VOLUME 2: SCPR SERIES ON 05/05/2015 CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS - MASSILLON: WARD 4, CREAMER V. STINSON

UPDATED:  11:40 AM

VIDEO

Jill Creamer

in aftermath of victory over

Shaddrick Stinson

incumbent Massillon councilman

"As the crow flies," the residence of Ward 4 councilman Shaddrick Stinson and his Democratic opponent in the Tuesday concluded Democratic primary; namely, Jill Creamer, is only about two miles apart.

But the distance nearly doubles if one drives from 1123 Walnut Road, Southeast to 2040 Augusta Drive, Southeast.

Stinson lives in precinct 4B, a largely African-American community (as are precincts 4A and 4C) located in an economically depressed part of Massillon; Creamer lives in 4D, one Massillon's posh-est communities that sprang up in recent years as folks were lured to area as a consequence of The Legends of Massillon Golf Course being built.

Stinson seemingly materialized out of nowhere in the 2013 elections.

With Johnnie A. Maier, Jr and R. Shane Jackson (Maier Massillon Political Machine [MMPM])  - obviously to the SCPR - being the generators behind the move; the-then Ward 4 councilman Tony Townsend (a MMPM loyalist) was appointed in late January, 2013 by Massillon Ward 4 Democratic Central Committee members as council president on the resignation of fellow Massillon Democrat Glenn Gamber.

Coupled with the Townsend move, the SCPR thinks, was the second phase of the MMPM political maneuver was to have Quenessa Hampton appointed by the Massillon Central Committee Dems to replace Townsend as Ward 4 councilperson.  She was appointed on January 29, 2013.

However, a question developed as to Hampton's eligibility to hold partisan political office because of her status as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard.

Rather than stand by Hampton, it appears that the MMPM dumped her in favor of Shaddrick Stinson and a political newcomer to Massillon city politics as Hampton had been until she became "personna non-grata" as far as the MMPM was concerned.

As the MMPM supported Democratic Party standard-bearer in the 2013 general election, Stinson did very nicely in the election.

Had Quenessa's husband Edward, running as an independent, not been in the race; Stinson would have won by a much more comfortable margin over Republican Jim Triner.

The SCPR thinks it's safe to assume that Stinson, an African-American, had African-American Edward Hampton not been in the race, would have achieved near 40% of the vote in the posh (overwhelmingly White) Massillon Ward 4D.

And Stinson worked very hard in Ward 4D, obviously knowing that he had a lock on the predominantly minority vote in the rest of Ward 4 as witness his having convinced former Massillon mayor Frank Cicchinelli to support him in the general election.

A critical condition of Cicchinelli support was Stinson's representation to him that he (Stinson) was not part of the MMPM and would be independent minded as a member of Massillon City Council and not be a more or less automatic supporter for the MMPM proxy (2011 Democratic primary election) Kathy Catazaro-Perry who defeated Cicchinelli in that primary election.

As it turned out, Stinson had bamboozled the "should have known better" former mayor.

Cicchinelli has told the SCPR that he made a mistake in supporting then-fellow-Democrat Shaddrick Stinson.

Well, all that got corrected on Tuesday of this week as Stinson-fellow-Ward 4-Democrat took him on and defeated him rather handily thereby making him former Councilman Shaddrick Stinson come January 1, 2016.

And the SCPR thinks he only has to look at Mayor Kathy and her bungling political advisers (Maier, Jr and Shane Jackson, [Kitchen Cabinet]) and their "let's get rid of The Legends of Massillon golf course as being the cause of his defeat.

In March, 2014 the Catazaro-Perry administration was talking up an "eyesore," "congestion-ladened" (at least from the perspective of many, most or all of residents surrounding The Legends) aquarium and water park being placed on nine holes of the 27 hole golf course.

A quote from Catazaro-Perry from an Akron Beacon Journal article:

“This is a wonderful opportunity that has come to the city of Massillon, and we need to give it our full attention and welcome them into our community,” Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry said after Thursday morning’s meeting. “The economic impact is amazing. ... This is going to be great for our families.”

On October 14, 2014 in a letter to residents of The Legends' neighborhood area, her tune was somewhat changed, to wit:

Let me state for the record that there is no plan to sell or close the golf course. And let me further state I am not proposing any plan to sell or close the golf course. Ultimately, the authority to take those actions currently resides solely with Massillon City Council. That being said, we must now move beyond politics and recognize that mistakes have been made in the past regarding the golf course and take this opportunity to learn from those past mistakes so we do not to repeat them.

When it became apparent to the mayor and her Kitchen Cabinet that in coming out in favor of seriously exploring the leasing/selling part of golf course; she tries to reverse herself with a disclaimer-esque letter to the residents of The Legends' area and by appearing before them within days of Tuesday's election (Wednesday, April 29th in a purported non-political setting:  Who is going to believe that?) in which she tried to explain away her waffling.

As shown in videos which the SCPR in The Report's blog of April 30th, Legends' area residents were not buying.

Her appearance at The Legends on the 29th was a major political blunder which undoubtedly contributed to her close call of losing the Democratic primary to the unknown and untested (in terms of being prepared to be mayor) J. David Ress.

