REP EDITORS CONTINUE TO SHOW THEY ARE "OUT-OF-TOUCH"

It is the only countywide newspaper in Stark with a storied history, but more and more The Repository is showing it is lagging as a community messenger, guardian and initiator.

The SCPR has learned that The Rep itself is making internal cuts (except for the sports department) that has to affect - in a negative way - the quality of the reporting and investigating that Repository resources will allow for.

One thing that should not be affected is the editorial function.

But in has taken a nosedive since the likes of Schultze and Kaminski have left.

For instance, on May 26th the editors published a editorial on how H. Michael Miller, CEO/superintendent of the Stark Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) was "(t)he right man for the times."

This is apparently a case of the editors finding an excuse for the draconian cutting that Miller has been doing at MRDD. This program was at one time was one of the very best in Ohio and perhaps in all of Ohio and perhaps all of America. But under Miller it has become a mere shell of its former self.

The reason?

The SCPR believes that Miller was asleep at the switch and was not proactively engaged to respond in a positive way to new financial realities (private sector competition) ahead of their onset. Earlier in the year yours truly attended an MRDD promotion for the then upcoming levy that eventually passed in May immediately passed.

Miller put up his charts showing the revenue and expenses and the carryover factor going back ten years. A quick look at the chart clearly show that Miller did not swing into action until well after the numbers warned of an impending financial crisis.

By then the time for preventative and curative measures was well past.

Hurriedly, Miller put together a levy effort for March, 2008 which failed mostly likely because The Rep Editorial Board did not endorse it.

The main reason The Repository gave for not endorsing?

More efficiencies had to be implemented at MRDD.

While more efficiency is always something to be focused on, MRDD was then at the point that more cuts would be "cutting into the bone."

For the editors to excuse and indeed laud Miller for "cutting into the bone," shows what an inrresponsible group of editors abide at 500 Market Avenue, South.

On June 30th, a citizen and former MRDD board member wrote a letter to the editor of The Rep (Stark MRDD: Changes need to be made, but not this way, June 30, 2009) decrying the kind of and manner of the cuts.

On June 22nd, Mary Parker (a commenter on The Rep and the SCPR) also had a letter published in The Repository: Loved ones of MRDD clients didn't dream so many layoffs were coming.

Particularly poignant is this portion of Mary's letter, to wit:

I hope that one day, we will again see some semblance of the great MRDD program we once had. I hope voters, the community, will continue to support it.

I didn't foresee ICFMRs pulling so many clients out of MRDD programs.

Did the board and Superintendent Michael Miller deliberately mislead us?

God, I hope not. I want to believe these people have our children's best interest at heart. That's getting harder to do.

It not sad - as the Rep editors put it - that Miller is retiring in January, 2010. Rather it is a ray of hope that a much more positively creative person will take of the helm and restore Stark MRDD to "some semblance of the great MRDD program" Stark Countians once had.

These editorial writers ought to be a prod to initiative, creativeness and the positive; not the excusers and honorers of those who disassemble Stark County's quality infrastructure.

As yours truly has said a number of times about this body of editorialists: Shame on The Repository!

STARK COUNTY'S LEADING "GROUP THINK" PROPONENTS?

The hallmark of our republic is the marketplace of ideas.

Everyday citizens meet in different contexts and share with one another a diversity of ideas of how we can live effectively and productively in community.

However, we do have in our midst those who think his idea alone is best. Accordingly, the SCPR, will, from time-to-time, republish the TOP SIX STARK CONTROLLERS LIST.

Note the absence of any females from the SCPR's "top six" list of Stark Countians who quest to dominate and stifle any dissent from a central idea of what is best for any given collection of citizens. Hum?

At the top of the list is, of course, William J. Healy, II; mayor of Canton. Healy is absolutely in a class by himself when it comes to being "a control freak." This guy can't abide anyone who differs with him. And he wants to lead a community? You have got to be kidding, Jamey?

Second, recently resigned (June 1, 2009) chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party, Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. Maier is the most politically paranoid person the SCPR has ever met. And just by virtue of their trade, politicians as a class are paranoid. But this guy "takes the cake." So the SCPR is pleased to recognize Maier - as a last honor - for his controlling nature while serving as chairman.

Third, H. Michael Miller the superintendent/CEO of the Stark County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) agency. He controls the MRDD board and staff with a tight grip and brooks no dissent. He blows off citizens (like yours truly) who ask to sit down for a little chit-chat. In time he will be off the list. How's that? Thankfully, he is moving on. Effective with January, 2010, he will be moving on into retirement. Great news for the Stark County community.

