SCPR 2013 EDITION OF STARK COUNTY PUBLIC OFFICIAL, PUBLIC FIGURE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

HEALY SUPPORTERS DO NOT FARE WELL IN CANTON CITY COUNCIL RACES

From Canton Mayor's William Healy's perspective, yesterday's elections had to be a disappointment. Late in the campaign the gloves came off in his fight to unseat Ward 1 Councilman Greg Hawk. But Healy did not come close in his effort. His candidate, former Republican Bob Harper lost by a nearly 2 to 1 margin.

By being front and center in the Harper campaign and by sending his supporters help Hawk's opponent, Healy put himself in a position of having to own the Hawk/Harper results.

Will Healy's opponents on Council take the Ward 1 election as a referendum on Healy's performance in office so far? Could be.

The SCPR believes that more skirmishes with Council lie ahead for Healy and his losing political capital investment in the Ward 1 race will signal to council members that Healy is a lame duck mayor with little chance of re-election, if he lasts that long.

The SCPR sees council-at-large replacement of Don Casar as a person who has a steep learning curve and consequently will fall under the strong influence of long time councilman Bill Smuckler, hardly a Healy admirer, as he learns the ins and outs of being a counciiman.

What next?

Council will continue to focus on its own agenda for Canton and will only work with Healy on matters that Healy follows Council's lead on.

Bill Smuckler is likely positioning himself for one last run at becoming mayor of Canton, even if it means taking Healy on in a primary.

Smuckler would have no problem at all at challenging an incumbent mayor.

After all, when Smuckler needed to be focusing his time, energy and resources in running against Republican candidate Janet Creighton in 2003, who ran against him in the Democratic primary?

None other than Hizzonor.

HEALY "STATE OF THE CITY" - BLASTS POLITICAL OPPONENTS

In this segment of Healy's State of the City address given this past Monday evening, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) focuses on what must be the Mayor's focus - the turmoil that has enveloped Canton City Hall.

As one should expect, Healy focuses the likes of Council president Allen Schulman (unnamed) and long time council member Bill Smuckler (also unnamed) who successfully ran against Healy for mayor in the Democratic primary in 2003.

The Report agrees with Healy that Schulman and Smuckler and their cohorts are indeed his political enemies. Where the SCPR differs with Healy is that Healy himself is the reason for his own troubles. Healy exudes arrogance, brooks no "differing of opinion" within his administration and demonstrates paranoic-esque actions to control; even those who he has no direct authority over.

Unless and until Healy recognizes that his firing of his Tom Bernabei as service director and chief of staff together with a host of other political goofs vis-a-vis Council and other key players in larger Stark County community, he will spend the rest of his days as Mayor being embattled and therefore detrimental to the social, political and economic revival of Canton.

Note in Healy's State of the City address how he makes special mention of his supporters.

Well, The Report has had contact with several of his supporters who thought they were, on one hand, mentally pugilistic enough to browbeat the SCPR into being less critical of the Healy Administration; and, on the other, smart enough to finesse the same result.

Let's hope the Mayor can do better than this group for support. But they fit a disturbing pattern your truly sees with the Mayor himself. Apparently, one must drink the Healy Kook-Aid concoction to get treated respectfully by the Mayor. The SCPR sees that Mayor William J. Healy, II abhors any disagreement and works to marginalize those who think differently than he does.

Healy is not the only Stark County politician who gets vengeful with those who disagree. Yours truly can tick off a half dozen without giving the matter much thought.

When the Mayor politically matures and starts genuinely seeking advice from others and showing the ability to work with dissenters on his government policies and practices, then, not only The Report, but many other Stark Countians will take note of the change and view the Mayor in a different light.

A dose of political maturation will be much more effective than asking Kool-Aid drinking supporters to go out and do political bombast or spin for him.

View and hear Healy speak for himself in the following video.

DISCUSSION: "A POLITICAL DOGFIGHT" BETWEEN CANTON MAYOR WILLIAM J. HEALY, II & WARD 1 COUNCILMAN GREG HAWK? YES, TO PUT IT MILDLY!

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that open warfare has broken out between Canton Mayor William J. Healy and Ward 1 Councilman Greg Hawk.

A few days ago The Report did a blog on Hawk getting a job with Massillon Muny clerk of courts Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

Did that story strike a cord with the Healy camp?

A TeamHealy member who has called yours truly every name in the book because of the SCPR hard hitting pieces on the Mayor, all of sudden became The Report's best friend?

Not hardly!

This person started feeding the SCPR information about Hawk. Yours truly has been around the block and time or two and for this person and another Healy supporter (Eric Resnick - who gave The Report info about Healy's future legislative agenda and then complained when yours truly wrote about it) to not understand this is interesting.

The Report accepts information from various sources and works hard to be satisfied that the info has substance. Coincidentally, The Report's incisive political analysis may benefit certain political figures. That's today. Tomorrow, if that's where the story leads, may not be so pleasing to these folks.

Both of these two have to get up earlier in the morning to get ahead of The Report.

As The Report has said about Healy, he is one of the most opportunistic/manipulative politician yours truly has ever been around. That's why the SCPR did a blog with a character laughing vigorously at the thought that William J. Healy offering a "true" ethics reform package. The Report has opinionated that Healy is politically amoral and only thinks about his own skin in his political machinations.

Many times over, The Report has said that Healy thinks he is smarter than the rest of the world (and certainly the likes of Tom Bernabei, Allan Schulman and Bill Smuckler) and contemptuously toys with them, The Report, The Repository and others (in his own mind).

Now it turns out that Healy is ratcheting up his political game.

One of Healy's most bitter political enemies in Canton Ward 1 Councilman Greg Hawk.

Hawk has an opponent in the upcoming May primary: Robert Harper. The SCPR has learned that Healy has directed his political assets to go all out for Harper in the Democratic primary (Harper was a Republican according to Stark County Board of Election records as late as May, 2005).

And that is Healy's perfect right.

Moreover, the Healy supporter source complains that Hawk was originally Healy friendly, although the Healyite claims that Hawk publicly says he voted for Republican Janet Creighton in 2007, but is to be chastised for questioning Healy et al during the city budget considerations. Really? Councilman Hawk is disloyal because he does his job as a councilman?