And Catazaro-Perry's dancing around in the issue and Stinson's own indecisiveness in the context of being perceived to be a Catazaro-Perry and MMPM loyalist probably did determine Shaddrick Stinson's political fate as Ward 4 councilman.

Take a look at Stinson's Ward 4 Tuesday results:

Stinson got the overwhelming majority of precincts 4A, 4B (Stinson's precinct) and 4C, the total vote was only 172 voters.

Creamer got 197 votes in precinct 4D having run a pretty slick campaign.

Precinct 4D (the home of The Legends of Massillon and Candidate Creamer) produced 226 voters.

While 13.8% overall of Ward 4 registered voters showed up on Tuesday, nearly 58% of the 13.8% were Ward 4D voters leaving 8.04% to be divided among the three pro-Stinson precincts or 2.8% on average in precincts 4A, 4B and 4C.

Pretty pathetic "get out the vote" effort by Stinson, no?

It looks nearly certain to the SCPR that Democratic nominee Creamer will be elected in November.  

As can be seen from Republican Triner's numbers in the 2013 general election presented above, if Democrats are not fighting among themselves, Ward 4 is probably Massillon's most reliable year-in, year-out Democratic precinct if they can "get out the vote."

Creamer has the advantage this year of many Republicans having taken out Democratic ballots in order to support their Democratic friend, neighbor and consort as to a "focus on the fate of The Legends" matter.

Accordingly, Creamer's Republican opponent does not seem to have much of a chance.

One has to wonder whether or not Stinson wasn't kicking himself all over Massillon on the day after the election.

If only he had kept his word to Frank Cicchinelli that he would be his own person and not the captive of Mayor Catazaro-Perry and the MMPM, he would be looking at two more years as Massillon's Ward 4 councilman.

Moreover, he has to be questioning the supposed political genius of the Maier, Jr. Massillon Political Machine, no?

One also has to wonder whether or not Mayor Kathy will lash out at precinct 4D voters as being racist as she did in the summer of 2014 when council nosed into the financial sustainability of the hire of African-American Dwan St. John? 

See the Catazaro-Perry explosion at about the 10:20 mark of the following video.

Dwan is wife of Stark County Black Caucus associated Deametrious St. John.

Deametrious is/has been:

• a  paid political consultant for Democratic causes,
• who the SCPR deems to be a MMPM loyalist, and 
• who likely served a year as one of two Democratic members of the Stark County Board of Elections under the sponsorship of former Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

The last the SCPR knew, at least according to local media reports, Ms. St. John is pressing a civil rights complaint against Massillon City Council.

Here is a SCPR video of the victorious Jill Creamer in the afterglow of her Tuesday night triumph over an incumbent Massillon city councilperson.

ALL BUT CERTAIN? MASSILLON IN OFFING FOR 15% "ACROSS-THE-BOARD" CUTS COME APRIL?

LAST UPDATE:  8:00 P.M.

VIDEOS

COUNCILMAN PAUL MANSON

SCPR INTERVIEW

ON

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN

=====================

SEGMENT 1

COUNCIL CONSIDERS

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN

=====================

SEGMENT 2

COUNCIL CONSIDERS

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN
 =====================

SEGMENT 3

COUNCIL CONSIDERS

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN
  =====================

SEGMENT 4

COUNCIL CONSIDERS

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN
====================

SEGMENT 5

COUNCIL CONSIDERS

FINANCIAL RESTORATION PLAN
====================
COUNCILWOMAN
SARITA CUNNINGHAM-HEDDERLY
VOWS HER OPPOSITION TO
CATAZARO-PERRY PROPOSED
1.5 MILL REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

Since December 19th, 2014 a new Massillon Financial Restoration Plan (Plan) has been in the works for the city.

On December 19th, the development of the Plan has been with the administration of Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.

On March 9th, the mayor released the Plan to Massillon City Council for its approval or rejection.

On March 19th, council will have had to have acted affirmatively or in rejection of the Plan or provided alternative thereto in order for the Massillon Financial Planning Supervision Commission (Commission) to confirm a Plan at its next regularly scheduled meeting of March 24, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.

From what the SCPR saw at last night's council work session, The Report thinks there is no way council can see it way clear to adopt Catazaro-Perry's proposal.

SCPR Note: Councilwomen Andrea Scassa (Ward 3) and Councilwoman-at-Large Michelle Del Rio-Keller were absent from last night's meeting.

And in sort of way, a council rejection would in a fashion be a case of serving "poetic justice" to the administration.

For in two prior revenue raising efforts by council to get voters to pass an increase in income taxes,

• the mayor has either refused to support the effort (the first attempt, in May, 2013, before Massillon was put in fiscal emergency by the State of Ohio as the mayor's initiative), or 
• she pretty much "sat on her duff" as in the case of the November, 2014 tax levy to the voters proposal,
• both of which were soundly defeated!

Now apparently it is council's turn to play the role of the spoiler which in an ironical sense is likely to benefit the mayor in her 2015 campaign fore reelection in providing fodder to blame Massillon City Council for all the financial woes the city has been experiencing in recent years.

