A FEROCIOUS CAMPAIGN IN THE OFFING FOR MASSILLON - IF FRANK RUNS FOR MAYOR. REPUBLICAN LEWIS WILL NOT RUN FOR MAYOR. BRUNCKHART TO BE GOP CANDIDATE

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Provider:  Gavin Bell

UPDATE:  09:36 AM

A clarification from Milan Chovan

Good morning, Martin.  Thank you for the kind comments about me in today's blog.  I'm not sure who thinks I'm close to Johnnie Maier because of music, but I want to tell you about it.

I play guitar in a classic rock band called ReUNITED.  My bass guitar player is Ron Frailly.  Ron also plays bass for Maier's polka band, Visinata.  That's the connection, plain and simple.  When Visinata first started several years ago, they played at a bar in Massillon called Sideliners.  My cousins and I were at the bar and I got up to sing an Italian song with the band.  I've never appeared again with them and, in fact, haven't heard them since they played for a Massillon Community event two summers ago.

This doesn't mean that I don't like Maier as a person.  I do.  I just don't agree with him, politically.

Just wanted to clear that up.

ORIGINAL BLOG

Most Massillonians know who the true and original Massillon Tiger is when it comes to politics and government in Tigerland.

If an open-ended (i.e. not to suggest a desired answer) survey were to be made of typical Massillonians, the SCPR dare says the overwhelming answer would be:  Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr.

Cicchinelli had been mayor of Massillon for the better part of 28 years when he was uprooted by former Perry Township resident Kathy Catazaro-Perry in the Democratic Party primary of 2011.

Sponsored and tutored by long time Cicchnelli political nemesis:

• and - for a number of years  now - Tuscarawas Township resident Johnnie A.Maier, Jr. (a former Stark Dems' chairman)
• and his clerk of courts sidekick - Perry Township resident R. Shane Jackson (also Stark Dems' political director);

current mayor Kathy Catzaro-Perry may find out that, should Cicchinelli decide to attempt reclaiming the mayoralty, she is facing a different version of tiger in the upcoming 2015 primary.

In 2011, Cicchinelli proved to be a political "kitty-cat" as he sat on his laurels and played the role of "statesman-mayor" and thereby succumbed to the "rough house" political style of the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. Massillon Political Machine (MMPM).

Should he decide to run (which the SCPR thinks he will not); every indication is that he will play the role of a roaring tiger and wage a ferocious campaign.

A second match up, if it occurs, will likely be the meanest, the vilest and the most belligerent campaign that Massillon has ever seen.

There would be a lot at stake.

For Cicchinelli, there is, among other interests, a basic need for vindication for all that he has done over three decades of public service for the well-being of Massillon.

For Catazaro-Perry, there is, among other interests, a basic need to look after extending the continued employment well-being of all those loyalists that she brought into her administration on assuming office.

Cicchinelli has less than 30 days to decide.

You can bet your bottom dollar that Catazaro-Perry supporters are "on pins and needles" in anticipation of Cicchinelli's final decision.

To say it again.  The SCPR does not think a rematch will take place.

But if it does, "Katy bar the door" on the political rumble-tumble in the history of Massillon  that is likely to take place.

If Cicchinelli's posturing about running proves to be just that, then Catazaro-Perry, the SCPR has learned will have a virtual free ride into a second term as mayor.

The Report has learned that Ward 6 Republican councilman Ed Lewis will not be running as the Republican candidate for mayor.

The SCPR is disappointed to learn such.

Ideally, the "come and let us reason together" Lewis style of government and politics, is the most productive model of governance ensuring that government is the province of the many and not the baliwick of the few.

While Cicchinelli as mayor was much more approachable and democratic-friendly than anybody connected to the MMPM, he has been through many wars and therefore cannot possibly have the fresh view of an Ed Lewis.

The SCPR thinks the MMPM power politics style does a lot of destroying and as a consequence is highly erosive of citizen participation in our democratic-republican processes.

Of course, the primary goal of power politics is the aggrandizement of personal political interests, "the public interest be damned!"  If any public interest is served by the likes of the MMPM, it is mere happenstance.

The SCPR has learned the 2011 Republican candidate Lee Brunckhart is to be the 2015 Massillon GOP standard bearer.

Brunkhart is a well meaning and caring of the public interest guy who presents himself as a work-a-day person. But he is no match for the MMPM or Frank Cicchinelli, should he decide to run.

The Report hears that he has taken on some studies on government and politics and thinks he is better prepared to run and win this year.