What happened next is what should disturb Stark County law enforcement officials and Cantonian citizens.

At a recent area function in which local "celebrity" figures (political, civic and whatever), Mayor Healy made a very serious hearsay (hearsay in that it had been passed onto Healy - according to Healy - by a knowledgeable woman) allegation about a Hawk family member to a group of attendees and alleged drug activities in the Hawk home

But get this?

Healy makes it known this group of people at the celebrity event that he (Mr. Let Me Propose Ethics Reform for Canton) that he's not going to the police with the allegations.

That's Healy's ethics for you.

What an outrage!!!

Hawks reaction? Quite understandable. Four letter words were flying all over the place hurled in Healy's direction.

The more that the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT digs into how Healy operates and his false notion that nobody in Canton or Stark County or maybe even the world is sharp as "hizzoner," the more The Report is convinced that governing Canton in a constructive, productive and helpful way is not Healy's primary agenda.

No, not at all!

As far as the SCPR is concerned, Healy is all about Healy!!!!

DISCUSSION: ANOTHER ARROGANT ACTION, WHO ELSE? WILLIAM J. HEALY, MAYOR OF CANTON - THAT'S WHO

There once was a day that yours truly would get random telephone calls from William J. Healy, II. But no more.

Why not?

Because if anyone has the audacity to disagree with the Mayor of Canton then that person is taken off the "telephone list" and put on the "_ _ _ _ list."

Well, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) is pleased to be on Healy's "_ _ _ _ list." The Repository is on Healy's telephone list. He calls them and asks to come in to talk with the editors so that he can finesse them into writing PR pieces for him. And, they comply. Stark County's ONLY countywide newspaper provides its readers with jaundiced editorials on Healy.

Now a story surfaces where Healy is freezing out someone other than The Report for criticizing him. Namely: Canton City Councilman Greg Hawk who according to a Repository report yesterday that Hawk had disagreed Healy on the budgeting process. Such is Healy tactic #1, if you don't work for him. If you work for him, you get fired!

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.

DISCUSSION: SHOULDN'T THE REPOSITORY BE USING A "DISCLAIMER" WHEN REPORTING ON MAYOR HEALY AND CANTON CITY COUNCIL?

UPDATE 2: A reader of the SCPR asked whether or not Stephen Mears had contributed to Janet Creighton's campaign. The Report has learned that Mears did make a personal contribution in 2003 of $100.

UPDATE: 3/17/2009 AT 10:10 A.M - STRATEGY ONE RESPONDS TO HERMAN STATEMENT

Last week a reader of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) tipped The Report off to a contractual relationship between the city of Canton and The Canton Repository (actually with The Rep's parent, Gate House Ohio Media, Inc.)

Cutting to the chase on the pertinent facts, here is a summary of what the relationship is. (Background information is provided below)

Canton has contracted with The Rep to publish a City glossy quarterly entitled Canton Connection with a annual contracted publishing cap of $20,000.

The Rep/Canton Connection business relationship is not much different than the fact that The Rep contracts with area businesses to run ads for the businesses in the daily Rep.

To The Report, the contractual advertising relationship wouldn't necessarily mean that The Rep could not render unaffected reporting on stories involving the advertiser. But it would mean that The Rep SHOULD at the front of each such story alert readers to the existing financial relationship via a prominently displayed disclaimer.

The Repository has had the publishing contract with the Canton Connection since December, 2008. Undoubtedly, deep buried in the minutes of Canton City Council meegings, is a record of Council approval of the contract. But has The Rep itself alerted readers to the fact of the relationship. Unless The Report has missed any such alert, it appears not.

As we all know, Mayor Healy is under a great deal of scrutiny these days as to whether or not he has had an allegedly "inappropriate" relationship with a 16 year old.

Another Healy curiosity is the coincidence of certain contracts being let or about to be let by Mayor Healy (Reflex Traffic Systems, if it is not overturned - by Canton City Council which earlier in the year approved Redflex at Healy administration urging) and campaign contributions being made to the TeamHealy Committee (the campaign finance vehicle by which Healy obtained funding for his 2007 mayoralty campaign).

One of the reasons that the readership of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT has increased dramatically in recent weeks is because many Stark Countians feel that they only get "the straight scoop" and the hard questions on Stark County politics and government and, in particular, on the Healy sagas - from The Report.

Readers have been amazed at the low key, extremely conservative and, at times, non-existent coverage (both reportorially and editorially) of Stark County controversies and/or issues (including the Healy matters) by The Repository - Stark County's ONLY major countywide news outlet.

The feeling is that The Rep has way too many cozy relationships with the personalities, businesses, organizations and government institutions that its reporters and editors cover.

The revelation of The Rep/Canton Connection connection does nothing but add to the suspicion or at least a perception on the part of many Stark Countians that The Rep has a lot of "sweatheart" relationships within Stark and that readers get jaundiced reports and editorials as a consequence.

Another element that exists with The Repository is its hypocrisy.

The Rep selectively jumps all over certain persons, businesses, organizations and government institutions about the lack of openness and transparency.

But who is The Rep to complain?

In light of The Rep's financial relationship with Canton, why isn't the Stark County reading public getting a front and center disclaimer on each and every story or editorial it produces on the Canton City administration, the mayor and his troubles and, indeed, Canton City City Council actions?

Below, as in depth background promised at the beginning of this blog, is Canton Communications Director Adam Herman's description of how The Repository came to become the publisher - for at least one year - for the Canton Connection.

Martin:

The Canton Quarterly was started by former Mayor Creighton in 2006.  She chose Strategy One/Canton Media Works to manage the operations of the magazine.  There was no contract and no cap on expenses - for this reason, costs for this magazine had significantly increased since its inception.  In 2008, it cost nearly $50,000 to produce and deliver.

To lower costs during our tough budget times, the City requested and accepted bids from local companies (including the original vendor) to manage and deliver the publication for $20,000 or less.  Three companies responded, and Gatehouse Ohio Media, Inc.  (a Canton company that owns the Repository, About Magazine, and a few other local newspapers) was chosen as the winning bid.  A contract was signed in December of last year following Council's unanimous vote to approve the arrangement.