As far as the SCPR is concerned, the failure to resolve Massillon's financial dilemma is all on the mayor's plate and the public should not be buying her  "buck-passing-responsibility-avoidance" that is likely to unfold in her political war for survival against fellow Democrat and opponent for the mayor; namely, J.D. Ress.

Normally, an incumbent mayor should not have a worry in the world at being challenged by a political novice but the word is that the mayor is much more worried about being defeated by the Massillon born, bred and well-known journalist Ress than the the off-in-the-distance challenge that the Democratic primary winner has from Republican Lee Brunckhart in November.

While the SCPR is highly skeptical that Ress can pull it off, Stark County may be about to experience the largest political upset in the history of Stark County politics.

But the analysis of that race for future blogs between now and May 5th.

Now back to Massillon City Council's work session last night.

The structure of today's blog is to go through the video of last night's session in viewable segments (in terms of the length of a given video) and at the end provide the entire video for those SCPR readers who want to take in the session in its unbroken totality.

First, we start off today with a video interview with Councilman-at-Large Paul Manson which is a "summarize tonight's session and where the process now is and what are the potential consequences" interview.

Manson:

• expresses his/council's unhappiness that council has only been given some 10 days to consider the plan which in its essence is a property tax issue of 1.5 mills the proceeds of which are to be dedicated to streets repair and streets department equipment purchasing
• highlights a fundamental disagreement between most council members as the structure of proposed new taxes with the latter favoring an income tax (into the general fund) approach,
• predicts that council will not approve the mayor's plan "as presented,"
• addresses SCPR questions as to whom is responsible for council only getting 10 days to consider a plan in the making over four months,
• discusses the viability of Ward 4 Councilman Shaddrick Stinson's suggestion (last night) of an entertainment tax alternative,
• focuses on the reality that the Catazaro-Perry tax plan has Massillon real property owners paying taxes to support a Massillon government staff of which a significant number are not themselves Massillon property tax payers,
• commented on the absence of Mayor Catazaro-Perry from last night's session (represented by Budget Director and Income Tax Administrator Ken Koher) in that the mayor's presence might have b
• helpful, or
• resulted in a verbal brawl

As an aid to readers of the SCPR to evaluate whether or not it is reasonable for Mayor Catazaro-Perry to desire to raise property taxes in Massillon, The Report has obtained data from the Stark County's auditor's office which shows that Massillon ranks 14th among Stark County's some 100 political subdivision taxing entities in terms of its "effective" tax rate, to wit:

The very first person to say "flat-out" she would not she would not support the Catazaro-Perry proposed 1.5 mill real property tax increase was Ward 1 Councilwoman Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly.

Here is a SCPR video of Cunningham-Hedderly reiterating her opposition.



Winding our way through last night's one hour session (in ten minute video segments), we begin with the open of the session:

SEGMENT 1

• Manson talks about his attempt to get council more time to consider the Plan,
• Informs council he will not be in Massillon past next Monday night,
• That he will make his opinion known on the Plan before leaving,
• Sets out timeline for the Commission's next meeting and the mayor having submitted a council approved Plan to the Commission by March 19th,
• Gets concurrence from council to meet next Monday (March 16th) at 6:00 p.m. for further deliberations on the Plan,
• Discusses the imminence of 15% across the board cuts should council fail to approve the Plan as is or in alternative form,
• Stinson:  timeline for council consideration is unfair,
• Stinson:  Commission really wouldn't implement 15% across the board cuts in that council has done everything asked of it before?
• Stinson:  "As far as I am concerned, if we don't make the 19th we don't make the 19th, we don't make it.
• Lewis: Asks Koher about who put the Plan together and how long it took with the question being the basis of his objection to the dearth of time that council has to consider a somewhat complex plan a long time in the making in a 10 day, more or less, time span,
• Koher: Provides some details on why the delay in discussing a process in which the administration asked Massillon Law Director Perry Stergios his opinion on whether or not Massillon could combine a streets property tax levy with one for police and fire,
• Stergios' opinion was asked for on March 2, 2015,
• Lewis: Administration should have presented a preliminary plan to council so that council had a longer block of time to mull over the Plan.
• Lewis: As things now stand, he doubts he can be prepared on 9 days notice to vote to approve the Plan as submitted by the mayor

SEGMENT 2

• Continuing on with the video of last night's council work session, the conversation picks up with:
• Paul Manson moderating the discussion:
• Cunningham-Hedderly (referring to the compressed timeline - "we are are not Superman,"
• Lewis:  Where are the numbers for this plan which were provided with the "old" plan.  The lack of numbers, Lewis says, is another reason why council cannot deal with the current plan in terms of approving it,
• Koher:  "We'll have those number before Tuesday (which would be March 17th, the day before council's deadline for approving/disapproving of the plan),
• Lewis:  We cannot possibly continue on with this consideration, this plan "is just words, until I see the numbers,"
• Manson:  "I agree.  There is no way I can get on board right now,"
• Chovan:  Clearly gets it in saying that with council not having time enough to thoroughly digest the plan will then be the fall guy for causing Massillon departments of government to be cut 15% across the board,
• Stinson:  "I already have talked to several neighborhood associations in my ward and they already saying no to the property tax,"
• Halter:  She has had anti-property-tax-increase calls,
• Cunningham-Hedderly:  Also cites receiving anti-property-tax calls and reiterates her published comments that she will not support the proposed 1.5 mill levy,
• Starrett:  Asks why is the levy being proposed for the ballot in February, 2016.  She says she is not of a mind to support that timeline IF she were to support a property tax levy ballot initiative,

