DISCUSSION: AN ELECTED REPUBLICAN THINKS IT WOULD "LITTLE BIG HORN" ALL OVER AGAIN, IF TRAVIS SECREST WERE TO TAKE ON COMMISSIONER BOSLEY IN 2010?

The color depictions are reverse (red for Democrat Bosley; blue for Republican Travis Secrest), but a Stark County local government elected Republican used "Little Big Horn" to describe what this STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT 'S (The Report - SCRP) source thinks would happen in a Secrest and Bosley head-to-head, if it materializes in 2010.

It appears as of now that no other Stark County Republican wants to tangle with Bosley.

Along with The Report, the source likes Secrest but mused on the likelihood that Secrest could find himself emulating the Zeigler model of getting elected to office were he to take up the charge against sitting Commissioner Bosley.

The Report has heard various reports on the actual number of times that Treasurer Gary Zeigler ran before coming home a winner. Suffice it to say, God Bless his persistence, Gary ran a lot before "bingo!" was called at his election night party.


Secrest has run for public office twice so far. One for Canton Township trustee (losing by a mere 103 votes) and by substantially more to long time Stark County politician Tom Harmon in a 2008 race for county commissioner.

If the Zeigler model is the way Secrest chooses, then a race against Bosley makes sense.

lf his desire is otherwise, then maybe he ought to choose a more winnable race.

DISCUSSION: RON PONDER OF WHBC'S "POINTS TO PONDER" & AS REP COLUMNISTNEEDS TO RETHINK HIS TAKE ON THE STATE OF THE STARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

Ron Ponder of "Points to Ponder" (WHBC-AM 1480) and the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) are agreed on one thing: the Stark County Republican Party is in dire need of rehabilitation.

Okay. If The Report agrees with Ponder, why is agreement worthy of a blog.

Because there is a point of disagreement.

Ponder wrote a column for The Rep yesterday on the need for the Republican Party, in general, to get its act together. He went on to provide the same prescription for the Stark County Republican Party. But he went awry in suggesting that Stark County Republican Party chair Jeff Matthews and state Senator Kirk Schuring have a "rehab" underway.

Ponder has to be kidding.

He offers nothing more than a mere assertion that a rebuild plan is in the offing.

The evidence is to the contrary.

For instance, a source has told The Report that Travis Secrest in putting a campaign team together to make a run against Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley. If such is the case, a huge mistake is being made.

Probably the thinking is that since Bosley pushed imposing a 1/4% sales/use tax to come up with funding for a countywide 9-1-1 and solving the immediate needs of balancing the Stark County budget, he is vulnerable.

And that is not bad thinking running against most candidates even if incumbent ones.

But Todd Bosley is no ordinary candidate. Just ask Richard Regula.

The Report is a big fan of Travis Secrest. Stark County would be much better off today if he had been elected county commissioner over 2008 opponent Tom Harmon.

Secrest is full of vim, vigor, vitality and, more importantly, ideas and The Report is convinced he would work hard to actuate his ideas.

Were he to pull a monumental upset and defeat Bosley, how would that help Stark County? He would be manhandled by "the taking Stark County nowhere" Harmon and Harmon's good friend Pete Ferguson. The best duo for getting Stark headed in the right direction would be Secrest and Bosley.

The only realistic case that can be made for Secrest running against Bosley is for the experience of running. Didn't he get that in running against Harmon? The next time should be with a good chance of winning. Secrest, in the opinion of The Report, has a lot to offer as a local Republican leader. The wise one (i.e. Judge Charles) of the Stark Republican Party should council Secrest very carefully in his next political move.

What is the Stark GOP plan for running someone against Stark County Auditor Kim Perez? One name bounced around is Trustee Anna Capaldi of Perry Township. Now this would be an interesting contest.

The Report likes listening to and reading Ponder. But he does need to have a tad more gravitas in his musings.

DISCUSSION: ARE STARK COUNTY VOTERS GOING TO ALLOW TOM HARMON TO RUN A "FRONT PORCH" CAMPAIGN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER?

The Secrest Plan For Stark County? Yes, indeed. The man has a plan; that is Travis Secrest who is the Republican candidate four Stark County commissioner. He is running against a powerful Stark County Democrat - Tom Harmon, who served many years as clerk of courts for the Canton Municipal Court.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) would be stunned if Secrest were to unseat Harmon (sitting by appointment at the hand of Stark County Democratic political boss Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.). But don't tell this candidate that he has no hope.

Secrest is (from a rhetorical standpoint) running the best countywide (not including the 16th Congressional District race) campaign. Look at his web site. He lists the key issues of the campaign:

(1) Stimulating Stark County's Economy and Protecting our jobs
(2) Enhancing Public Safety
(3) Providing Ethical and Open Government
(4) Maintaining Balance Budget
(5) Revitalizing Stark County Communities
(6) Reducing Unnecessary Regulation
(7) Exploring the Possibilities of Alternative Energy Sources
(8) Trusting and Empowering County Employees

And, if you hit the direct link to his web site above, he provides the core of his answers on each of the first four issues as of the date of this piece.

Now The Report has found Secrest's discussion on issue #1 to be a touch naive and hooked in the typical Republican panacea talking points (i.e. "cut taxes" [which by the way county commissioners do not have much in the way of taxing power]) but at least he is talking on the issues.

More than his opponent Tom Harmon is doing. Unless, that is, you consider articles appearing in The Repository reciting the financial crises in Stark County government.

But what kind of talk is this?

"Anybody got any bright ideas?" Commissioner Tom Harmon asked the group [of county deparment heads and elected officials in a meeting on Tuesday, August 19th].

Is this acceptable? A candidate for county commissioner doesn't expound on his own ideas?

Harmon is apparently feeling smug enough about the prospect of being elected that he proposes no ideas of his own. A google search by The Report does not locate a web site for Harmon. But if you are a shoe-in, what need is there to communicate on the issues with voters.

Are Stark County voters going to let Tom Harmon get away with not having a pro-active campaign (a la Secrest) with proposals for what ails Stark County?

DISCUSSION: HARMON (THE LION) VERSUS SECREST (THE LAMB): STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RACE?

As of mid-June, Tom Harmon comes as close as you can get (except for the unopposed candidates) as you can come to as a "unbeatable candidate" in the November 4th elections.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) tabs Harmon as the most powerful politician in Stark County politics.

He rivals, (and, in the opinion of The Report trumps - when he needs to) Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. as a power center in Stark County Democratic Party politics.

Harmon schmoozes with and has the ear of power brokers in both Stark County political parties. He has the ear of the "captains of industry" and business and has a solid relationship with organized labor. He dominated all his races for Canton City Municipal Court over his years in that office. For the foregoing reasons, The Report tabs him as the "lion" in this race.

His opponent, Travis Secrest, is indeed the "sacrificial lamb" offered up by Stark Republicans. Secrest will learn a lot in this campaign an could develop in to a formidable Republican standard bearer in future elections. But not in 2008.

Secrest's issues as articulated on his website bespeaks of a thoughtful candidate:








Harmon's vision for himself was spelled out in a Repository report (June 14, 2007) on his selection as a replacement for a resigned Stark County commissioner as being:











Undoubtedly, Secrest sees that Harmon has not made sufficient progress on public safety, economic development and government efficiencies, and, he may be right.

Unfortunately, Secrest's campaign will not be heard by Stark County voters. He will, in the end, be the sacrificial lamb of this campaign season barring catastrophic events overtaking the Harmon campaign.

Agree or disagree?

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?