Because the previous vendor (Strategy One/Canton Media Works) copyrighted the name "Canton Quarterly" shortly after Mayor Healy was elected in November 2007, the City was unable to continue calling its official publication the "Canton Quarterly."  Accordingly, the publication was re-named the "Canton Connection."

The contract is capped at $20,000/year and is good for one year with the option to extend an additional year if the City is satisfied with their performance.

Again, The Report asks: Isn't a disclaimer in order on all matters Canton government and personalities?

THE REST OF THE STORY - STRATEGY ONE RESPONDS

Martin-

Very astute blog about the Rep and Healy being in bed. Please allow me to set Mr. Herman’s record straight.

Mayor Healy has been on a quest to get rid of anything Mayor Creighton did, simply because it wasn’t his idea. However, when it comes to the Canton Quarterly (CQ), Adam is misrepresenting the facts.

Healy is a vindictive person. I cannot show you facts to prove that, but I have the scars. A while back, I alerted you to a series of emails from Healy to me during the 2003 campaign. It was overheard and reported to me that the fact the emails went public and embarrassed him was the source of the chip on his shoulder.

1. StrategyONE was not the publisher of CQ. We are a marketing communications firm that performed graphic design and project management services to CMW Publishing, LLC. It just so happens that my name is on the documentation with the State of Ohio for CMW, but I am a minority owner and have little to do with the management thereof. I do own 100% of StrategyONE.

2. Adam Herman is incorrect saying that Mayor Creighton contracted with Strategy One / Canton Media Works. There was no contract until Healy took over, and that was at the urging of the auditor.

a. A committee of city employees, chaired by Sam Sliman, was tasked with developing better channels of communication with the citizens of Canton. Specifically, the Mayor tasked Sliman’s committee with finding a way to consolidate numerous city departments’ newsletters into one, to reduce the cost to the taxpayers.

b. Sam was aware that we had expertise in this area. We created a mock-up of CQ and presented it to the committee, along with a budget projection for the advertising sales versus total cost of creating, printing and mailing approximately 65,000 32-page full color magazines 4x per year.

c. We shopped the printing locally, but no Canton printing company was even close to being competitive. We chose Hess printing in Brimfield, which employed 26 Canton City Income Taxpayers at the time. That move along saved $20,000 PER ISSUE.

d. CMW invoiced the city for the difference between advertising revenue and total cost. Herman is correct that the amount was around $50,000 annually. Chump change when you look at the bigger picture.

i. $50,000 in city funds / 65,000 pieces x 4 issues per year = 260,000 magazines containing 32 pages of useful information at a cost of about 19-cents per recipient.

ii. A business spends somewhere around 2.5% of its gross revenue on marketing/communications. In this case, the city was spending .0009% of revenue on CQ.

e. CMW managed the advertising sales. We employed the sales staff and managed the program independently of the city. The city provided raw content and pictures.

3. It is true that we trademarked CQ the day after the election. We also filed a Copyright. That’s just the way business works. We beat them to it. The Repository has never reached out to us to inquire about using the name.

4. Healy / Herman put the publication out for bid, but the bid request was vague at best. For example, the bid request did not specify what kind of paper to use, what size the publication needed to be, how it would be distributed, colors to use, etc. These things alone could sway the costs by tens of thousands of dollars.

5. Certain departments receive Federal funding that must be used to communicate with the entire constituency. That is why CMW distributed CQ as a saturation mailing. We could have cut corners, but we needed to make sure those departments were in compliance. I am uncertain whether the Repository’s set-up will satisfy that … it wasn’t in the bid.

Steve

Stephen Mears, president

StrategyONE, Inc

DISCUSSION: A DISTURBING PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE WITH CANTON'S MAYOR HEALY?

The big splash in the news about Canton's Mayor Healy has been his "alleged" inappropriate relationship with a 16 year old area female.

If the allegations prove to be borne out, Mayor Healy will crawl into the annals of Stark County political history oblivion very quickly.

But if they aren't substantiated, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes that Healy has a number of other serious political problems to overcome.

The Report sees a possible PATTERN emerging from Canton's government dealings at the hands of Healy with some cooperation from Canton City Council. However, there is some opposition by Councilpersons Smuckler and Cirelli (neither of who particularly like Mayor Healy).

The Report has repeatedly referred to the intriguing "out-of-towners" factor that campaign finance documents reveal about the Mayor. Cleveland (and many of its suburbs), Columbus, Akron, Maumee (near Toledo), Scottsdale (AZ), and Las Vegas (NV).

Does the "out-of-towner" factor qualify as a PATTERN?

The question: As a matter of PATTERN, do any of the out-of-town interests in the light of TeamHealy Committee campaign contributions unduly influence Canton government and politics. A collateral question: Is too much Canton taxpayer money leaving Canton for the far reaches, when competitive, qualitative local business exist?

A prime example: The 1-888OhioComp group out of Cleveland. Four people associated with the company are documented as having made significant contributions to the TeamHealy Committee. The decision to contract with the company was largely Healy's.

The Mayor when asked by Repository reporters gave the only answer he could give. 1-888OhioComp was the best deal for Canton.

Really?

Canton has a home based and grown company named AultComp which serves Stark County government. How about the Canton based jobs which pays Canton city income taxes and spreads money throughout Stark County in purchasing Stark County based goods and service? Was that a part of the calculation in the mind of a Mayor who prides himself (telling everyone within earshot repeatedly) that he is a graduate of the masters program of the New York University Stern of of Business?

A second example: Attorney Gary C. Johnson of Cleveland or is it Akron? The Report's examination of Johnson's campaign contributions seem to have him living/working in a number of places throughout northeast Ohio. A curiosity, to say the least.

Healy clearly worked out deal with campaign contributor Johnson to come in with a contract $ number that would enpower Healy to make the hire decision on his own without any oversight from Canton City Council.

Healy's justification?

Johnson is Ohio's best management side labor negotiation attorney.

Local management side labor negotiating attorney Robert Tscholl says that we have plenty of high caliber attorneys in Canton and more importantly on the city payroll in the Canton Law Department. In fact, The Report learned that the Canton Law Department hired a specialist in labor negotiating skills especially for working the Canton Police union contract; only to be undercut by the Healy move hiring Johnson.

