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

DISCUSSION: WORKING AGAINST STARK CO INTERESTS AGAIN? - STARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIR JEFF MATTHEWS

Stark County Republican Party chair Jeff Matthews is at it again.

How's that?

Well, first he is proving that he is no better than his predecessor Curt Braden in making Stark County a politically competitive county. Witness the city of Canton council-at-large races: NOT ONE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE! With all the problems that Canton is experiencing, this would seem to be an opportune time for Canton Republicans to advantage themselves and, co-incidentally, Cantonians.

But Stark Republicans under the Braden/Matthews leadership team are a sorry lot. Sure it would be hard work to rehab the Republican Party in the heavily registered Democratic city, but are Braden and Matthews political pros who take on the heavy political lifting or are they merely political light weights looking for "pie from the - political - sky?"

Secondly, being the quintessential hypocrite he is, Matthews never said anything critical about what that Congressman Ralph Regula did in delivering the congressional port to Stark County, but now a Democrat is in office he's all mouth.

Here is what Matthews had to say about "bringing the bacon home" now that Democrat Boccieri is congressman today's Rep - Bill sends $9M in earmarks to Stark County, March 11 (online) Robert Wang:

“Everyone likes pork, when it’s their own,” ... “They don’t like other district’s pork. Every congressman can justify the pork for their own district. At some point, we have to say no.” (emphasis added)

Local Republicans have told the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) that there is not a hair's worth of difference between Matthews and his predecessor Curt Braden.

On May 14, 2009 The Report published a piece naming Curt Braden as being Stark County's #1 political hypocrite. CLICK HERE TO SEE THAT BLOG The Report noted in the article that while Braden could criticize Ohio Democrats and Marc Dann he was no where to be seen when political corruption was rampant in Republican ranks (Noe, the Taft administration and the then Congressman Bob Ney).

Well, with his flip-flopping on congressional pork-barreling depending if a Republican or Democrat holds the office, Stark County Republican chair Jeff Matthews demonstrates that he is following identically in Curt Braden's footpath.

Meanwhile the Stark County Republican Party Executive Committee just sits idly by and allows the Stark GOP to atrophy into a big nothing.

If it were just the Republican Party fate, who would care?

But its not. Stark County and Canton suffer from the lack of political competition.

The Report says: THE STARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERSHIP IS TO BLAME!!!

GRAPHIC EDITORIAL: THE PATHETIC SHAPE OF THE STARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION

DISCUSSION: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 9-1-1 SET UP DEBACLE?

Drum roll, please.

Announcing the names of the public officials who created the 9-1-1 mess Stark County is in.

First, recently retired mayor of Canton Richard D. Watkins (Republican). Second, Jerry Patrick (Republican). And, last but certainly not of a lesser responsible person, Norm Sponseller (Democrat - now deceased).

Stark Countians need to pay attention to the lack of vision demonstrated by these three. Not that their mistake can be rolled back and the damage undone.

The lesson to be learned is to quiz current candidates for county commissioner: Ferguson, Hagan, Harmon and Secrest and know what their vision for the future of Stark County is.

On 9-1-1 we know the views of Secret and Harmon. Secrest fails the test. In a press release a few weeks back, Secrest takes the position we need to go slow. Go slow for what! So more people lose their lives (perhaps) or do not get timely critical care (say like in the case a stroke where a few minutes can make a huge difference).

Normally one shouldn't hold it against the likes of a Secrest who is 22 years of age or so. But his age is against him on the 9-1-1 issue. He probably feels young and invulnerable. Most Stark Countians are older and know better. Harmon has a big leg up on Secrest on this one.

One wonders if there isn't a lose confederation of stance on the 9-1-1 issue among Republicans running for county office. Is it just happenstance that Larry Dordea (candidate for sheriff) and Secrest have virtually the same position. We will know more when we hear from the remaining Republican candidates for county wide office.

9-1-1 is not a partisan issue. Republican Commissioner Jane Vignos is a staunch proponent of fixing 9-1-1 and fixing it now (or, at least within the next two years).

New Stark County Republican Party Chairman Jeff Matthews is from Alliance. Larry Dordea is from Alliance. Are the two of them making 9-1-1 a partisan issue in the November election?

Is Travis Secrest merely following marching orders from Jeff Matthews?