DISCUSSION: YOU BE THE JUDGE, IS HEALY SETTING UP TO FIRE CHIEF POLICE MCKIMM?

Some time ago the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) wrote that Mayor William J. Healy, II attempted to fire Canton Police Chief Dean L. McKimm (CLICK HERE TO SEE PRIOR REPORTS).

Of course, all Cantonians have gotten is denial, after denial after denial.

Denials seem to "the coin of the realm" in the Healy administration these days.

The Report has known from the day yours truly first laid eyes on Healy that - to say the least - he is a "self-assured" person; some say "cocky;" while The Report (as has written before this piece) says he is arrogant.

The Report has come to an additional assessment of Healy based on his response on governing issues on the table regarding Canton government. To say the least, he is disingenuous. The Report believes that he is unbelieveable on most of the critical matters that are swirling around Stark County about Mayor Healy and his conduct in office.

But readers of The Report should be equipped to make their own assessments.

In that spirit, The Report endeavors to provide readers with documents generated by the Healy administration itself, to assist in the assessment task.

Doesn't the letter printed in the accompanying graphic give credibility the thinking that Healy is building a record on which to fire McKimm through the Canton Civil Service personnel process?

DISCUSSION: STARK'S ONLY "COUNTYWIDE" NEWSPAPER - FINALLY - DEALS WITH HEALY ALLEGATION

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) had all but given up on the prospect that Stark County's only countywide newspaper would delve into the allegations surrounding Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II.

The Report was told several times within the past week: "tomorrow." Well, tomorrow came and nothing.

There are a couple highly interesting nuances to The Rep's approach in today's piece.

First, the article acknowledges that the "anonymous" letter writer wanted The Rep to get the scoop on the story. The lack of The Rep's response, until today, probably means that "the powers that be" at The Repository didn't have the journalistic guts to dig in as a good investigative daily newspaper would.

Is The Rep's failure on this story indicative that Stark County no longer has a newspaper that is interested in or capable of solid investigative journalism?

Second, as written, this piece posits the notion that the "anonymous" letters were planted by interest groups; that is, anti-Healy interest groups, to wit:

A 40-something man who engaged in an improper relationship with a high school girl? Or is he the target of an orchestrated political smear campaign, with the goal of destroying his reputation, credibility and career?

The Report thinks it is preposterous to suggest that Canton councilpersons or Canton policemen might be part of "an orchestrated political smear campaign." Where is this coming from? The writers of the article do not connect the dots, other than to refer to the fact that the Canton police unions are in contract negotiations with the city and no money has been set aside for raises. What a leap? Is this responsible reporting?

As for the councilperson part, The Rep article makes no connection as a reason for even suggest that anyone on council is trying to smear Healy. The Rep reporters are probably relying on common knowledge among area political observers that Healy has never had a smooth relationship with council. In fact, his saving grace on the relationship (such that it could be at least a working relationship) was owing to the respect that council members had for Tom Bernabei (Healy's former service director and chief-of-staff).

So all-in-all, The Rep has bungled this story badly.

One other item: The Rep's commenters. The Report has had a number of comments from folks who regularly comment on The Rep's material, and, are they upset about having the comment removed by presumably Executive Editor Jeffery Gauger.

What a way to run a newspaper?