STARK COUNTY NARROWLY AVOIDS DISASTER? JACKSON TOWNSHIP'S JAMIE WALTERS AS COMMISSIONER?

Whew!  That was close.  Had it not been for independent Stephen Todd (who peeled off Republican votes), the SCPR believes that Jackson Township Trustee James N. "Jamie" Walters would have been elected over long time Democratic political fixture Tom Bernabei.

Why "whew!"?

The SCPR sees Jamie Walters as being an imperial person who would have reeked havoc on Stark County government had he been elected.  Now that he has gotten his feet wet as a government official as a Jackson trustee, he appears to understand more and more how an elected official - if of that bent - can go on a bullying campaign and thereby achieve more of his personal agenda than the office he holds promises to yield.

The quintessential imperial in all of Stark County is Mayor William J. ("Jamie" Healy, II of Canton.  And we all know the misery his egotistic ways have brought to Canton government. 

But he is not the only one.  And, perhaps, there is something about the nickname "Jamie" that signals ego problems.

One of the specialties of the SCPR is to identify the imperials and alert the Stark County public to the identity of these folks.

One of the telltale signs of political imperiality is that more times than not the practicioners of imperialness refuse to talk to media types who dare to criticize their political manner or any of their pet programs or - heavens forbid - their character fitness to hold public office.

The Report had one such run-in with "Jamie" Walters during his campaign to succeed to Tom Harmon's term as county commissioner.

Walters put out campaign literature which the SCPR thinks was a rather blatant falsehood about Tom Bernbei's intention regarding an increase of the county sales tax.

As we all know, it is the death knell of Stark County politics for any politician to run in favor of increasing taxes.  The only exception that the SCPR knows about is when Republican John Dougherty ran a number years ago when Stark County was in a similar fiscal crisis (however, not nearly as bad) as the county faces going into 2011 and 2012.  Dougherty's message was very simple:  "don't vote for me Stark Countians, if you don't vote for the sales tax issue that is on the ballot." (paraphrase)

It worked for Dougherty one time.  He wasn't about to try it a second time.

Lame duck Commissioner Todd Bosley (losing to incumbent Republican state Rep. Todd Snitchler 61% to 39%) is a testament to the "mess with the county sales tax at your own political peril" sentiment that permeates Stark County. 

Knowing this full well, it appears to The Report that at the very least Walters distorted and played loose with the truth on Bernbei's call to put the 0.25 sales tax RENEWAL on the ballot in May, 2011 or perhaps engaged an outright falsehood in representing that Bernabei was in favor of increasing the county sales tax.

On the publication of that blog, Walters telephoned yours truly to deliver a bombast of "don't question my character!"

As readers of the SCPR know, yours truly is exactly the wrong person in all of Stark County to deliver that message to.

As is characteristic of ego mantic types is that one, even one with the strength of personality that yours truly has; is hard pressed to edge in one word of response.  Such seems to be the case with Walters.

Implicit in Walters' telephone message to the SCPR was this:  "unless you write in a manner I agree with and approve of, I will not answer your questions and I will not talk with you."

Here is an email from Walters which is a clearer expression of his imperial ways.

Kind of a strange message from a person who, had he been elected, would have been my representative in Stark County government.

Obviously, Walters does not fully respect the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and, apparently, he and he alone will define what free speech is and what it is not and he and he alone will mete out the punishment for what he deems to be offenses even if it means violation the public trust to represent the interest of "all" of Stark County's citizens, whether they agree with him or not.

But Walters does respect the right of free speech of corporations to spend whatever money they wish to influence the outcomes of elections.  In his League of Women Voters forum session with Bernabei and Todd, curiously enough a question came up about the famous Citizens United case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 21, 2010 which essentially held that government cannot control what corporations spend on election ads.

Walters answered the question but failed to reveal to viewers (of a Canton City school television presentation of the forum  and of the SCPR videos) was that he had received $2,500 from the Citizens United Political Victory Fund.

Another point.  As can be seen in Walters' email to yours truly on November 1, he is now refusing to answering questions.

Question number one was on his apparent "inadvertent omission?" of his Citizens United connection and a second and others had to do with $10,000 of a total $17,500 raised in the pre-general campaign reporting cycle from a certain Charles Mifsud (a Columbus, Ohio attorney) and the FACT that 79% of his contributions during the reporting cycle came from out of Stark County.

But being the political bully he appears bent on being, Walters thinks he does not have to account to the Stark County public.

Clearly, Stark Countians have not heard the last of Jamie Walters.

For now, it appears that he will be fighting for his own political life next year as he has to defend his seat on the Jackson Township Board of Trustees.  The Report believes that his opponent will be Steven Meeks (whose former Jackson Township trustee seat Walters holds).  Should be an interesting race.  But Meeks is much more of a political insider in Jackson than Walters and therefore is likely to wrestle his seat back.