SEGMENT 3

• Continuing on with the video of last night's council work session, the conversation pickS up with:
• Paul Manson moderating the discussion:
• Manson and others:  talk about a possible conflict with a school levy which, according to Manson was soundly defeated the last time it was on the ballot,
• Cunningham-Hedderly: "Can Massillon do a Sales Tax?"  [Stergios from the audience:  "no,"
• Stinson: "How about a Sin [i.e. entertainment] tax?"
• Stinson:  Brings up whether or not Massillon will receive FEMA grant ($192,000 or so) for safety forces which led to an extended council discussion on that significance of such a factor,

SEGMENT 4

• Continuing on with the video of last night's council work session, the conversation picks up with:
• Paul Manson moderating the discussion:
• Manson:  Initiates discussion of the 1.5 mills as to the duration thereof and the proposal to put the measure on the ballot in February, 2016 and finally whether or not council might not want to abate the street lighting assessment recently imposed,
• Lewis:  Notes that the 1.5 mills is dedicated streets and street department vehicles and initiates a discussion how the plan deals with the need to eliminate a projected $1 million general fund deficit within 5 years,
• Chovan:  Opens up a discussion about staff efficiencies including job combinations, consolidations and outsourcing,
• Lewis:  Queries Koher again on administration measures designed to close general fund projected deficits plans,

SEGMENT 5

• Continuing on with the video of last night's council work session, the conversation picks up with:
• Paul Manson moderating the discussion:
• Chovan:  Asks Koher about selling or leasing of non-essential city assets,
• Manson:  Queries Koher about the fuel usage efficiencies line item in Plan,
• Manson:  Says he has "a hard time supporting this thing" and that council should push for about a month's extension,
• Lewis:  If council members think they are going to reject the administration's plan to come prepared at next meeting (Monday, the 16th at 6:00 p.m.) prepared to discuss alternatives,
• Manson:  Says his alternative is going back to an income tax increase and remove street lighting assessment,
• Starett:  Agrees with Manson on income tax approach and doing something with the street lighting assessment,
• Council members in general:  Discussed the numbers and dynamics of going to an income tax alternative,
• Halter:  Recommended that if council develops an alternative to go with an income tax that the campaign be run by professionals and not by council,
• Lewis:  Talks about the citizens having spoken twice in rejecting an income tax increase and that consequently he is going to have a hard time getting behind a third try of any kind for a tax increase,
• Halter:  Pointed out to her fellows that all city employees have to pay the city income tax but that relatively few pay Massillon real property taxes because many of them live outside the city, and "that," she says "is a hard pill to swallow by the citizens,"
• Manson (and Lewis):  Pose questions to Koher on the actual numbers implied by Halter's observation,
• Starrett:  Raises the topic of if Massillon does the 1.5 mill property tax levy where does that put the city in Stark County political subdivision rankings of the amount of effective millage that residents pay,

At the end of the day, the SCPR agrees with the general sentiment impliedly expressed last night by council members that for council to approve the Plan with only some 10 days to mull it over would be irresponsible.

The entire Plan development process shows how utterly incommuncative that Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry is with council and therefore the likelihood that council will reject the plan as presented looms large.

The mayor only has herself to blame, no?

Here is the full - unsegmented - video of last night's council consideration of the Catazaro-Perry Massillon Financial Restoration Plan.

GOV'T BY CITY COUNCIL IN CANTON AND MASSILLON?

As unrealistic as it seems to the SCPR that such is a viable option for governance, it appears that the city councils of both Massillon and Canton are asserting themselves more and more in ways that indicate a contest with the respective executive branches of government is underway to determine which branch has the major say in the way in which the city is governed.

MASSILLON

At the Monday night council work session "all Hell broke loose" in a battle between Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry and several council members over council's effort to reform the structure of the city's parks and recreation board.

Charges and counter charges on truth telling with respect to the tenure of former parks and recreation directors were the order of the night at Monday's session.

It appears that this fight is being won by council and that the end of the Councilman Larry Slagle-led Parks and Recreation Committee deliberation; it will be council (through the Parks and Recreation Board) that prevails on that particular issue.

And, of course, those who have been following developments in Tigerland government circles, know that the council/city executive fights have not been limited to the parks and recreation matter.

There have been the fights between council and the mayor over taxes and the cutting of expenses.

Beyond the issues in and of themselves, it is painfully clear that most of Massillon council does not trust the mayor.

The mistrust and differences on the issues and the role of council in decision making for the city will spill over into the upcoming council ward elections

The "unstated" stakes in the councilmantic races include whether or not the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. led political faction can elect anyone to office and, if he is reelected, whether or not Ward 6 councilman Ed Lewis, IV uses his reelection as a springboard to run against Catazaro-Perry in 2015.

Maier et al are contesting Republican Nancy Halter in Ward 2 and Lewis in Ward 6.

As far as the SCPR is concerned, the Maiers are also vying with Republican Jim Triner in Ward 4.