Cicchinelli and the MMPM folks have to be having a guffawing, back-slapping time among themselves on hearing of Brunkhart's political naivete.

Either Cicchinelli or Catazaro-Perry will have a "walk-in-the-park" time of it in the November general election.

So it is going to be either Cicchnelli or Catazaro-Perry who wins in November.

In either case, it is imperative that Massillon City Council continue to be the strong entity it is in the sense of being a "check and balance" on the executive branch of Massillon city government.

But there is a concerted effort on the part of MMPM to alter the de facto separation of powers function of council.

Here is the SCPR analysis of how the council races of shaping up.

WARD 6

Republican Ed Lewis likely would be defeated were he to run against MMPM candidate Linda Litman.  Litman lost by a mere 20 votes in 2013. 

Now that Lewis has more of a record to attack and/or distort, it is hard to believe that the MMPM folks will not be out in full force going after Lewis.

Lewis is the future of the Massillon Republican Party.

The MMPM people want to nip this political red rose in the bud before he develops the sophistication and resources to rival these Massillon Democratic Party politicos.

Lewis has developed an innate sense of the doable over his four years of political life in Massillon government.

And he is likely correct that the timing is not right for him to do a head-to-head challenge to the Maier, Jr. forces.

Accordingly, he has decided to step aside from Ward 6 in favor of Democrat Michelle Del Rio-Keller.

Sources tell the SCPR that Del Rio Keller has a family history in Ward 6 and resources to put distance between herself and MMPM loyalist Litman.

So it appears that whomever is elected mayor can count on Del Rio-Keller to be there faithfully functioning as a "check and balance" councilperson.

One more thing about Ed Lewis' decision not to seek reelection in Ward 6.

It appears that there is a "wink and nod" agreement between him and Del Rio-Keller for her to opt out of her incumbent council-at-large spot for Ward 6.

Lewis will be running at large come November.

Short of running for mayor, the politically wise thing for Lewis to do is to change venues. 

He should be a lock for one of the three council-at-large seats which of course means another proven "check and balance" councilman remaining on council.

WARD 5

Ditto on the last paragraph in the Ward 6 discussion for Ward 5 incumbent Democrat Megan Starrett.

The SCPR thinks that Starrett has been very solid in looking out for the public interest on each and every issues that comes before Massillon government.

Moreover, count her as among councilpersons who willingly takes on a councilperson's "check and balance" function in our "separation of powers" form of government.

WARD 4

It is looking more and more like incumbent Ward 4 Democrat Shaddrick Stinson is not going to have an opponent this time around.

That such might be the case in light of the reality that he is equivocating with residents of The Legends on the durability of the golf course which abuts their homes.

One would think they could come up with a candidate that is openly committed to looking after their interests.

Of course, anyone that they would come up with has to have a broader take on Massillon government than merely the fate of the golf course.

Maybe that is the problem?

Stinson is wholly unimpressive to the SCPR.

The Report had a good belly laugh at Stinson's expense recently.

Yours truly has always counted him to be part and parcel of the MMPM notwithstanding his disingenuous presentation to Frank Cicchinelli (who is a The Legends resident) that he - if elected - would be an independent thinking and acting councilman.

And, of course, the SCPR has written a number of blogs substantiating The Report's viewpoint.

Recently, Stinson as a matter of political rhetoric took exception to the SCPR's point of view.

Regular readers of the SCPR know that The Report unlike the Massillon Independent and the Canton Repository provides subjects of SCPR commentary a full opportunity to respond.

An to the degree he did respond in writing, the SCPR published same.

The Report offered to do an "on camera" interview.

But Stinson would only do so "on certain conditions" including having a MMPM minder present for the interview.

Really?

No, not really,  The Report is kidding.

But he did want to review the video that would appear on a SCPR blog.

What arrogance, no?

Nobody but nobody edits the content of the SCPR!

So though Stinson appears mild-mannered and laid back, such apparently is just that: "appears."

He needs to have a little sit down with Johnnie, Shane and Eddie.

To think of it, he probably did.  And "the conditions thing" likely came from them.  For they, the SCPR counts, as being some of the most cowardly politicians in all of Stark County who cannot abide direct questioning. 

The Report salivates on getting them and/or members 0f their claque in a position in which they have to answer incisive questions.

Stinson might on occasion, where it makes no difference to the outcome of the vote, actually vote contra the Catazaro-Perry druthers on a given issue.  

Unless and until a consistent "independent of the administration" stance develops, the SCPR will continue to think that Councilman Stinson takes his orders from the MMPM.

