CANTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE SERIES: VOL 2 - VIGNOS ON "LOCAL GOVT CORRUPTION"

This is the second in a series on the upcoming Canton City Council-at-Large race which may boil down to who among six Democratic candidates (no Republicans filed) will succeed Councilman Don Casar who has decided not to run for another term.

The Report expects incumbents Bill Smuckler and Mary Cirelli to be elected with ease.

By the way, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) invites all candidates to contact The Report at tramols@att.net with information or issue positions with respect to individual candidacies.

Recently, Cynthia Vignos e-mailed The Report with her latest statement on the campaign.

It appears to The Report that Vignos does not concede that Smuckler and Cirelli are shoe-ins.

In her statement, she launches an attack on sitting councilpersons, to wit: (excerpted quotes)

The general concensus (sis) of opinion [in Vignos' talks with voters]that corruption is rampant in our local government.

Why do we continue to elect the same people over and over again, whilethe quality of life in our city continues to deteriorate?

Why are public jobs given to friends and relatives of government officials, when there are so many qualified individuals looking forwork right now?

Vignos then get more specfic, zeroing in on Councilman at Large Smuckler:

Why are members of council and other committees permitted to participate in projects that are ethically questionable? For example –a member of City Council and the annexation committee who was involved in the Park Foods annexation has admitted publicly that his hotel and restaurant supply company is a major customer of Park Farms.

Consequently - he should have abstained from the project, due to the obvious conflict of interest.  Additionally, the annexation process for his own business (which is less than ½ mile from Park Farms) has not been implemented until recently, although he has served on council for 20 years. Why would an elected official in Canton continue to operatea business just outside the city limits without applying for
annexation, when he could have been contributing much-needed tax-revenue to the city he has sworn to serve?

Next Vignos takes a shot a Council in general in alleging that it is as a body being too secretive, to wit:
Why are the committee meetings that take place prior to City Council meetings held in a small venue that discourages public attendance? Why are no written minutes or audio and/or video recorded minutes taken for these meetings? Judicial doctrine attests that “democracy abhors undue secrecy” yet the citizens of Canton are excluded from deliberations that should be open to the public, a practice that clearly violates the Ohio Sunshine Laws.
Then seems to align her candidacy with the Healy administration:
Why are the campaign contributions to one person (William J Healy II) under such public scrutiny, yet the contributions given to his opponent (Janet Creighton) and those of other candidates and/orelected officials are not being given equal examination?
Finally, Vignos bills herself as the candidate of change from "the good old boys" network.

Any reaction to the Vignos charges?

DISCUSSION: HEALY FAILS AGAIN WITH CANTON CITY COUNCIL - COUNCIL POISED TO REJECT "REWORKED" CONTRACT PROPOSAL

UPDATE: MARCH 19, 2009, 5:00 A.M.

Mayor Healy must read the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT and saw the numbers posted above.

- FROM THE REP 3/18/2009 (LATE EVENING POST) “It appears to me the (City Council) votes are not there to get it through council at this point in time,” said Mayor William J. Healy II, following a Finance Committee meeting earlier tonight.

It appears that only the sure "pro-Healy" votes were informed personally by the mayor what the changes he negotiated with Redflex Traffic Systems as a proposed contract to install traffic law enforcing cameras in downtown Canton.

As the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has been saying all along, Mayor Healy is a "my way or the highway" type of guy who is considerate, nice and informative to those he thinks are his "yes" men and women.

The Report's source related how the Canton City County chair of the Public Safety & Thoroughfares Committee (Karl "Butch" Kraus) was snubbed by Healy and that Councilman Kraus learned of the proposed changes by reading the Canton Repository's account that the Healy administration had already shared with Councilpersons Casar, Smith and West, and, of course, The Rep.

The Report also learned that Councilman Griffin's meeting with the public last evening did not go well for the Mayor Healy and his staunch allies on Council (Casar, Smith and West),

Forty or so citizens show up at Griffin's meeting with only a couple or so supporting. One of the supporters is Cynthia Vignos who his running for council-at-large against the anti-Healy leading incumbent-candidates Mary Cirelli and Bill Smuckler.

The amazing thing about Healy is how he fails to learn from his experiences. He has had difficult relationships with Council from is taking office in January, 2008 through the present. The only way he was able to work with Council was via the facilitation provided by his fired safety director and chief of staff Tom Bernabei.

Unless Healy can twist some councilperson arms, he will suffer a humiliating defeat on this coming Monday, the 23rd.

The Report has learned that Council President Allen Schulman will be out of town on Monday which explains why he lambasted Healy on the "bad appearances" that accepting campaign contributions from folks who have an interest in obtaining city contracts this past Monday.

As Mayor Healy stumble bumbles his way around City Hall, Canton languishes and suffers.

The Report's condolences to the good folks of Canton.