It appears that stand-in (for Quinessa Hampton - who quit the race because of compatibility issues with her military service) Shaddrick Stinson is trying to distance himself from the Maier faction, but the SCPR is not buying and I believe that, if elected, Stinson would by and large stand with Maier executive government proxy Catazaro-Perry on the important issues (to the administration) that come before council.

The SCPR has learned that the Stinson folks have been making overtures to powerful Ward 4 political factors in an endeavor to retain this seat for the Democrats in one of Massillon's most heavily Democratic wards.

The Report is told by one long time Massillon Democrat that a Republican probably hasn't represented the Ward 4 since the 1950s.

If Quinessa's husband (running as a non-partisan) can be a factor (siphoning off Democratic votes) and if other Ward 4 Democrats can be neutralized, then Triner is in a good position to take Ward 4 for the Republicans.

The Catazaro-Perry administration main hope in staving off the challenge as to who will dominate Massillon city government rests in the Maier faction's ability to elect council members politically aligned with the administration.

So all eyes in November's election should be on Wards 2, 4 and 6.

CANTON

While the SCPR does not see councilmantic challenge of the Healy administration to be as pronounced as in Massillon, there is no question that expected results of Canton's November election will alter the relationship between the mayor and council as a whole.

On key issues, the SCPR sees the more or less "let's challenge Healy forces on council" will be bolstered by the election of Democrat Roland K. Burns, III at large and the return of former councilman and Democrat Bill Smuckler.

While Mayor Healy does rid himself of the troublesome Mary Cirelli (who stepped down from council to run for city treasurer in a losing effort), the reintroduction of Smuckler spells big trouble for the mayor.

Smuckler has a different vision for the city than Healy.

And he has been frustrated in his attempt to become the city's chief executive (losing to Republican Janet Creighton in 2003) and to Healy (in the Democratic primary) in 2011.

So The Report expects him to lead a "let's challenge Healy" majority (re:  key issues) on council.

Smuckler does not trust Healy but, nonetheless, being the practical politician he is and understanding that council in a structural sense is not suited to actually run city government, he will use his power as the de facto if not de jure leader of council to compel Healy to implement policies and practices that are his/council's idea and not Healy's.

The "let's challenge Healy" group should have a 7 to 5 majority post November 5, 2013.

SUMMARY

The SCPR does not see how a city council can effectively govern any city.

Council simply does not have the structure to do so.

The best that can be hoped for is for any council that wants its point of view, its preferred operating model to rule is to convince the executive authority (i.e. the mayor) to become its alter ego.

MASSILLON

There is no hope that such can happen in Massillon even if the Republicans maintain their majority.

Many believe that Kathy Catazaro-Perry is not "the real mayor" of the city.  Rather, they believe, the city is run by Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. who thinks he can run the city like he runs his clerk of courts operation.

Maier, in effect, is the elected executive officer of Massillon's clerk of courts office and his word within the department in the "word of god."

However, that mode of operating "will not play in Peoria" in relation to city council.

But Maier will never ever become a "come and let us reason together" guy.

It is indelible that Maier is an "old school" power broker politician who leaves no prisoners.

So - going forward - a strong and able council with a mind of its own, especially if it continues to be controlled by the Republicans, is likely to be in one battle after another on one issue or another with the Catazaro-Perry/Maier administration.

At one time it looked liked council and Catazaro-Perry were coming together on the parks and recreation issue.

But that The Report now believes was merely a "feint" and beneath it all was a determination by the administration to come out of that fight on top and not having compromised with council one iota.

So the SCPR thinks Massillonians will be caught up in a continuing administration/council battle as who is to prevail in having its way in the running of Massillon city government.

CANTON

The return of Bill Smuckler to Canton City Council is likely to be - in an ironical sense - the salvation of the William J. Healy, II administration.

Make no mistake about it.

Smuckler and his "let's challenge Healy" majority will make their mark, and Healy, (the quintessential "let me live another day" politician) will find a way to allow "the will of council" to affect the priorities of Canton government so long as Healy gets some headline making credit for whatever the manifestation of "the will of council" turns out to be.

Smuckler is quite adept at accommodating egos and therefore the SCPR sees Canton's turning for the better with Smuckler's de facto city of Canton leadership from "his perch on city council."

REPUBLICAN THERESA MATTOX WITHDRAWS IN MASSILLON. ANY EFFECT IN THE OUTCOME OF MASSILLON CITY COUNCIL RACES?

Earlier this week the Stark County Political Report learned that Theresa Mattox had announced that she was withdrawing as the Republican candidate in Ward 5 of Massillon City Council.

This development falls on the heels of Democrat Quinessa Hampton having first withdrawn as a candidate for election to the Ward 4 seat she was appointed to in February and recently resigning from council as a consequence of her having (at least from the military's perspective) conflict in being a member of the military and holding a partisan labeled political office.

The fact of Maddox's withdrawal was published yesterday on the Stark County Board of Elections website.

Of course, the pre-eminent question is what effect, if any, will Mattox's withdrawal have on the final numbers from the upcoming November election in terms of who controls council as between the Republicans and Democrats.