The Johnson hiring, then, again is an example of Healy moving Canton city taxpayer money to Cleveland. From what The Report can make of the result of the negotiations, it does not appear that Healy and Nesbitt can justify the hiring of Johnson in terms of money saved in the results obtained in the negotiations.

Healy (and The Report is sorry to say) a number of Canton City Councilpersons are trying to spin the contract as a 0% increase contract. The Report believes that it is a 3% contract. A contract if anything on the high side of what is being negotiated these days.

A third example: Redflex Traffic Systems of Arizona. The campaign contribution to the TeamHealy Committee connection figured out so far by The Report? A Joe Moore who the report has learned is a customer services manager for Redflex made a contribution on July 8, 2008.

Lo and behold, guess who ends up with a contract with the city of Canton?

You've got itl. The Report's readers are very smart people. Yes, indeed: Reflex Traffic Systems.

Canton City Council is complicit in this decision. Very interesting. Only Mary Cirelli voted no in a 9 to 1 vote.

Wholesale citizen opposition developed as the Healy administration tried to sell the camera system to local citizens at a series of meeting held throughout Canton after the vote.

A vote was scheduled for this past Monday, March 9th.

The Report was at the meeting with camera in hand. As soon as The Report had settled in, Councilwoman Cirelli and Council President Allen Schulman spoke with yours truly to inform that no vote would take place this evening.

Cirelli speculated that Council did not want to be on record prior to the May primary and that was the reason for the delay. Healy made an announcement that his administration needed to contact Redflex to have some "adjustments" made to the contract. Hum?

It will be interesting to see. Will the vote take place on the 23rd?

Will Healy be able to pull off yet another contract for an out-of-town company who had at least one employee (Joe Moore of Scottsdale, AZ) "co-incidentally" (undoubtedly the Mayor would say) make a campaign contribution (online).

Is there a PATTERN emerging from Healy's involvement in and connection with Canton City contracts ending up in the hands of a campaign contributor and companies whose employees contributed to the TeamHealy Committee.

Or is it all a mere co-incidence?

What do you think?

NOTE: MAYOR HEALY REFUSES TO ANSWER THE REPORT'S QUESTIONS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE DOCUMENTS.

ALSO, THE REPORT DID A RECORDS REQUEST FOR A LIST OF ALL CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY THE CITY OF CANTON. THE RESPONSE FROM COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR ADAM HERMAN - A LIST DOES NOT EXIST AND THAT THE RECORDS ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENTS OF CANTON CITY GOVERNMENT.

The Report believes that Mayor Healy could provide a list from memory?

DISCUSSION: CANTON SAFETY DIRECTOR NESBITT - A VERY ANGRY MAN ABOUT NOT BEING SELECTED AS 9-1-1 PROJECT MANAGER?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that Canton Safety Director Tom Nesbitt (coming to Canton from Nebraska a little over a year ago) after being informed that the interviewers of the Governance Committee of the Stark County Council of Governments (SCOG) would not be recommending that SCOG as a whole name him as 9-1-1 Project Manager went to City Hall to vent on Mayor Healy.

Reportedly, Nesbitt complained to the Mayor, "Randy Gonzales promised me this job" (paraphrase). Moreover, Nesbitt is reported to have slammed at least one door as an expression of anger at not being selected.

The Report has further learned that the interviewing committee reached a consensus that former Creighton administration Safety Director and Chief of Staff Joseph Concatto (most recently retired) would be the the recommendation to the full SCOG.

When the interviewing crew left the Stark County 9-1-1 Center (located at the Stark County Jail), Concatto was their man.

After the Nesbitt tirade and presumably a call being made to Gonzalez, it appears that Gonzales is determined to resume his push for Nesbitt before the full SCOG at an special meeting to be called for the near future.

The Report believes that the push by Gonzales for Nesbitt is the result of an intense lobbying effort by Healy to get Nesbitt out of his adminstration.

The Report has obtained documents from the Healy administration pursuant to a records request under Ohio's Sunshine Law which show The Report that Nesbitt has an acerbic relationship with Canton Police Chief Dean L. McKimm. Presumably, the Canton police force at large supports the Chief and therefore it seems reasonable to suppose that Safety Director (and derivatively Mayor Healy) does not have command of Canton's forces. Rather, McKimm appears, from The Report's reading of the obtained documents, to routinely "thumb his nose" at the Healyites.

So what is Healy to do?

Find Nesbitt a new job so he can get someone in place who can control McKimm or successfully dump him by negotiating through the Canton Civil Service maze.

The Report has learned from a source that Stark County Democratic chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. has gotten in on the act.

Why?

Because he reportedly does not want Joseph Concatto.

But he does want Nesbiitt?

The Report is trying to make sense of this. Well, what's the problem? As far as The Report can determine both Concatto and Nesbitt are Republicans. Why would Maier care?

One possible explanation, if The Report's source on Maier's involvement is accurate is as follows: Maier is for Nesbitt because Gonzales (who The Report deems to be the de facto head of the Stark County Democratic Party) is and has been for Nesbitt.

Another possibility. It is thought by a number of Stark County political analysts (including yours truly) that Healy is bent on getting rid of Police Chief McKimm. Healy's expectation has very likely been that Nesbitt should get this done. But it hasn't happened. Healy may see his political survival and, indeed, his political future tied to whipping the Canton PD into a more effective policing unit and Healy probably sees McKimm as a barrier to this goal and therefore he needs a safety director who can handle the McKimm problem.

So where does Maier come in?

In previous blogs by The Report mention was made that Governor Strickland very much wanted to see Healy elected mayor of Canton. According to Jack DeSario (D&R Consulting), Governor Strickland prevailed on him to run the Healy campaign.

We all know that Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. is Governor Strickland's man in Stark County on the sentimental basis that Johnnie was the very first county chairman to endorse Strickland when Strickland had still political opposition within the Democratic party in his drive to be the party's nominee to be governor.

