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: 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!

BULLETIN: HEALY OBTAINS LEGAL COUNSEL & REQUESTS AND IS GRANTED A PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE REPOSITORY

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has confirmed with Adam Herman, Healy administration Communications Director, a tip that Mayor William J. Healy, II has retained legal counsel.

Herman told The Report that the hiring of legal counsel (who Herman could not provide the name of) was for the purpose of tracking down and dealing with the author(s) of the anonymous letters alleging that Healy has had an inappropriate relationship with a 16 year old female.

Herman denied that the attorney-retention had anything to do with Healy defending himself against the allegations.

Does this mean that Healy has given up on the FBI pursuing the anonymous letters?

Communications Director Herman also confirmed Mayor Healy had requested and was granted a meeting with Repository officials and that a reporter would be present. He indicated that whether or not the meeting proves to be a "newsworthy" event, would be up to The Repository.

Earlier today The Repository posted an online story pointing out that Mayor Healy was spotted at the Stark County Sheriff's Department early this morning. However, the story was subsequently pulled by The Rep together with comments on the article. The Report has learned (not from Herman) that the meeting was with Chief Deputy Rick Perez, but does not know what the subject matter of the meeting was.