Fourth, Jackson Township fiscal officer Randy Gonzalez. As the newly elected chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party, he has sat at the feet of Maier and learned to control from an expert. You can bet that he will knuckle down on any Democrat Stark County officeholders who do not toe the party line according to Gonzalez. People like Kim Perez, Tim Swanson, Todd Bosley, Mike Rehfus and organized labor elements of the party are in for a hard time. It is likely that they have pledged allegiance to Gonzalez, but it is not within their makeup to suppress themselves on a continuing basis. In time, all hell will break loose, After all, we are talking about the Democrats.

Fifth, state Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake/the 50th Ohio House District). Snitchler has the appearance of being a "come let us reason together" type. But he isn't Todd is a true believer on at least two counts (he seems wired to be a group think person). One is his fanatic connection to chambers of commerce and his fascination with the panacea-esque "private-enterprise" alone formulas for what ails Stark County, Ohio and the nation. Two is his buy-in to official Republican ideology. Wow! Does this guy have deep thinking skills? Apparently not.

Sixth, Stark County Republican Party chairman Jeff Matthews. Matthews is on this list only because he has the distinction of be in a group think of two. Two? That's not much of a group. True. But a devastating group it is. Matthews and Braden (Matthew's predecessor). Word is that they cannot exist politically; one without the other. This "mini-group" has devastated the Stark County Republican Party. Even with the Democrats trying to self-destruct, it is unclear that Stark Republicans will benefit when Democrat officeholders start falling. Stay tuned.

So there you have it folks, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT "TOP SIX STARK CONTROLLERS LIST!

NORTH CANTON'S MAYOR HEADING SOUTH?

By all accounts, North Canton's David Held is viewed as being a stellar executive director of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste District (Solid Waste).

On the other hand, he is viewed by many as a mediocre mayor of North Canton.

Consequently, it is difficult to get a fix on the administrative skills of Held.

North Canton could be a special situation. How is that?

Well, you have former mayor, councilman, Ralph Regula chief of staff and Bob Taft economic development official Daryl Revoldt sitting as the current president of North Canton City Council.

How does one top the Revoldt act?

Not easily and apparently David Held has chosen to let Daryl lead North Canton rather than challenge.

On the other hand, Held gains the plaudits of everyone the SCPR has spoken with as to the quality and strength of his leadership at Solid Waste.

Analyzing David Held's leadership skills is important because the SCPR has reason to believe that Held intends to apply to replace H. Michael Miller (who will be stepping down in January, 2010) as superintendent/CEO of the Stark County Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Board (MRDD).

Miller's retirement should be welcome news to Stark Countians. SCPR sources say that Miller has been presiding over the dismantling of the once "top-of-the-line" MRDD. Now the worry seems to be, whether or not there will be anything to salvage before a new MRDD leader takes over.

The next question is: what qualities should the successor possess?

First, the new leader should examine what has worked well for MRDD in the past and take these viable activities and projects and make them the bulwark of a reconstituted MRDD.

For example, SCPR's sense is that users want a MRDD that keeps its clientele active and engaged. One of the complaints against Miller was that he was bidding MRDD workers out of jobs because he raised the costs to area businesses beyond what they were willing to pay for the skill level MRDD could deliver.

To satisfy MRDD families, a new director will have to rebuild what the sources claim Miller has dismantled.

Second, the new leader should be exploring new opportunities to integrate adult users into the workaday community in a fashion that is highly remunerative to MRDD in the context of needing to be competitive.

Third, the new leader needs to strengthen MRDD's ties to the total Stark County educational system in its operation of Eastgate and Southgate schools. New leadership needs to aggressively pursue upping the ante on the share that the 17 Stark County school districts partner financially with MRDD to ensure that MRDD's critical education services have the financial resources to be top notch.

Stark County Educational Services Center superintendent Larry Mogan wrote a strong letter of support for MRDD in its recent successful effort to pass a 1.4 mill levy. Morgan was effusive in his praise of MRDD schools and emphasized what a financial disaster it would be if MRDD schools were closed.

Well, the question becomes this. Will the new MRDD leader have the skills and strengths needed to convince Morgan to lean on already financially strapped school districts to up their contributions to MRDD?

Just ask area teacher union officials (i.e OEA - Ohio Education Association). Larry Morgan is one tough negotiator. Yes, he is sympathetic to MRDD and mindful of their critical role in the success of the Stark County educational classroom infrastructure. But nevertheless he will fight tooth and nail not give you one more dollar.

Does David Held have the qualities referred to above as well as others not elaborated upon in this piece required to be an effective MRDD leader?

If so, Held ought to be a leading candidate to succeed H. Micheal Miller.