WARD 3

Incumbent Democrat Andrea Scassa is a thoughtful councilwoman who satisfies the SCPR that she carefully weighs each and every issue before voting.

She and Ward 5 Councilwoman Starrett appear to The Report to be similar in approach.

Scassa understands that she is a legislator and functions accordingly. 

Count her as among the "check and balance" members that will remain on Massillon City Council for a new term in 2016/2017.

WARD 2

This is a ward that the MMPM has pursued "hot and heavy." for the last two election cycles.

Reason?

It is the seat of "the heart and soul" of the Massillon Republican Party; namely, Nancy Halter.

The SCPR gives Halter the credit for short circuiting the elation that the MMPM experienced when it proved to be the instrumental factor in making Catazaro-Perry mayor.

One thing that the MMPM forgot on the way to the celebration of Cicchinelli's ouster was the make up of Massillon City Council.

In heavily Democratic Massillon, believe or not, in 2011 Republicans took majority control of Massillon City Council.

The political geniuses Maier, Jr., Jackson and Elum forgot that that in America, the executive function of government is but one of three functions.

And, of course, their executive, the SCPR believes, is not a true executive.  She is a ceremonial, window dressing mayor who appears to take each and every issue of Massillon government to the triumvirate (Maier, Jr., Jackson and Elum; most Maier, Jr.) which de facto seems to The Report to be calling the executive shots in Massillon.

So that they were "asleep at the switch" in November, 2011 (with only Brunckhart to contend with in the mayor's race), more or less, makes them the laughing stock of Stark County political junkies.

And they have been trying to recover their credibility on council races ever since.

But Halter has tended the political store and been a major impediment in the MMPM quest to get a loyalist majority of council to rubber stamp whatever the Catazaro-Perry administration wants.

Though council did change to majority Democratic in the 2013 elections; it is not a Catazaro-Perry loyalists majority.

One can count on "a mix and match" of Democrats (except for Stinson and Council President Tony Townsend [voting only in the case of a tie] and Republicans to effectively function as a "check and balance" on the administration.

The Report's take on the MMPM is that it does not take kindly to "mix and match" and "check and balance" approach to Massillon City government.

So the MMPM folks have to be totally frustrated and Nancy Halter deserves credit for being a major factor in the healthy functioning of council.

And it could be that this election cycle MMPM will power Halter out.

David Irwin is an employee of MMPM loyalist and Stark County recorder Rick Campbell who is married to Shane Jackson's sister Lisa who is the chief administrator for Plain Township.

Irwin has run competitive races against Halter because of the strong support he has received from the MMPM.

It would not surprise the SCPR were Irwin to win this time around even if Halter decides to run.

But she may not.

There has been some talk about her running for council president.

If she does, it is going to be "sayonara" for Tony, there is no way fore the MMPM folks to protect him this time around.

In 2013, the MMPM operatives, it appears, managed to co-opt former Massillon schools superintendent in having Catazaro-Perry offer him the Massillon service directorship so late in the election season that Republicans were not allowed as a matter of law to replace Hennon on the ballot.

WARD 1

Look for incumbent Republican Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly to return for a new legislative session.

She, too, can be counted upon to be a "check and balance" council person.

COUNCIL AT LARGE

LIKELY CANDIDATES 

ED LEWIS, IV  (also see Ward 6 discussion)

Republican Ed Lewis will be running at large come November.

It appears to the SCPR that there is a "wink and a nod" relationship between Lewis and present Democratic Councilwoman Michelle Del Rio to exchange venues in serving on council.

Before the Del Rio-Keller seeming trade off, Lewis is said to have been encouraging incumbent at-large Councilman Paul Manson to run for council president.

And Paul would be a good one.

He definitely would put MMPM favorite Tony Townsend on the political sidelines.

But the word is that Manson is going to stick with being councilman-at-large.

The shift will provide Lewis with a citywide political base to cultivate a relationship with voters across Massillon and thereby be in a better position to run for mayor in four years.

Short of running for mayor, the politically wise thing for Lewis to do is to change venues. 

He should be a lock for one of the three council-at-large seats which of course means another proven "check and balance" councilman remaining on council.

 MILAN CHOVAN

This incumbent Republican is as solid as "the Rock of Gibraltar" as a Massillon councilman.

He was as "cool as a cucumber" as Mayor Catazaro-Perry looked him in the eye at a 2014 council session and called him and other "not seeing my way" councilpersons racists.

There is at least one Massillon politico thinks that Chovan is too close to the MMPM because of his involvement in a band in which Maier, Jr. is a participant.