If it is important for Strickland that Healy be a successful mayor of Canton, then Maier is going to do everything within his power to help Healy weather the current political turmoil that is afflicting Canton City Hall. If Healy sees moving Nesbitt on to another job as being the solution to his problems, wouldn't Maier want to help him and thereby prove his continuing worth to Strickland in Stark County politics?

DISCUSSION: HEALY, GONZALES & HARMON "PUSHING FOR CANTON SAFETY DIRECTOR - TOM NESBITT ON 9-1-1 PROJECT MGR JOB?

While the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes that Canton Mayor Jamey Healy is trying to squeeze Safety Director Tom Nesbitt out as safety director, it is obvious that Randy Gonzales (the man with a powerless title - Jackson Township Fiscal Officer - but seemingly "all powerful") is pushing Nesbitt into the 9-1-1 tube.

The Report has reason to believe that Canton Mayor Healy in his singular ("you don't know this is happening to you - because I am much smarter than you") mode, "but I just want to know what Tom Nesbitt's chances are to become 9-1-1 Project Manager because I need to plan" This is a phone call The Report believes Healy made to all 9-1-1 Project Manager interviewers over the weekend.

Get it?

Healy is not directly lobbying for Nesbitt for appearances sake, but "really" he is. The Report believes there is a concerted effort on the part of Mayor Healy, Jackson Township Fiscal Officer Randy Gonzales (the de facto head of the Stark County Democratic Party) and Stark County Commissioner Tom Harmon to relocate Nesbitt to the 9-1-1 Project Manager position.

Why Healy?

Because Nesbitt humiliated him about a month ago when he let it be known that he was applying for the 9-1-1 Project Manager job. Nesbitt's application was confirmation to The Report of what was already known; all was not well within the Healy administration. What's more, Nesbitt has been unable to get Canton Police Chief Dean L. McKimm fired as The Report has reported is at the top of Healy's "to do" list.

The Report was the first Stark County media to speculate that the Healy administration was a "sinking ship."

Was The Report correct in your truly's analysis?

You be the judge?

After the Nesbitt incident, you have the Bernabei (Services Director and Chief of Staff) firing, you have the campaign contributions to Healy from figures being investigated by the FBI in what has come to be known as the "Cuyahoga County corruption; you have the campaign contributions from folks associated with 1-888-Workers'Comp (whom Healy awarded Canton's workers' compensation processing contract to - largely on his own); you have Stark Countian Jack DeSario (who has had records of his D&R Consulting subpeoned by the FBI in its Cuyahoga County investigation) and who has former connections with Gary C. Johnson who was recently given a labor negotiation contract by Healy and from whom Healy initially received $1400 in campaign contributions.

The Report is still looking into other campaign contributions that Healy received and The Report is beginning to connect more dots. Of course, the TeamHealy and Mayor Healy himself is refusing to answer the telling questions of The Report.

Stay tuned on the campaign contributions thing.

Mind you, The Report has largely stayed away from the allegations that Healy has had an "inappropriate" relationship with an area 16 year old.

If The Report is so correct, when will the "Ship Healy" finally sink?

Who knows. These things seem to take forever to resolve one way or another. Effective investigators are extremely careful to dot each and every - i - and cross each and every - t -, and doubly so when the subject of the inquiry is a powerful public figure.

Back to the 9-1-1 hiring.

Why Gonzales?

Gonzales started months ago when he was making the rounds of the villages, townships and cities of Stark County lobbying for support of a countywide 9-1-1 system. Only recently The Report learned that Tom Nesbitt was with Gonzales on many, if not all, of the stops that 9-1-1 circuit rider Gonzales made.

Why Harmon?

The Report suspects that Gonzales teamed up with County Commissioner Tom Harmon and Nesbitt several months ago and forged an agreement that if and when the money became available to take a re-worked 9-1-1 countywide, Nesbitt would be the candidate of choice.

The Report believes that Harmon is politically jealous of fellow commissioner Todd Bosley because of the many Bosley attention-getting activities as commissioner and is fomenting troubles for Bosley; unbeknown to Bosley. For appearance sakes, Harmon seems to be working harmoniously (no pun intended) with Bosley.

Does Bosley have difficulties in pressing his support for Peterson?

It is common knowledge that Bosleys man for the 9-1-1 Project Manager job is Nimishillen Township Fire Chief Rich Peterson. However, in the inter circles of 9-1-1 turf struggles, Peterson has created avowed enemies. An expression of the animosity towards Bosley and Peterson was evident in an e-mail recently published in The Report's blog of several days ago. CLICK HERE to see the blog containing the e-mail.

The Report believes that the e-mail may have come from Gonzales or one of his Stark Democratic Party loyalists.

So how will all this work out?

The Report believes that Gonzales will win the day and get Nesbitt appointed.

However, it could devolve into "a battle royal" between Gonzales and Bosley and a compromise candidate will surface.

The Stark County political scene is rich in political intrigue these days!

Only the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT brings you Stark County political developments from the bowels of political infighting.

DISCUSSION: THE REPOSITORY CONTINUES ITS MISERABLE JOB IN REPORTING & EDITORIALIZING ON "THE HEALY FIASCO!"

One consistent thing about The Repository on the what the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) now dubs for the first time "the Healy fiasco," is how tardy The Rep has been in reporting on or editorializing on with respect each issue surfacing in "the Healy fiasco."

Only one year into 15 months into his administration, The Report is now ready to say that the Healy administration is a complete failure in terms of losing the confidence of most Cantonians in pulling Canton out of its economic and political stupor.

What is amazing is the degree to which TeamHealy has bamboozled The Canton Repository "powers that be."

Why is this so?

The Report believes that Executive Editor Jeff Gauger and his fellows at The Rep are unsure as to whether or not the Healy administration is going to survive. Moreover, The Rep folks know full-well how punitive Healy is of those who do not do his bidding. So, if he does limp through his remaining 33 months, they likely surmise that getting news out of city hall will be worse that pulling teeth.

Another issue The Report has with The Rep is summed up in the next two sentences.

The Report uses material of The Repository frequently. And which yours truly does, proper attribution is accorded The Rep.

The reverse does not appear to be true.

