobody wanted the job."

For those of us who know Matuccio, it is the former and not the latter.

The Report has learned that Kristen Bates-Alyward is his choice to succeed him.

It may be that somebody will present a challenge when Stark's "organized" Democrats meeting sometime in early 2018 to choose his successor.

Bates-Alyward could have no better political ally than Joe Martuccio in her corner of such a challenge materializes.

CANTON LAW DIRECTOR JOE MARTUCCIO TO RETIRE AT END OF 2017?

Undoubtedly, there are a number of Stark County attorneys who would love to be Canton law director.

And it appears that sooner than later they will have their chance.

The Stark County Political Report (SCPR) has learned that it is highly likely that they will get their chance in early 2018.

For the SCPR has it on solid sourcing information that Canton Law Director Joseph Martuccio will very, very, very likely be retiring at the end of this year.

Martuccio, who is 64, has been law director since 2000 when he was appointed by the Canton Municipal Court District precinct committeepersons of the Stark County Democratic Party to succeed Thomas M. Bernabei (the current mayor of Canton) to replace Bernabei when he retired.

Before becoming director, he was Canton assistant prosecutor, a Stark County public defender and assistant public defender.  Martuccio had various other public service positions outside of Stark County prior to beginning his work in Stark County (he public defender's office) in 1981.  Counting all his public service, he has racked up some 40 years in public life.

Martuccio has never had an election opponent during his 17 years as law director.

It all began with the 2003 election.

The Report hears that he has a non-life threatening health issue which he is dealing with and that resolving the matter has prompted his consideration of retiring.

From what the SCPR has learned, it appears that the inside track for succeeding Martuccio is his deputy chief counsel Kristen Bates Aylward.

It would not be surprising if there is some "testing of the waters" by others even if it is widely known that Bates-Aylward is Martuccio's preference to be his successor which the SCPR has reason to believe that she is.

When she ran for Stark County Domestic Relations judge in 2012, she received the highest recommendation by her peer members of the Stark County Bar Association.