The SCPR sees no evidence of Chovan in any way shape or form of being in thrall or even sympathetic to the MMPM.

To The Report, he is a hard working councilman who works hard to represent the public interest and demonstrates no reluctance whatsoever in functioning as a "check and balance" councilperson. 

PAUL MANSON

Democrat Paul Manson is the dean of Massillon City Council and is about as sure as one can get in terms being reelected.

Accordingly, it was surreal that Lewis would suggest to him to run for council president.

Were he to take up Lewis' suggestion, Tony Townsend would be toast.

But it would be political overkill for Manson to run against Townsend.

As the dean of council and thereby having great institutional knowledge, he is ideally suited to a model of how one does it in operating as a "check and balance" legislator in relation to the "my way or the highway" Kathy Catazaro-Perry who is merely the face of the MMPM smash-mouth politics.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The only question here is:  Can Massillon Republicans find a living body to take on Tony Townsend.

Townsend should have been history in 2013.  

But his pals who constitute the core of the MMPM appear to have rescued him from certain defeat when Republican Al Hennon quit the 2013 council president race to take a job in the Catazaro-Perry administration.

It would not surprise the SCPR if Townsend were to get another free ride back into the council presidency.

So there you have it.

The Stark County Political Report analysis of the May/November shapes up on January 9, 2015.

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: STARK COUNTY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION ELECTED OFFICIAL TABS JACK DESARIO AS THE "LITTLE POLITICAL GODFATHER OF STARK COUNTY?" REALLY?

Yes. That's how a Stark County political subdivision elected official thinks of Dr. Jack DeSario, a political science professor at Alliance's Mount Union College to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report): once again here it is - "the little political godfather of Stark County."

Alternatively, the source assesses DeSario as being "Stark County's political octopus."

Another elected official bills DeSario, because of his involvement in Stark Countians' recent political campaigns, to The Report as being a "common thread" linking a number of Stark County elected officials.

The Stark County names that surface in local political circle talk include: Mayor William Healy (D), Canton service director and Democrat Warren Price (when he ran for mayor of Alliance), Democrat Stark County Auditor Kim Perez, Democrat Dr. Peter Ferguson (as a candidate for county commissioner), Republican Richard Regula (defending his commissioner's seat) and Mayor David Held (R - North Canton).

A twist on DeSario working for Healy is that he (DeSario) says in a Repository report that Governor Strickland asked him to do so because it was utterly (The Report's term) important that Healy be elected mayor of Canton.

There is an unusual twist on DeSario working for Richard Regula's campaign for Stark County commissioner (2006).

The Report has learned from Democrat Commissioner Todd Bosley that DeSario was all set to run the Bosley for Commissioner campaign. However, before getting up and running on the campaign, DeSario contacts Bosley and relates to him that he cannot do so front and center in the public eye.

Why would that be?

Bosley tells The Report that DeSario recounted to him that his Republican opponent Richard Regula's father Ralph (the now retired 16 District congressman) sat on the Board of Trustees at Mount Union College where DeSario is a political science professor. Bosley went on to recollect that DeSario related to him that someone in the Mount Union administration told him it wouldn't set well with the, then, congressman, if he (DeSario) worked openly for Bosley against Regula's son Richard.

But as Bosley tells it, DeSario still wanted to work for his campaign sub rosa in the context of the Bosley campaign being billed by and payments being made to a DeSario proxy.

The rest of the story? Bosley rejected the proposal and DeSario went on run Richard Regula's campaign.

By the way, Stark County Board of Election records show that DeSario is registered as a Democrat.

The Report has tried to ferret out all Stark County politicians who have had some connection with Jack DeSario and his campaign consulting activities. The possibility exists that other Stark County politicians have a DeSario connection that The Report has not picked up on.

But Jack DeSario as a "common thread" linking Stark County elected officials? To what end?

A political science professor working the political hustings is an especially intriguing topic to yours truly, being a political science undergrad major. However, The Report does not find this troubling in and of itself. Some political science professors get involved in political campaigns, but many do not.

As noted above, DeSario worked on Republican North Canton Mayor David Held's most recent contested campaign. It just so happens that DeSario and Held live cattycornered from each other. Have since 2002. Held appears to be close to Mayor Healy of Canton for whom DeSario served as campaign manager in the Canton mayoralty race 2007.

The Report has learned that Held was one of Healy's key advisers on which applicants to place in the newly elected mayor's cabinet. Moreover, DeSario was one of the interviewers of at least one of Healy's cabinet candidates.