Ed Balint's article, dated at about midnight yesterday, miserably fails to credit the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT for being an agent of the "stirring." The only journalistic effort to tie campaign contributions to Mayor Healy awarding contracts has been from The Report and WHBC's "Points to Ponder" (Ron Ponder - talk show host). But curiously miss from Balint's piece is a reference to either The Report or "Points to Ponder."

The Report has had several confirmations that the folks at The Rep follow what The Report's blog. A person from its editorial department e-mailed The Report to correct an incorrect (The Rep having made the initial error) attribution to a Repository editorial The Report was commenting on. And reporter Malcolm Hall of The Rep called The Rep about material The Report has published on the current Marlboro Township turmoil about efforts of township trustees to fire its police chief.

As The Report told Hall, he and The Rep is free to use The Report's material as long as The Rep attributes the source.

The Report has learned that Canton City Council leader Bill Smuckler has commented that the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT is the only Stark County journalistic effort that has gotten it right on the Healy administration machinations.

Now the Balint story itself.

Notice that Canton Law Director Martuccio couches his analysis in the expression "legally speaking." What this means to The Report is that Martuccio believes that the Healy administration has "the spirit of the law"l problems in the quid pro quo appearing arrangement on Healy's award of the Johnson contract. What's more, Martuccio skillfully qualifies his "legally speaking" with "this is the first time I have looked at the law." The qualification leaves Martuccio with wiggle room for later on. Perhaps, as the Healy administration is on its way out the door?

Healy (in The Rep's article): 'wanted to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in this situation.' What is this Mayor, a joke?

The mere utterance of the expression is that the Mayor understands that the impression is clearly out there in the public square. This tactic is what lawyers call a "confession and avoidance."

Every rhetorical device that Jamey Healy uses bespeaks a man who thinks he can outsmart the whole world with his glib tongue.

And it is working with at least one Stark County entity: THE CANTON REPOSITORY!

It should tell readers volumes that Healy is willing to talk with The Rep's people WHEREAS he will not nor permit his Communications Direct Adam Herman to talk to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT.

The Report trusts that the highly respected Canton Law Director Joe Martuccio will not let Healy hoodwink him. He needs to remember that Healy has undermined the public's confidence in his law department by saying, in effect, that his labor negotiating assistant law directors and staff are not ethical enough or expert enough to negotiate an "arms-length" contract with the Canton police unions.

Healy underscored his lack of confidence in the Canton Law Department by reiterating in the Balint piece: "Johnson’s 'experience ... was something that was critical in this process.'

The Report knows Healy well. The Report, at one time, held out hope that Healy could turnaround Canton.

The Report no longer believes Healy can be effective for Canton. Healy needs to move on!!!

DISCUSSION: CAN BOCCIERI PULL IT OFF? BRING HIGH TECH TO THE 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

The Canton Repository yesterday reported on 16th District Congressman John Boccieri's airplane ride with President Obama on the president's recent trip to Columbus produced heartening news for all district constituents, but in particular for Stark Countians.

As readers of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) know, The Report is highly enthusiastic about getting Stark County on a high speed rail towards becoming Ohio's center for alternative energies (promoted vigorously by Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley) and high tech which is all ready underway at Stark State College of Technology (SSCT) in fuel cell research and product development.

The specific part of the Boccieri encounter with Obama as reported by Repository reporter Edd Pritchard that should jump out at Boccieri constituents is this:

Obama wants to see clean coal technology developed into a functional option within 10 years and is interested in investments in other alternative energy programs. Boccieri said the district already has a good start with alternative energy, citing the fuel-cell program at Stark State College of Technology, bio mass research in Wayne County and work in Medina County to develop hybrid plug-in batteries.

The 16th District is “so primed to be a benefactor with these new investments,” Boccieri said, noting the different research programs. It’s exciting to see how diversified energy can help the country grow, Boccieri said.

The Report believes that national, state, county officials and the SSCT Board of Trustees ought to take a looks at restructuring the mission of SSCT.

SSCT President John O'Donnell has articulated a goal of Stark State playing a key role in elevating the overall educational level of Stark Countians in terms of having associate degrees. Such is a worthy objective. However, it is not making "the highest and best use" of Stark's technical education infrastructure.

O'Donnell's goal should not be jettisoned, but re-arranged whereby the Kent Stark campus is converted into a community college with post two year degree connections to The University of Akron and Kent State University for motivated associate degree grantees to obtain their bachelors.

Back to Stark State.

Congressman Boccieri, the Stark County commissioners, the Stark County delegation to the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio Board of Regents chairman Eric Fingerhut and Governor Strickland have a grand opportunity with Stark State and its fuel cell program high tech base to use that effort as a building block to refashion SSCT into a high level Ohio technical university.

Programs of research and development that ought to be considered as additions include "cell engineering," "tissue engineering," and "robotics." These, according to Juan Enriquez (the founding director of the Harvard Business School Life Sciences Project), says that cell engineering, tissue engineering and robotics are the leading edge of 21st century ways to reboot an economy. (See the accompany video clip below in which Enriquez is shown making this very point at a Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference)

How will 16th Congressional voters assess the quality of John Boccier's work in Congress come November, 2010?

The Report believes it is whether or not he "seizes the day" on the opportunity he identifies in the Pritchard piece as currently existing as in no other time.

But he cannot and should not do it on his own. Boccieri needs to be the catalytic force to bring together all the stakeholders identified above plus others that undoubtedly are to be identified.

A huge stakeholder not identified above is the city of Canton. Were moves to be made to make SSCT a premier Ohio technical university, Canton will have to be revamped as a much high grade cultural center for the super-tech types that would be coming to Stark County. The mayor and all city officials as well as Stark County officials should start reading now Richard Florida's collection of books (CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF HIS BOOKS) on what and how Canton or any other city that is bent on reinventing itself needs to proceed.

You would think that a certain mayor who prides himself on his New York University Stern School of Business masters degree and who is mayor of a major Ohio City has already read these books. If he has, it isn't evident in his thinking. If he hasn't he should get on with it.

Here is a video clip of Enquiez (for the full presentation CLICK HERE):

DISCUSSION: CANTON MAYOR WILLIAM J. HEALY, II REFUSES TO ANSWER SCPR'S QUESTIONS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT?

There are lots of questions the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has about Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II's mayoralty run campaign finance report.