In the meantime suffice it to say that Stark Countians did "dodge a bullet" in the defeat of James N. Walters' candidacy for Stark County commissioner.

Thanks for running independent Stephen Todd!!!

And readers of the SCPR can be assured of is that The Report will bring the facts out about all the would-be political bullies that dot the Stark County political landscape.

NEW SET OF COMMISSIONERS (LIKELY, CREIGHTON & BERNABEI" ) TO BE A REHASH OF THE PAST?

With this statement in The Repository's piece yesterday:  Commissioner candidates sound off on legal powers, (material obviously discussed in the endorsement interviews of the paper's editorial board) to wit:

Candidates agreed economic development is needed to move the county forward. They aren’t sure, though, if creating a new economic development office is the way to go about it. Stark already has public-private partnerships, for example, with the likes of the Stark Development Board. (emphasis added)

Stark Countians should be despairing.  "Not sure" about "creating a new economic development office."  Whew!

Leave it or a hodgepodge of "private-public" partnerships?

• Well, the fragmented approach makes sense if public official wants to unaccountable.  Is this what Meeks, Creighton, Walters and Bernabei are about?

The SCPR would say that Stark County voters should NOT vote for any county commissioner candidate who hasn't offered up some sort of long term economic development plan against which to be measured in four and two years, respectively.  However, that would mean not choosing among the four candidates vying for office because none of them have come forward with such a plan.

So a secondary approach for voters has to be:  whom among the four is most likely to see the light, take the bull by the horns once in office and lead the way with a bold, creative and comprehensive economic development plan with success/failure built in measurement to make the proposer accountable to the voters in 4/2 years, respectively?

Yours truly has been fighting for years now to get Stark County's leadership to to "lead!"

Although it was naive to take former Stark County commissioner Tom Harmon at his word when he was appointed by the Stark County Democratic Party in 2007 that Stark County's economic development would be his main game, all one has in these times is to hope against hope that the utterances of the one likes of Harmon (a representation of the consummate politico) really means what he/she says rather than just spewing out the political rhetoric.

Harmon never did produce on his political blandishments.  Unless, that is, his promotion of Elizabeth Burick's idea of placing a horse show arena at the Stark County Fairgrounds is anywhere near being an economic development plan.

Burick's idea is a start.  But that is all it is.  The Stark County Fairgrounds are potentially a huge Stark County asset which could with creative and visionary leadership be the anchor of a rebuilt Stark County economy.  After all, agriculture is the major economic factor in all of Stark County.

Clark County, Ohio has done a magnificent job of redeveloping its fairgrounds.  Perhaps Stark Countians can learn from Clark's experience and build upon what already has been done.

A thoughtful, energized commissioner candidate could begin with Stark's fairgrounds as a hub and showcase for an economic redevelopment project.  He/she might want to push for the creation of a "Stark Fairgrounds Economic Redevelopment Project Committee" which would be staffed by graduates of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce's (CRCC)  "Leadership Stark County Signature Program."

Perhaps a retired Stark County leader of proven accomplishment in economical development in the private sector will step forward and volunteer his/her time to lead eager LSC graduates on such a quest.

Their mandate would be clear and to the point:  work with Stark County-based resources to create a concept plan for the complete reconfiguration of the Stark County Fairgrounds into a new and modernized facility that will yield manifold economic benefit for decades to come.

Concept drawings would be generated, cost would be projected and alternative and complementary sources of funding (e.g. bond, a countywide hotel and bed tax et cetera) proposed.

The SCPR has long been critical of Leadership Stark County (LSC) because it seems to The Report that its Signature and Government leadership groups are more credential and resume building phenomena than an effective producers of hands-on leaders who get things done for the benefit of Stark County.

It appears to The Report that Janet Creighton and Tom Bernabei will be the winning candidates in November.  However, whomever wins, it is essential for Stark County to dig itself out of its financial and economic morass for the victors to adopt a plan of action for long term economic action.

Moreover, the winning candidate need to have a financial responsibility plan in mind from day one of taking office.

Those Stark Countians (e.g. Vote No Increased Taxes Committee) who demand full and complete efficiency in government must be heeded.

Beyond making local government totally efficient, a forward-looking commissioner must find ways to fund local government in ways that Stark Countians buy into.  A likely candidate is a sales tax which is dedicated to funding criminal justice in Stark County.  Criminal justice expenditures account for 70% of the current general fund budgeting appropriations.

All five candidates have been disappointing to the SCPR in terms of them having affirmative and specific ideas on how to solve Stark County government's economic and financial problems.

The SCPR for one will be pushing, pushing and pushing still more until the commissioners get it.

Get it?

Yes, get it.