Another Stark County connection for Professor DeSario is Stark County Democratic chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. Maier appointed him to head a screening committee to make a recommendation to Governor Strickland as to whom he should appoint to the Stark County Common Pleas bench to replace Sara Lioi whom President Bush had appointed to a federal judgeship.

Maier is also known to recommend to individual Democratic candidates that they consider hiring Jack DeSario for their campaigns. Getting back to DeSario and Healy, did Maier (arguably, the governor's best Stark County political friend) weigh-in with the governor to persuade DeSario to take on the Healy campaign?

There is no doubt that Doctor (Ph.d) Jack DeSario is deeply insinuated into Stark County politics.

DeSario does come with specific ethics credentials. He was appointed to the Ohio Ethics Commission by then Governor George Voinovich on December 20, 1991 to a six year term which ended on December 18, 1997. He served as chairman in 1993, 1994 and 1996.

The Report asks again, so what - Jack DeSario of North Canton being involved in Stark County campaigns; after all he is a political consultant. A "common thread?" To what end?

Some Stark Countians (polIticos as well as everyday citizens) seem to be distraught over campaign contributions ($500 each) by Cuyhoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora (DeSario worked on some of his campaign) and Auditor Frank Russo to the Healy mayoralty campaign (DeSario denies having had anything do with facilitating the Dimora/Russo contributions).

Why are these Stark Countians disturbed? Apparently because they question whether or not the contributions to TeamHealy by Dimora/Russo and others (four in number contributing a total or $4,600) who have a connection with a workers' compensation claims management company - (1-888-Ohio Comp) - resulted in Healy changing Canton's workers' comp provider from a Columbus firm to 1-888 soon after Healy took office.

Mayor Healy says the contributions had nothing to do with his decision on which company was provided the workers' comp contract.

Remember, Jack DeSario denies any connection whatsoever to the contributions and the 1-888 decision.

On Wednesday (February 11), The Plain Dealer reported the FBI had subpeonaed Parma (Ohio) school district records including those of DeSario 's D&R Consulting:

The Plain Dealer report put DeSario's connection to the Parma schools and his response to the subpeona this way:

Desario, a political ally of Dimora, said Tuesday he had no idea why his company's name is on the subpoena. His company had a $10,000 contract with the district in 2005-2006, but most of its consulting has been for Parma's Back the Schools Levy committee, according to records.

A final note. DeSario does have a law degree and at one time was registered with the Ohio Supreme Court to practice law in Ohio. But The Report's check with the Ohio Supreme Court (via publicly available records online) show that DeSario let his registration expire in December, 2005.

So there you have it folks. Professor, lawyer trained and political consultant Jack DeSario is a colorful politically connected figure with a strong Stark County involvement.

Where his links and ties lead, is anyone's guess.

Perhaps, they lead to nowhere.

Do you have an opinion?

MAIER WINS APPOINTMENT TO OHIO NURSING BOARD AS CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE: DOES THIS SURPRISE ANYONE?

Yesterday, Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland as a board member on the Ohio Board of Nursing.

This appointment is surprising to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report). Not Maier getting appointed. The governor is highly appreciative to Maier for being the first county party chairman to endorse Strickland when he ran for governor (see embed video below). Only that it was to the Board of Nursing.

Double the surprise. Consumer representative? The Report has never fancied Maier as a devotee to consumer rights. As Gomer Pyle used to say: "gosh, golly, gee!

DISCUSSION: WHAT'S NEXT FOR BERNABEI? A RUN AGAINST SCOTT OELSLAGER FOR THE OHIO'S 29TH DISTRICT SENATE SEAT?

Currently, Republicans control the Ohio Senate 21 to 12. Half those seat will be up for election in 2012. One of the contested seats will be Ohio's 29th now held by Kirk Schuring.

Anyone who has followed the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) knows how utterly dissatisfied The Report is that Stark County is in this vicious political cycle in which Republicans Schuring and Oelslager trade the 29th and Ohio House District #51 back and forth as if they were playing a two man game of volleyball.

Well, its not volleyball and Stark County is getting the "short shrift" while Schuring and Oelslager circumvent the spirit of term-limits (which, by the way, was instituted by the Republicans back in 1994 as a way to get back in power in the Ohio General Assembly.

Oelslager told The Report (previously reported on this blog) at the 2008 Stark County Fair that, yes, he intends to run once again for the 29th.