The overriding question is this: Why are there so many out-of-town contributors to the Healy campaign for mayor of the city of Canton, Ohio?

The Report asked Healy administration Communications Director Adam Herman merely one question on a particular contributor to Healy's campaign. Herman responded that he only spoke for the Mayor as mayor. However, he promised to pass on the campaign related question to Healy's campaign finance people (The Report had already called the campaign's treasurer but the phone call remains unresponded to) and that yours truly should expect an answer shortly.

On February 26th, The Report advised Herman via e-mail that the campaign folks had not responded to the question and asked for follow-up.

Herman has not responded to the 26th's e-mail.

The Report believes that Mayor Healy has told Herman and his campaign finance folks "not to talk with Martin Olson." We all know about previously issued gag orders which are still in place that he has imposed on his staff and departmental administrators.

Healy does not act like a small letter "d" democrat. But he does act like the Mayors father-Daly and son-Daly of Chicagoland. Kind of like "a law unto himself."

Healy knows he can finesse the folks who staff The Repository's Editorial Board. On the flip side, he knows that he will get asked penetrating questions by The Report. If Healy can't manage something, he gets rid of it or avoids it.

When Healy was state representative (52nd), he had to do campaign finance reports. But there is one VERY importance difference. Local candidates are not required for contributions of $100 or more the title/job of the contributor nor who the contributor works for.

How so? Here is the answer provided by the Ohio secretary of state's office:

Pursuant to ORC 3517.10(B)(4)(b)(ii) ONLY a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly is required to provide the employer/occupation of any contribution received over $100.00. (emphasis added)

Mind you, Healy on his state rep reports filled in the "employer/occupation" of Form 31A.

In running for mayor of Canton, Healy has been getting contributions from all over the United States (e.g. Las Vegas, Cleveland, Columbus, Maumee, Akron et cetera) and questions have been posed by scrutinizing local media as to whether or not there is any connection between the contributions and the contracts entered into at the Mayor's behest.

One might expect Healy from his state representative days to go ahead and fill in the "employer/occupation" part of Form 31A. How naive. Politicians rarely go beyond the law. Healy is no exception. The Report projects that Healy (though not a lawyer) in figuring all the loopholes that the law provides.

Obviously, Healy et al are avoiding The Report because as one gets into his campaign fiance report, the list of questions about particular contributors has grown by volumes.

Where the questions have been asked, the "employer/occupation" information has largely been dug out by folks like yours truly.

Because of the failure of the Healy folks to be forthcoming, The Report has asked state Senator Kirk Schuring to work on changing the law to include local offices in the $100 and higher "employer/occupation" requirement. Schuring has agreed to pursue the change.

Such a change will only snare in the high-rollers like Healy. Most city council, board of education, village council and trustee do not get may $100+ contributions. For those that do, it is a simple step to gather and report that information.

One thing that Mayor Healy can bank on is this. The Report will doggedly pursue the identity of his contributors in terms of their financial interests and examine city of Canton contracts to determine whether or not any of these contributors have ended up with contracts (other than the one we already know about). If so, then The Report will press the Mayor to tell the public how the contracts came to be and the justification therefor.

It is in the interest of good government that there be transparency and openness. It appears to The Report that such is not what Cantonians are getting out of the Healy administration.

Readers can depend on The Report to pursue the Healy money trail like there is no tomorrow. So can Mayor William J. Healy, II - himself!

HEALY CAMPAIGN FINANCESERIES 03052009 - " A MAYOR FASCINATED WITH OUT-OF-TOWNERS?"

UPDATE 3/5/2009 - FOR THE SCPR (THE REPORT) FULL LIST OF OUT-OF-TOWN CONTRIBUTORS DEVELOPED BY THE REPORT SO FAR - CLICK HERE

DISCUSSION: MARCH 3, 2009 - MOST IMPORTANT DECISION FOR STARK'S 9-1-1 TREK TOWARD A COUNTYWIDE SYSTEM

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that over 100 applied for the newly created position of 9-1-1 Project Manager.

Today, the Stark County Council of Governments 9-1-1 Governance Committee will interview six finalists for the Project Manager position.

The person selected with have the responsibility of paring down the current 11 9-1-1 dispatch centers down to one, with - in all likelihood, a back up.

The political career of Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley could hinge on how well the reorganization of 9-1-1 goes. Democrat Bosley ran in 2006 on fixing 9-1-1 and, in the opinion of The Report, won on the issue. His opponent, Republican Richard Regula, fell completely on his political face in hem-hawing around on his failure to repair the broken system.

Bosley took political risk by convincing fellow commissioners Harmon and Vignos (now retired) to vote for a increase in the county sales/use tax part of which increase is to be used to fund the 9-1-1 rehab.

Stark County safety forces were surprised by this bold move. Though a number of village/city and township safety officials are into protecting their respective turfs, the sudden prospect of having money available put them in a spot of not being able to say no. Especially in light of the additional financial fact that the creation of a countywide system relieves most localities of dispatching expense. Money that the subdivisions need to apply to other local government functions.

Now to the candidates for Project Manager:

Mark Busto is one of two of the six candidates who has the most direct experience managing a 9-1-1 dispatch operation. He has been with the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) Center since 1989. Busto is a guy who has worked his way up through the ranks. This attribute has to warm the hearts of everyday Stark Countians. He is now the Executive Director of RED and has been since 2008.

Joseph Concatto wants to come out of retirement to be 9-1-1 Project Manager. Up until Republican Janet Creighton-Weir was defeated by Democrat William J. Healy, II in November, 2007. Concatto served the Creighton administration as service director, safety director and chief of staff. Pre-political involvent, Concatto was Fire Chief of Canton. Moveover, he had been a member of the Canton Fire Department since 1969. His relevant experience to the 9-1-1 Project Manager position is centered in his management responsibilities. He did oversee the construction of a fire station in Canton. And he oversaw the move of Canton's dispatch center from city hall to 30th Street.

Tim Kerstetter comes out of private enterprise. His current employer is Diebold (since 1995) where he is Director of Corporate-wide Safety Wellness operations. At Diebold he has managed large operations. For Stark Countians who are interested in a "fresh face," Kerstetter might be an attractive alternative.