The answer?  No effect in and of itself because, as explained below, any hope that the Republicans could retain this ward was for Donnie Peters, Jr. to have sought reelection.

Because Mattox withdrew so late in the election cycle for the reason of her family's planned move out of Massillon into Perry Township, the SCPR is told that the Republicans are not likely to name a replacement candidate to oppose Democrat Megan Starrett who is politically aligned with Stark County prosecutor, Massillon resident and former Massillon prosecutor John D. Ferrero, Jr.

The Report's source says that Mattox will very likely still be a resident of Massillon's fifth ward through election day, but the thinking among Massllon's Republican leadership (and, obvious, that of Mattox herself) is that "the right thing" to do was for her to withdraw.

As indicated above, the SCPR does not think that Mattox was going to win in Ward 5 had she remained a candidate.

It appears that she and the Party's leadership made the same calculation.  So in doing the "high-minded" thing, the Republicans salvage the good will of Massillon voters out of what had to be for the Massillon GOP a disappointment in squaring up with the realization that the Party was not going to be able to hold onto the seat currently held by Party maverick Donnie Peters, Jr.

The real loss for the Republicans occurred when Peters decided not to seek reelection.

Moreover, the SCPR thinks that a major reason he decided against running for another term is that he saw "the handwriting on the wall" in going up against John Ferrero's choice.

Nonetheless, the Ward 5 loss does make the chances of the Republicans holding onto majority status a bit dicey.

For them to do so, they will have to retain Ward 1 (Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly), Ward 2 (Nancy Halter), unseat the Democrats in Ward 4 (Jim Triner), retain Ward 6 (Ed Lewis, IV) coupled with Milan Chovan's sure win (only three candidates running for three seats) in his at-large race.

The real trouble spots for Republican chances are in Ward 1 and Ward 4.

Ward 1 because of the name recognition of Mike Loudiana (a Cicchinelli administration service director and a former councilman).

Ward 4 because this ward is the very most Democratic ward in all the city.

However, The Report is told that in the latest redistricting some Democratic areas were shaved off the ward and placed in Wards 2 and 3 and therefore the GOP thinks that it can win a very narrow election margin win in the ward when one factors in that The Legends part of the ward is predominantly Republican.

But the Republicans are not getting a free ride in Wards 2 and 6.

As reported earlier this week by the SCPR, the Johnnie Maier, Jr. faction of the Massillon Democratic Party are targeting Halter and Lewis in the 2nd and the 6th.

The Report thinks that Halter and Lewis are the strength of council's Republican caucus.  A Maier, Jr success against either or both could severely disrupt the Republican resurgence realized in the 2011 election. They surprised everybody in taking a 5 to 4 majority in council.  Overall, Massillon is a very Democratic city.

The Report is told that Cunningham-Hedderly, Halter and Lewis are running in concert based on some legislative successes they had (as a grouping) during the 2012-2013 Massillon City Council.

One of this Republican-grouping-touted successes is one on which Lewis ran when he unseated Democratic incumbent David McCune in the 2011 election; namely, getting Massillon out of the solid waste collection business.

He made good on his promise on October 15, 2012 when council voted unanimously (with a little foot dragging from Democratic councilmen Slagle and Manson) to get the city out of garbage collection.

Because of the trio-Republicans' leadership (but spearheaded by Lewis), The Report is told, Masillonians (individual citizens/families) will be saving $2 million collectively on their solid waste disposal bill over the five year lifespan of the contract.

Moreover, the private hauler (Kimble) purchased Massillon's equipment for $214,000.

The Kimble deal affects some 4,600 Massillonians.

The Report hears that the Republicans are claiming that they have benefited even more Massillon citizens to the advantage of their pocketbooks because Republic Waste Services which also has customers in Massillon has decided to price match Kimble.

A second premise of the Cunningham-Hedderly, Halter and Lewis campaign is their successful stand against allowing Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. protege and Democratic mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry from raising revenue for the cash-strapped Massillon city government by tinkering with the credit that Massillon residents get for income taxes paid in the villages/cities where they work.

The point of the opposition is that the voters of Massillon would not be heard on the matter if the mayor had her way. The tax increase would have amounted to council "imposing" the increase on Massillon residents working out of town.

Even if the Republicans do not maintain their majority on council, they are likely to maintain a plurality.

The SCPR figures that the GOP will be successful in at least four of the council races; not counting the council presidency contest, which yours truly thinks former Massillon City Schools superintendent Al Hennon will win handlily.

The Cicchinelli wing of the Massillon Democratic Party may win in Ward 1 with Mike Loudiana.  If he does win, he likely has an ally (as in being close to Cicchinelli) in at-large Democratic councilman Paul Manson.

The Report does not see Ward 3 councilwoman and Democrat Andrea Scassa and sure-to-be-elected Democrat council-at-large candidate Michelle Del Reo-Keller being consistently aligned with neither the Cicchinelli group, the Republicans, the Catazaro-Perry (of the Maier Democratic faction) nor the Ferrero wing (sure-to-be-elected Megan Starrett).