Schuring has not definitely decided to run for the 51st. He may run for county commissioner or county auditor. The Report believes he will take the safe way out and run for the 51st. However, Jeff Matthews and other "top gun" Stark County Republicans will be putting pressure for Schuring to run for a county office since there are no non-judicial Republicans currently serving in countywide office.

Part of the problem of Schuring and Oelslager having license to trade the 29th and 51st back and forth lies with Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. Stark County Democrats either put up novices in these districts or nobody (as in the case with Oelslager in the November, 2008 elections).

Over the years The Report has noted how glowingly Maier, Schuring, and Oelslager speak of each other. Not that folks on the other side of the isle have to be mortal enemies with one another, but Stark Countians do not need any sweetheart deals. What we need is strong political competition across the ballot.

In the case of the 29th and 51st we are not getting it.

Since Maier has NOT been able to figure out how to get strong candidates in these districts, The Report will move in to assist.

Now that Healy has fired Tom Bernabei, Stark County Democrats have the ideal person to take on Oelslager in the 29th.

Early on The Report predicted early that Boccieri would defeat Schuring in the 16th Congressional District.

Just look at the map that accompanies this blog. Does anyone doubt that the popular Tom Bernabei would be a lock to defeat Oelslager.

Viable Democratic candidates do not lose countywide in Stark County these days. Only those who do not focus almost exclusively on the core Democratic areas lose.

This is the strategy that propelled Commissioner Todd Bosley (over sitting commissioner Republican Richard Regula) and Commissioner Pete Ferguson (over term-limited out 8 year representative - 50th - Republican John Hagan).

Neither Bosley nor Ferguson were household names when they filed to run for commissioner. But they did focus on the Democratic base.

Bernabei would handily win over Oelslager countywide. Oelslager would win Jackson and Lake by comfortable margins. However, Bernabei would win much stronger in Canton, Plain and Perry. The rest of the county would split about evenly.

What's more. Bernabei has solid legislative experience. His years in Canton City Council put him in good stead. Bernabei is generally recognized as being the best city councilman of modern times.

The Ohio Senate and Governor Ted Strickland desperately need Bernabei's knowledge of the legislative process and his leadership abilities (even William J. Healy, II recognizes his leadership ability - remember Healy rated Bernabei 49 out of 50).

Right now Bernabei very likely just wants to chill.

The Report calls on Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern, Senate minority leader Capri Cafaro and Stark County Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. to urge Tom Bernabei to run against Oelslager in Ohio's 29th.

DISCUSSION: BULWARK OF STARK COUNTY UNIONISM AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICS CONTINUES AS HALL OF FAME AFL-CIO CHIEF

Recently, Daniel F. Sciury was re-elected, by acclamation, to a 10th term as the local AFL-CIO president.

Congratulations to Dan. He has served the interest of Stark County's organized labor and, indeed, the interests of all of Stark County's working men and women with distinction.

On a political note, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) checked in with Dan this past Tuesday as to how things were going between him and the local union movement in general with Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

Of course, Dan Sciury has been a fixture in local Democratic politics before Maier even got started in local politics.

In recent times Maier had intimated to Sciury that he intended to work at repairing their relationship that became especially frayed when Maier replaced respected unionist Billy Sherer (ironworkers) with Maier's handpicked nonunion on the Stark County Board of Elections.

Sciury did tell The Report that the relationship between him and Stark County's organized labor had improved, but as quoted in the accompanying graphic "It will never be the same as it used to be."

In the same conversation Sciury lambasted Maier's handpicked candidate for Ohio's 50th House District (Trustee Celeste DeHoff of Tuscarawas Township) for continuing to fight the reinstatement of two Local 92 Teamsters who were fired by township trustees because of an altercation between them at the township workplace a couple of years ago.

Scuiry told The Report that he is hopeful that the plight of working men and women will improve with the election of Barack Obama.

DISCUSSION: THE REP'S CAMPBELL ENDORSEMENT IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS THE EDITORIAL BOARD CAN DO - BUT IT IS STILL LACKING?

For The Repository, the editorial endorsement writing doesn't get much better than what the writer did today in the newspaper's endorsement of Rick Campbell for the office of Stark County Recorder.

But it is deficient in several respects.

First and foremost, the editors fail to take full advantage of its "right-on" analysis of Campbell's cutting edge online accomplishment of citizen access to the recorder stored public records.

This is odd as The Rep folks say they are for more public access. When they have the attention of readers (and certainly all of Stark County's elected officials), they drop the ball.

If the editors were more global in their thinking processes, they would posit the Campbell accomplishment as a challenge to all other Stark County officeholders to, in the words of "the good book;" go and do likewise.