Tom Nesbitt is an interesting candidate. Most of us Stark County political observers fell off our collective chairs when we found out Nesbitt (Safety Director for Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II) was applying for the 9-1-1 Project Manager position. His move was the first "public" sign that all is not well with the Healy administration. Again, here we have a candidate who has generalized management experience. Nesbitt came here from Nebraska where he spent years with the Nebraska Highway Patrol working in and managing Nebraska's statewide communications system.

Rich Peterson of Nimishillen Township Fire Department (NFD & CenCom Dispatch) is almost a mirror image of Mark Busto. Peterson is also Service Manager at Kempthorn Motors. He has been with the NFD since 1984 and the head of CenCom 9-1-1 Dispatch which is located at a newly constructed fire station in Nimishillen Township.

Richard Tenan has a curious history. His current employment is with communications consulting company GeoCom. GeoCom was hired by the Stark County Council of Governments to do a study of Stark County's 9-1-1 system of eleven dispatch centers. So Tenan wants the opportunity to fix a system he had a hand in critiquing. He has management experience in setting up and operating 800 megahertz communications systems which is the system that Stark's 9-1-1 wlll use.

DISCUSSION: IS TODD BOSLEY THE VISIONARY THAT STARK COUNTY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR?

Yours truly has been a resident of Stark County since 1975. Over the nearly 25 ensuing years, Stark County as well as its major city Canton, have wasted away to "a struggle to survive stage."

Cantonians turned in 2007 to William J. Healy, II as "a needed change" from the "ways things have been done." But as much as Healy likes to trumpet himself as an "agent of change," the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) is unconvinced. Healy has wedded himself to out-of-town interests and there The Report questions whether or not he has a "real" commitment to Canton or, is it, as The Report suspects: all about Jamey Healy?

With Healy, The Report thinks what Canton has bought into is "rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic." The turmoil that Healy and his imperial-esque "I'm in charge" attitude has brought to Canton and Stark County is a major distraction.

Canton will not move forward in a meaningful way a a viable economic entity (even with the "Darth Vader to the Townships" [Canton Director of Annexation Sam Sliman as he describes himself] annexing every thing in sight as a desperation move to save Canton) until the Healy matter is resolved.

If Sliman realizes his goal to annex everything in Stark County that is worth annexing from his and Canton City Council's "generate income tax money flow from the county into Canton" perspective just to survive, then Stark County's economy could be doomed. To The Report; Healy, Sliman and Canton City Council are not about positive area leadership, but about surviving "one more day."

Meanwhile, Stark County does have a burgeoning leader who seems to get it. In today's Alliance Review (Hats Off! to The Review), reporter Laurie Hoffman does a splendid piece on Bosley's effort to work with Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson to recapitalize the heating plant at the Stark County jail without costs to Stark County taxpayers.

How is Bosley going to pull this one off?

Through grants and cost savings in terms of wood waste products in to fuel for the the wood fired furnaces.

Bosley is like a juggler these days. Working on: a consolidating county operations (the engineering project), a confluence of the Stark County/Canton inspection units, pushing for a reconfiguration of 9-1-1 into a state of the art countywide collaboration; just to name a few.

When The Report talked with Healy several months ago at one of his "Townhall meeting" he wasn't the least bit enthusiastic about the work of Todd Bosley.

Why would that be?

Perhaps because Bosley doesn't have the credentials, the pedigree - if you will. After all Mayor Healy graduated from the New York University Stern School of Business.

Where did Bosley get his education from?

From tiny Wheaton College (Billy Graham's alma mater) and from the "school of hard knocks."

The Report's money is on the highly practical Bosley to lead Stark County into the 21st century. Not the dapper and comopolitan William J. Healy, II.

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: GAUGER OF THE REPOSITORY - "SET UP MAN" OR "SCREW UP MAN?"

On Friday past, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) alerted readers to the imminent meeting that was about to take place at Mayor Healy's request with "the powers that be" at The Repository.

Clearly, this meeting was designed by Healy to finesse "Canton Reps" executive editor and derivatively the whole machinery of The Repository into being Healy's "set up man."

According to Wikipedia: "Setup pitchers, unlike closers, commonly appear in games where their team is tied or even behind ... "

Mayor Healy is looking to "close out" this game ahead. Right now, in the opinion of The Report, Healy is behind. And he is using The Rep to keep the wolves at bay while he scrambles to get ahead of this story.

Why would The Repository become Healy's ally in this fight for his political life. That is not "the only newspaper's - in town - " role. All of us who know Jamey Healy are empathetic with him. What a horrible spot to be in. But if he is in a problem, he has no one to blame but himself.

The job of an effective media is to set its own agenda of when, where and under what circumstances and ground rules to question. Not the subject himself.

What The Repository failed to do - or if it did and just is not sharing with the general public, is ask Healy about the e-mails and/or text messages that reportedly exist and are supposedly in Sheriff Swanson's possession which are said to have emanated from Healy himself to the 16 year old who is the subject matter of allegations that Healy had an inappropriate relationship with.

What The Rep has done is let Healy set the table. Can't blame Healy for trying. Apparently, he has succeeded.

The Report hopes that it is shown that none of these reports about a Healy "inappropriate relationship" are not true. Healy is correct (see "Healy hires lawyer to find who sent 'sordid' letters," The Rep on 2/22/2009) these accusations "have distracted him from important city business."

But to get to point of a final determination, all the documentary matter (electronic included) needs to be dealt with.

Healy talks very freely about the outrageous anonymous letters, as well he should. How about the other side of things, mayor?

Is Healy prepared to say that no e-mails and/or text messages between him and the 16 year old exist?

As matters stand, we don't know whether or not any such electronic communications exist?

Why?

Because The Repository has failed Stark County once again in its questioning/investigatory role. And because Mayor Healy hasn't volunteered the information.

Why doesn't the mayor (who yours truly knows well) call The Report?

Readers of The Report know that talking to yours truly is not likely to be a conversation Healy would relish.

In the end The Report says that Jeff Gauger is both a "set up man" and a "screw up man" for The Rep's handling of the "private" interview with a "public" figure on issues of huge public importance.