The days are long past that Stark Countians are going to allow a commissioner more than one term in office when that commissioner has been a "mere" occupant of a commissioner's seat.

Productiveness and accountability are now the markers for all who get elected to this office.

In terms of meaningful economic development and financial planning, none of the current crop of commissioners (Bosley, Ferguson nor Meeks) have measured up.  It is interesting to note that of the three, only Ferguson is likely to remain after November's election.

The question is:  will the new commissioner(s) be a spark for a re-energized and re-invigorated Stark County or will they mirror the staid and stale approach of commissioners of the past?

Because Bernabei or Walters will filling a two-year term, Stark Countians will have an opportunity to go to two new commissioners in 2012 if Ferguson and/or the new commissioner has not moved the economic development and financial planning model forward.

The 2012 elections will be a time of holding the incumbent accountable!

A REMATCH "OF SORTS" IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP IN THE OFFING?

Both (Commissioner Steven Meeks and Trustee Jamie Walters) appear to the SCPR to have only an outside chance to be elected Stark County commissioner on November 2nd.

So what are the respective back up plans?

At one time, Meeks (according to sources) was looking to replace Gary Zeigler as treasurer.  But that was only if Zeigler was to "see the light" and resign.  He didn't and the commissioners decided to remove him.


MEEKS

Even though the the treasurer's position is open, it does not appear to be an option for Meeks.

Why?

Beacause:

1.  It wouldn't be seemly.  After all, Meeks was one of three commissioners (Bosley and Ferguson being the other two) who voted one week ago today to remove Zeigler under the authority of Ohio Revised Code Section 321.38 from office.

2.  There is a remote (in the opinion of the SCPR) that the 5th District Court of Appeals could decide to return Zeigler to office.  Where would that leave an appointee?

3.  The appointee has to run for treasurer this November (not two years from now) which would be too short of time to shift gears, let alone a likely voter adverse reaction (in Meeks' case) at what would appear to be sheer political opportunism.

Though it will mean an even larger fall from the lofty heights of being Governor Strickland's Region 9 "eyes and ears" man, the word is that Meeks is already looking at running for his old post as Jackson Township trustee.

Meeks needs a backup plan, no?

WALTERS

It has been a topsy-turvy political run of it for Jackson Township Trustee Jamie Walters.

When he started out, it was to be a match up with Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley.  And Walters could not wait to get his political hooks into Bosley.

Walters probably figured that with Bosley voting to impose a 0.50 of one percent sales tax increase (along with then Commissioners Vignos and Harmon) in December, 2008 that he had a real chance to defeat a sitting commissioners.

And he was probably correct.

But then the political landscape did a kaleidoscopic-esque change and Walter's former bright political future turned into a bleak one overnight.

First, Bosley pulled out of the commissioners race when Ohio Speaker of the House Armond Budish paid a visit to him in December, 2009 with news from on high.  The Democratic House Caucus had done some polling in Stark County to figure out who would be its strongest candidate to go at Republican incumbent Todd Snitchler (the 50th House District).

Lo and behold the political seers had blessed Bosley with their designation as the person who could defeat Snitchler.

Second, with Bosley pulling out, former Canton mayor Janet Creighton who undoubtedly has been itching to get back into Stark County politics (once it gets in your blood, it nearly impossible to get it out) is saying to herself "Hmm," an opportunity.

So why didn't she pull petitions to run against Bosley in the first place?  Probably because she knows that Bosley runs mean and ugly campaigns.  Not that she was frightened.  But she's been there and done that with William J. Healy, II and likely was not wild about getting into the political cesspool again.

Now that is all changed.  Steve Meeks, appointed by the Stark County Democratic Central Committee to fill Tom Harmon's unfulfilled term on December 15th, elects to jump from "retaining" the Harmon seat (for two years) to taking over the Bosley vacated four year term.

If Steven M. Meeks is anything, he is a gentleman.  Creighton can run a high level campaign and defeat Meeks easily.

But what about Walters?

Well, all that gets handled in the back rooms of 2727 Fulton Ave, NW (the Stark GOP headquarters location).

A plan appears to have been hatched there  for Walters to step aside in favor of the Stark County Republican Party's most powerful countywide vote getter (Creighton) and for him to join party newcomer Dean Windham (from Lake) to fight for the right to run against Democratic Party candidate Tom Bernabei.

What a huge political tumble for Walters!

He has to fight for his political life in a primary against a political newbie (Windham) and if he wins (which he did) has to run against a man he has no issues to contend with on and a man who has been elected many times over to various positions in Canton government who has gotten tons of ink over many years in The Repository and the Akron Beacon Journal, not to mention The Massillon Independent and The Alliance Review.

Where Walters stands today is a long way from where he stood on November 07, 2007 when he defeated Steven Meeks' handpicked candidate (his wife,  Patty) to try to keep the Jackson trustee seat as a family heirloom.