Second, is there anything to critique Rick Campbell on?

Of course.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) can think of one biggy right off the top of the head.

Campbell is a "card-carrying" member of the Stark County Democratic Party political machine put together by Chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., Campbell's mother-in-law and former Stark County commissioner Gayle Jackson, and Randy Gonzalez (Jackson Township fiscal officer and a Phil Giavasis employee at the Canton Municipal Court Clerk of Courts office) among others which (the machine) uses to staff government offices with machine loyal employees.

To be fair, Republicans have done this themselves. Does anyone forget how Jane Vignos (retiring county commissioner) and Janet Creighton used the auditor's office (now it's Democrat Kim Perez's turn) to house loyalist Stark County Republicans who just happen to be first-in-line when it comes to staffing party political campaigns?

The point. If Campbell was all he could be, he would break this vicious cycle of political parties using the public payroll to warehouse "so-so" workers (not necessarily very best you can get - though one could get lucky), who become the vanguard of political campaigns.

The Report agrees with The Rep editors that Campbell stands out as a county official. But the question remains.

Doesn't a first-rate editorial board use the endorsement process to challenge endorseea to be even better and, what's more, - when performing at a high level - as a model for their peers?

DISCUSSION: WHO SHALL WE ELECT TO THE STARK COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE? A NOVICE? - OR - ONE WHO WAS ANNOINTED CLERK OF COURTS?

In the accompanying graphic STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) readers get a thumbnail sketch of the campaign strategies of the two candidates.

As readers of The Report know, The Report has a problems with the likes of a Phil Giavasis (now Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts) who played "pulling guard" for Reinbold (wife of Stark County Common Pleas judge Richard Reinbold) in clearing the way for political insider Nancy Reinbold to get the Democratic nod for the county clerk position.

The countervailing question is this. Are Stark Countians willing to risk turning the clerkship over to a novice?

Probably not. But the temptation is there to say "no" to the Phil Giavasis, Johnnie Maiers (Stark County Democratic Party chairman) of the world as they play out their self-cultivated "kingmaker" roles in Stark County politics.

So what is your answer? Should voters go for changing the way politics are done in Stark County? Or, is Nancy Reinbold so much better qualified that the "inside job" aspect of her running should be ignored?

DISCUSSION: THE PERFECT FIT?

Of course, Democrat Governor Ted Strickland is obligated to support Democratic candidate Celeste DeHoff who is Tuscarawas Township trustee and Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.'s protege.

But wouldn't it make more sense for Ohio if he were to take a page out of the book of Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman and do what's best for the state (in this instance) over his political party?

Since the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has a huge stake in the success of the Strickland administration plan, doesn't it stand to reason that Strickland would want a solid chamber of commerce guy in the Ohio House to support his economic development efforts - the one one issue in Ohio these days?

Todd Snitchler, the Republican candidate for the Ohio House (50th) has vastly superior chamber of commerce credentials over the Democrat candidate Celeste DeHoff. He's a past president of the Lake Chamber of Commerce and currently president of the Lake Development Corporation which has a very strong association with area chambers of commerce.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) recalls a recent presentation that Snitchler made to the Uniontown Business Association (the non-political, political event it was), outlining how he went to the Massillon Chamber of Commerce for advice on setting up the Lake Development Corporation.

It is somewhat mystifying to The Report why Strickland has turned to the Ohio Chamber.

Hasn't the Ohio Chamber of Commerce had a large role with the Ohio Republican Party (which some say are joined at the hip) in constructing economic development plans over the past 20 years? Haven't those 20 years been a economic disaster for Ohio? Is the Strickland administration so bereft of new ideas that it has to turn to the "old idea" machine?

The saying is: "If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten."

Apparently, the Strickland administration has dipped, once again, into the reservoir of stale ideas that haven't worked.

Ohioans and Stark Countians can only hope that Strickland gets lucky and pulls a rabbit out of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce hat.

Who better, The Report asks, to help Strickland than chamber devotee Todd Snitchler? Who does Strickland care more about - the future of state of Ohio or the success of a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House?

What choice do you think he should make?

AWARD: 2008 POLITICAL CHUTZPAH AWARD

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT wasn't present but undoubtedly Stark County Democratic Chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. was the man in charge of handing out Democratic Party awards on May 1st.