Assuming the Republicans do not maintain a majority, the breakdown will likely be:

• Four Republicans (Halter, Lewis, Triner and Chovan),
• Two non-committeds (Scassa and Del Rio Keller), 
• Two, more or less, aligned with the Cicchinelli camp (Loudiana and Manson),
• One (Starrett) with the John D. Ferrero, Jr Massillon political interests

Even though the Maier, Jr. camp is pursuing three seats (Ward 4 [Stinson - the Democratic appointee to succeed Hampton]), Ward 2 [Irwin] and Ward 6 [Litman]), it seems likely that Maier et al will come up empty.

But we shall see.

Unless the Republicans pull off what appears to be another political miracle a la 2011, there will be a shake up in the make up of and leadership of  Massillon City Council but not because Theresa Mattox has withdrawn her candidacy.

Nevertheless, as during the current term, the project make of council indicates that the councilpersons will have a positive "let's work together" relationship.

But that could all change if the Maier, Jr. faction prevails in Wards 2, 4 and 6.

And that could happen.

If it does, the SCPR thinks you can forget the relative harmony that currently exists among Massillon council members.

MASSILLON'S "DIVIDER-IN-CHIEF" WORKING POLITICAL MAYHEM IN MASSILLON CITY COUNCIL?

UPDATED:  10:30 AM

Scott Graber sent in this clarification of his role in Edward Hampton having filed to run in Ward 4, to wit:

Point of Order: 

[Q]u[i]nessa agreed that it was wise to have Ed file as a backup in case the DoDd 1344.10 did apply to her. 

You can see the date of this clarification from Brig Gen Harris came only on May 1, which was 5 days before filing deadline (May 6 Primary election)
Qu[i]nessa and Edward made the decision and I do not claim anything.  I advised them on what they could do. 

[T]hey did it on their own judgement and initiative, and I would appreciate it if you report it that way sir. 

Scott

UPDATED:  09:45 AM

Traditionally, Labor Day is the first day of intense and purposeful political campaigning.

And this year Labor Day is early: September 2nd.

Beyond the beginning of Campaign Season - 2013, the end of it all is a mere 76 days away.

In Stark County, the question is where within the county will "the most raucous" and "the most 'at-stake'" election contests will be taking place?

For the SCPR's part, the answer is:  the ward races in the city of Massillon.

And the hottest spot in Tigerland is Ward 4.  This ward is the Democrats strongest ward in terms of registration majority.

As readers of this blog know, Massillon Democratic Party politics are the personification of humorist Will Rogers statement:  "I belong to no organized political party, I am a Democrat."

You have:

• the Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr. Wing of the Massillon Democratic Party,
• the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. Wing of the Massillon Democratic Party, and
• the John D. Ferrero, Jr Wing of the Massillon Democratic Party

Must be something about the "Junior" factor, no? (lol)  Or, perhaps, something in the water?

The center of the "faction fight" is within the six wards of Masillon.

Only Ward 3 Democratic councilwoman Andrea Scassa is escaping the political mayhem this time around.

And who is the main actor in perpetuating the "faction fights" this election go around?  

For some Massillonians, the provocateur is Maier, Jr. who serves as the city's clerk of courts.

Hence this blog's title suggesting that he is viewed as a "divider-in-chief" in Massillon politics.

The SCPR would not for a nanosecond argue the point.

Interesting in that he does not live in Massillon.  He has lived in Tuscarawas Township for years.

It is more than likely that Maier, Jr. in concert with his political appendage Shane Jackson (who also serves as his clerk of courts chief deputy making a higher salary than Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry) are engaged in an initiative to produce some support on Massillon City Council for the mayor.

Nearly all of the current council opposes - to one degree or another - Catazaro-Perry on controversial issues that come before council.

If this trend continues with the new council to be elected this fall, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Catazaro-Perry will be a "one term and done" mayor.

A focal point of the Maier faction's effort will be in Ward 4.

Back on May 10th, the SCPR broke a story to the effect that the-then relatively newly appointed (February) Quinessa Hampton might be forced out of the November election because of questions of compatibility on her being in the military and a politically-identified (i.e. a Democrat councilperson) public official.

By all accounts, Quinessa has served effectively in her short stint as councilwoman (she recently resigned) and, most importantly, being her own person.

This is what Councilman Milan Chovan says about Quinessa:

It's a shame [her resigning] because I really like working with her.  She thinks for herself.

In light of Hampton's resignation, the Massillon Ward 4 Democratic Central Committee met on August 8th and selected Shaddrick Stinson to succeed her as the ward's councilperson and, of course, to be the Party's standard-bearer in the November 5th election.

The Report does not know precisely who participated in the August 8th selection conclave, but does know that former Massillon mayor Frank Cicchinelli's wife was not among those assembled.

A source indicates to The Report that Stinson appears be the handpicked candidate of Maier, Jr. et al because those (thought to include at least Greer and Townsend) controlling the vote are politically aligned with Maier.

Although Ward 4 is a bastion of Democratic strength according to a SCPR analysis of Ward 4 voters identifying themselves either as a Republican or Democrat, The Report sees that the "unthinkable" might actually happen in Massillon:  a Republican, Jim Triner - who lives in The Legends residential complex of the 4th which is also home to former Massillon mayor and avowed Catazaro-Perry/Maier, Jr. political enemy Frank Cicchinelli -becoming councilman-elect for the 4th.