Can there be any "reasonable" doubt that Jamie Walters needs a back up plan.

THE BACKUP PLAN

STEVEN M. MEEKS VERSUS JAMIE WALTERS, NOVEMBER, 2011.

WHY DIDN'T REPUBLICANS WALTERS & WINDHAM JUST FIP-A-COIN?

A political love-in?

That's what the Republican race for the county commissioner (2 year term) race appears to be.

One has to wonder, if the two Republican candidates are so well taken with each other (as reported in today's Repository by Kelli Young - Commissioner candidates vow to restore trust, accountability to office), why didn't they save Republican voters the chore of trying to get to know who they are voting for in the May 4th GOP primary by merely flipping a coin; winner take all?

Candidates Walters and Windham are trying to put a good face on it, but the truth of the matter is that it appears that Stark Republicans have decided they are not putting any resources into a Walters/Windham versus Democrat Tom Bernabei race.

Both were pushed out of the county commissioner contest for a 4 year term in favor of former Stark County auditor, recorder and Canton mayor Janet Creighton.  Stark GOPers feel they are the favorite in a Creighton versus Democrat Steve Meeks and are and will be putting most, if not all, their resources in the Creighton/Meeks match up.

And if there is any doubt about the political leadership qualities of both Walters and Windham, they  completely removed them in the Young interview.  Both are shown to be reactive, "don't look to me for any bold initiative/proactive" ideas candidate types.

Cost cutting and break up the Democratic "good old boy" network (which seems to be the platform that either will be running on), are reactive and do not have "a snowball's chance in Hell" of working in a campaign against Democrat Bernabei in November.

As an aside, Walters (a Jackson Township trustee) once bragged to The Report about the great relationship he has with the head of "the good old boys" (Randy Gonzalez, chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party who is also fiscal officer of Jackson Township)

What might work is for the nominee to work on presenting a dynamic, innovative and imaginative Stark County economic development plan for the general election.  But don't look for this to happen.  Both Walters and Windham appear to be unimaginative candidates.

Not that political signs means anything much, but neither has put out (at least as the SCPR has seen) any signs.  Both have a voter familiarity problem as does county auditor candidate Alan Harold.

But Harold, (who did a smart thing in running countywide for a Stark Co Education Service Center position - in terms of name I.D.) running unopposed in the primary, is using the run-up to the primary to get his signs out there and help his familiarity factor with Stark voters.

Bottom line on the Walters/Windham race is that both know that the primary is a dead end street and the winner get the bragging rights to have been the Republican nominee for the 2 year commissioner term on a pathway to political oblivion.

For bragging rights, they could have flipped a coin, no?

Since they did not, that is exactly what Stark Republican primary voters will be doing on May 4th!

IN ANNOUCING HE FILED PETITONS TO RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, JAMIE WALTERS "ASSUMES" A VICTORY OVER FELLOW-REPUBLICAN STEVE CURTICIAN?

UPDATE:  12/26/2009 AT 3:00 PM

EMAIL FROM STEVE CURTICIAN

 

Mr. Olson,

Am I still the most arrogant, over the top, holier than God self promoting candidate. I think this shows the inexperience of Jamie's life in the real world. He may be a trustee, but I will say this again and probably many more times, never underestimate the resolve of an ex Marine Desert Storm veteran. 

I look forward to the challenge in May, but even more so, the relentlessnes of your expecting more out of stark counties elected officials and hopefuls.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year sir

Sincerely,

Steve Curtician

ORIGINAL POST

In his press release of earlier this week, Jackson trustee James N. (calls himself "Jamie") Walters tees off on sitting commissioner Todd Bosley as arrogantly (the SCPR's word) disregarding the people in voting in new taxes.

Walters' focusing on Bosley presents two problems for him.

First, he does have to win the Republican primary on May 4, 2010.  Walters seems to think his name identity (implicit in his not addressing differences with Steve Curtician)  with Stark County voters countywide will carry him to victory in the primary.

Assuming anything in politics is not very smart.  Walters just needs to ask Allen Schulman about that.  Years ago Schulman lost a congressional primary to a relatively unknown Democrat opponent because Schulman was focusing on Republican Ralph Regula.

In ignoring Curtician, isn't Walters demonstrating the same characteristic (arrogance) that he criticizes Bosley for:  Why would Stark Countians want to exchange one arrogant politician for another?

Second, Walters assumes he will be running against Bosley.  Such is not a safe assumption.

Bosley told the SCPR this past Wednesday that he is still mulling over a run for state representative in the 50th Ohio House district.

In assuming that Bosley will be the Democratic standard bearer as commissioner candidate may be incorrect.

Does Walters know the adage:  "He who assumes is open to being tabbed

"ass-u- [or] me."

Hmm?