Especially deserving of an award was Party stalwart Billy Sherer (a long time member of Ironworkers Local 550). Billy (as his friends call him) deserved to be recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Billy Sherer is a class act and it is more than ironic that the man behind the award (Maier) finessed Sherer out of his Stark County Board of Elections post after 13 years of service by concocting a scheme to make it appear that Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner had demanded that an attorney (Feruccio, Johnnie's ally) be selected. A less mature person than Sherer might have balked at taking an award initiated by Maier but it needs to be said again: Billy Sherer is a class act who more than deserves any award the Stark County Democratic Party issues.

Not to take anything whatsoever from Sherer's honor, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) muses on Maier's ulterior motive (in light of Maier's insult on Sherer in the Board of Election caper), but in the judgment of The Report, Maier does nothing without having some perceived advantage flow to him as a consequence of acting.

Many folks in Stark County's organized labor movement do not see the chairman as being labor friendly. They see him and some of the Democratic candidates/officeholders as taking them for granted and a good source for fundraising.

The Report believes there are two factors in the Maier turnabout. First, he desperately wants Celeste DeHoff elected as 50th House District represented. She brings her own baggage vis-a-vis organized labor. As a Tuscarawas Township trustee, she participated in the firings of several union workers. Moreover, she is viewed with suspicion by some in the party as not being a real Democrat. Up to as recently as four years ago, she was a registered Republican.

Second, it could be that the Strickland people in Columbus have told Maier to mend fences with Stark County organized labor. Stark County unions really like Governor Strickland and it is thought they have complained to Strickland's confidants about Maier's seeming anti-union attitude. Local unions have found Maier hard to stomach. They demonstrated this by running their own candidate for Sherer's Board of Elections seat when his immediate successor Randy Gonzalez had to resign because of a conflict with his government job.

Make no mistake about it, Maier is a political manipulator, extraordinaire. As a state representative, Maier grew up politically under old style political boss Vern Riffe and to this day reveres the man. His applies the lessons learned with precision.

There you have it folks; "hats off" to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT'S 2008 POLITICAL CHUTZPAH AWARD winner - Stark County Democratic Party Chairman - Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

DISCUSSION: A PROFILE IN POLITICAL COURAGE?

When the story first broke, successor to Canton mayor William Healy, II, Stephen Slesnick didn't know enough to comment on the Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann controversy.

Well, all the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report), "What a Difference a Day Makes."

Now Slesnick has jumped on the bandwagon State Rep. Mark Okey (D-61) started.

What's more, 16th Congressional candidate John Boccieri has gotten much stronger in his condemnation of Dann.

You even have Stark County's ultimate politico, Democratic chair, Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., getting in on the act. With the likes of Maier jumping ship, Dann has to know he is in big, big trouble.

Returning to the Slesnick "Profile in Political Courage," on Friday May 2nd, he told The Repository "I don't know enough about the situation to be able to comment . . . "[w]e have been very busy working on legislation."

By May 5 he was telling The Rep: "I'm right behind the governor, . . . [g]iven the facts are correct, we are all on the same page as the governor." Still kind of mealy-mouthed in the estimate of The Report.

Slesnick is an example of what is the worse about politicians. Mark Okey is a model of "A Profile in Courage."

Among the two, which in your opinion is the the one who exemplifies political courage?

Discussion Point: Can Celeste DeHoff catch Snitchler - Ohio House: 50th

A BATTLEGROUND DISTRICT THAT DEMOCRATS MUST WIN IF THEY ARE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE OHIO HOUSE

Historically, since the days that Ohio Republicans gerrymandered the 50th District to ensure that no one other than a Republican can win this seat, Republicans have indeed won this seat by an approximate 58% to 42% margin since the 2000 election.

So in my estimation Democrat (recently a Republican) Celeste DeHoff (acolyte to Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.) has a long way to go to catch up to the true Republican candidate Todd Snitchler on the numbers alone - let alone a discussion on the relative merits of the two candidacies.

As if those odds are not enough to overcome (i.e. 58% to 42% historically), DeHoff who got only 38% of the primary vote in the Democratic primary on March 4th, has to convince yours truly, Mike Stevens, Vincent Strasavich and Nick Guarnari (the other candidates in the field) to support her candidacy.

It may seem to be a no brainer. Why wouldn't Democrats (in my case, a former Democrat - now self-declared independent), support the party nominee?

A possible answer? State party chair Chris Redfern at the behest of DeHoff patron saint Maier put state party money into the DeHoff campaign - not a smart thing to do especially in the case of Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Stevens who narrowly lost to DeHoff.

Especially bitter in my opinion: Mike Stevens, a former state representative, had asked for but was denied state party assistance going back the last two elections cycles.