Triner's precinct (4D) is decidedly Republican.  Moreover, the SCPR thinks that many Democrats in 4D will vote for him this fall.

Can you imagine, for instance, Frank and Joy Cicchinelli voting for Maier ally Stinson?

They have to be thinking that he is a Maier, Jr. stand-in through and through, no?

In what is evolving into a sort of political irony, The Report has received indication that Hampton seemingly believes that the Cicchinellis (at least tangentially) were somehow involved in the military putting pressure on her to withdraw her candidacy for election Ward 4 councilperson as a follow up to her having been appointed.

The Report says "seemingly" because Hampton was told in an April meeting with the mayor that a person (who Hampton did not name) had told Catazaro-Perry that she could not defeat Republican Triner in November.

The Report thinks that the "person" well could have been either Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. or Shane Jackson.

Yours truly is skeptical of any suggestion, if she making it,  that the Cicchinellis had anything to do with the military getting after Hampton for holding a partisan political position.

It is likely that the Maier group originally supported Hampton's appointment (by the Ward 4 central committee in February) but got nervous about the military question and her continued political viability and got squeamish about continuing to support her.

Hampton rejected the mayor's offer of help to keep her on council.   Such was likely "the straw that broke the camel's back" in terms of the mayor and her political support group staying the course with the councilwoman while she endeavored to convince the military that she should be permitted to remain in the military and remain as councilwoman.

For if she failed in her endeavor, Democrats were left with no choice but to get behind Quinessa's husband Edward running as a nonpartisan against Republican Kriner.

By the way, Massillon political gadfly Scott Graber credits himself with having advised Edward Hampton that he could take out and file petitions when his wife's troubles staying in office surfaced.

Moreover, it appears that Graber has been a confidant and political adviser to Quinessa all along.

Isn't that interesting.

The Report is told that Edward is a political unknown within Ward 4.

For political pros like Maier and Jackson, the prospect of losing in Ward 4 would be unbearable.

Look at those numbers (in the above graph) of declarants in precinct 4D: 410 strong! compared to Ward 4's other precincts.

And these "on the higher end of the economic spectrum" voters vote in much greater numbers than those of lower socioeconomic area that constitutes the rest of the 4th.

The SCPR feels that volume of voters and their commitment to actually vote bodes well for Republican Triner.

The Report believes that Edward Hampton will take enough votes away from Stinson in precincts A, B and C to facilitate a Triner win.

Triner will undoubtedly get all of Ward 4's Republican votes, some Democratic votes (e.g. the Cicchinellis and other 4D Democrats) and likely the lion's share of "independent" voters in 4D in enough volume to make it highly possible he wins overall in the ward.

Massillon's Republicans have a double-pronged incentive: to put a Republican in council from this thought to be sure-fire Democratic ward, and to hang an election defeat on the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. faction of the Massillon Democratic Party.

What happens in precinct 4D could have a huge impact in the make up of Massillon City Council.

Currently, the GOP has a 5 to 4 majority.  A question is, can they maintain it into the 2014/15 term? Winning in Ward 4 would go a long way with the Republicans continuing to control.

The Report's current analysis is that:

• They are likely to win in Wards 2 and 6 because of the personal political strength of Nancy Halter (a former councilwoman a number of years ago) and Ed Lewis IV who The Report believes is being groomed by the Republicans to run for mayor in 2015,
• Note 1:  Yours truly has learned that John Ferrero is supporting Halter for re-election in Ward 2,
• Note 2:  The Report hears that Lewis is being mentored by Republican Stark County commissioner Janet Creighton.  
• Note 3:  Although the registration numbers show a 60/40 majority Democratic, Lewis beat Dave McCune.

• They have a shot at Ward 1 in re-electing Cunningham-Hedderly because the ward has the most voters identified as being Republican of all of Massillon's wards.  
• Note:  The numbers indicate a 51% to 49% registration edge Democratic which is close enough so as to indicate a competitive race,  
• Note:  The problem with Republican Cunningham-Hedderly winning is named Mike Loudiana who was Frank Cicchinelli's service director and previously served on council and thereby has proven vote getting ability,

The formula for the Republicans maintaining their control of Massillon council is to win in 1, 2, 4, 6 coupled with the certainty that they retain Milan Chovan's at-large seat.

With Donnie Peters, Jr. not running for re-election and the Democrats holding a 60/40 party declared registered voters edge, it is virtually certain that the John Ferrero, Jr supported Megan Starrett wins in Ward 5.

There is no doubt in the estimate of the SCPR that former Massillon City Schools superintendent Al Henon will win as council president.  However, that only helps the Republicans if there happens to be a tie in a council vote.

In terms of the political stakes to Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, the upcoming election offers little solace.

Even if her Maier led support base surprises us all and defeats Halter in Ward 2, Lewis in Ward 6 and elects Stinson in Ward 4, she ends up with a grand total of three reliable votes out of nine and still will be unable push her agenda through council.

All the introduction of three solid votes for Catazaro-Perry will prove is that Massillon's relatively harmonious city council is no more.

Moreover, some Massillonians will undoubtedly think that Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. will have succeeded in becoming Massillon's "Divider-in-Chief!"