(VIDEO) SHERIFF SWANSON SPEAKS UP ON "SWANSON V. MAIER"

UPDATED AT 10:10 AM

VIDEO

SHERIFF TIM SWANSON INTERVIEW

WITH

STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

MAIER DID A GOOD JOB

CONLEY EFFORT JUSTIFIED

CONTINUES TO PURSUE
CRIMINAL INQUIRY

GONZALEZ TO BLAME

Once-upon-a-time Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson was friends with Massillon's Maier entourage.

But under the stress of Swanson contesting brother George becoming the appointed sheriff of Stark County, no doubt the relationship has soured.

Stark County's "real" sheriff sat down with the Stark County Political Report at his office yesterday and answered The Report's direct questions.

The video is located at the end of this blog.

Which is a lot more than the "pretender" sheriff will do.

George T. Maier has demonstrated that he will only answer "pattycake" questions and never in his wildest dreams subject himself to head-on-head SCPR questions.

As far as I am concerned, his shielding of himself from the rigors of public accountability is another reason why Stark Countians should question whether or not he should be sheriff if he ever presents himself for Stark County voters to decide the question of his becoming the authentic sheriff of our county.

All Maier has done so far is to place himself under the protective wings of the likes of Stark County Democratic Party (SCDP) chairman Randy Gonzalez, his brother and political promoter Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. (a former SCDP chairman [2003-2009] and current executive vice chairman) and Harrison County sheriff Ronald J. Myers.

As I write, George Maier is trying to repair at the expense of Harrison County taxpayers what he says is a "technical" deficiency in qualifying under the statutory law of Ohio after he was bounced from the confines of 4500 Atlantic Boulevard on November 6th for being illegally selected by the Stark County Democratic Party Central Committee (SCDPCC) on Feburary 5, 2013 under the sponsorship of Gonzalez and brother Maier, Jr.

On the 5th, Democrats were choosing a successor to November, 2012 sheriff-elect Mike McDonald who, because of illness, was unable to take office.  Regrettably, McDonald passed away on February 22nd.

Nowhere in the Supreme Court's decision did the high court say that it was "on a small matter" (the implication of Maier's "technicality" description).

It appears that George has learned well from "the political pro" Johnnie, Jr how to spin things unpleasant and then to avoid taking the tough questions.

Just the kind of person Stark County needs as its next sheriff, no?

George still thinks he is going to be the appointee of the SCDPCC a second time. He already has sent out a letter to SCDPCC members.  (Click on graphic to enlarge)

Hmm?

"This service will fulfill the technical statutory problem mentioned in the Supreme Court's opinion."

Hmm? again.

Is George T. Maier making another guarantee?

"Forever" (Myers words) police pal (from the days Maier covered Harrison County as a Ohio highway patrolman) Ronald J. Myers is providing him with a job at the expense of Harrison Countians both in terms of spending Harrison County tax dollars for an out-of-county employee (Maier) who does not intend to remain in Harrison County and therefore is taking a job (which, if really needed?) should, one would think, to go to one of Myers' current part-timers, no?

Apparently, Maier doesn't think twice about using the good people of Harrison County for his selfish purposes.

Here is a copy of a letter sent by local attorney and civic activist Craig T. Conley to Sheriff Myers.  (Click on graphic to enlarge)

And Maier's current stint in Harrison County (as a "qualification" curative effort) is not the first one.

He tried back in January to do "a quick fix" to what Chairman Gonzalez told Sheriff Swanson and Stark County Commissioner Tom Bernabei was a problem Maier appeared to have in qualifying to be Stark County sheriff as the appointee of a Gonzalez facilitated appointment.

The SCPR thinks that it should be just a little bit more than upsetting to Stark Countians that Gonzalez, who at the very minimum had a hint that Maier had qualification problems, would allow the SCDPCC to consider Maier for appointment.

The county has been wrung out in recent years over the furor created when former Stark County chief deputy Vince Frustaci was convicted of having stolen upwards of $3 million of Stark County taxpayer dollars.

Only when Stark Countians decided (as evidenced by their vote in November, 2011 to approve a 0.5% sales tax increase) that the elected-in-November, 2010 commissioners Janet Creighton and Tom Bernabei had restored a modicum of trust in county government officials did it appear that the county was on the road to recovery.

Now the county has the Maier-as-unqualified-sheriff matter to deal with.

As Commissioner Creighton told the SCPR in videotaped comments, the county takes 3 steps forward, only to take 5 backswards.

Who to blame?

The SCPR believes that Chairman Gonzalez is the main person who bears responsibility.

He can hide under the cover of attorneys Steve Okey and Michael Thompson declaring (no legal authority cited, but only on their "mere" legal opinion) Maier qualified.

However, it is clear to The Report from Gonzalez's (in his capacity of SCDP chairman) calling of a meeting at the official digs of the Stark County commissioners (involving Gonzalez, Swanson, Bernabei and Maier [by telephone] and trying to work out "temporary" employment for Maier with Sheriff Swanson as a full-time deputy sheriff in order to cure Maier's suspected qualification problem is indication that he should have known better than to proceed with Maier (declaring in to be qualified) on Feburary 5th.

For doing so, the SCPR thinks Gonzalez needs to apologize to Stark Countians for putting the county through another uproar that clearly does - as Commissioner Creighton said last Wednesday (November 6th) sets the county back in its effort to move forward.



There has been conjecture that Gonzalez will step down as chairman when the SCDPCC re-convenes to select a sheriff appointee.

In view of what the SCPR thinks was a debacle of a meeting on February 5th, it would not be a bad idea for Gonzalez to make the speculation reality.

Here is Sheriff Tim Swanson's full interview with the SCPR that was conducted yesterday afternoon.

(VIDEOS: REAM, SWANSON, McDONALD, OLIVER, MARTUCCIO & HANKE) ARE THE STARK COUNTY METRO NARCOTICS UNIT & CRIME LAB IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF STATE OF OHIO LOCAL GOV"T FUND CUTS? WILL OELSLAGER, HAGAN & SCHURING HEED SCOG PLEA TO GET BEHIND HB 471 & RESTORE SOME LCL GOV'T FUNDING?

UPDATE:  06/06/2012 AT 4:00 PM

Larry Dordea (Hartville chief of police and Republican Alliance city councilman-at-large) has brought to the SCPR's attention that he believes that this blog's statement as to his position (on the basis of prior conversations between The Report and Dordea) on the Stark County Crime Lab does not adequately convey his strong support for the lab.  He agrees with those who point out that if Stark County did not have the crime lab, Stark County law enforcement agencies would be greatly disadvantaged if they had to rely on the state of Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

As is always the case with The Report, subjects of the blog get a full and complete opportunity to respond to yours truly's take on them as public figures and/or positions on issues discussed in the Stark County Political Report.

As for the Dordea/McDonald match up, the SCPR believes this race is akin to that between Republican Alex Zumbar and Democrat Ken Koher for Stark County treasurer in November, 2010.

Stark Countians will benefit, no matter who among the two is victorious in November of this year.

ORIGINAL BLOG

Watching and listening to the Stark County Council of Governments (SCOG) monthly meeting yesterday was a sobering experience as it became apparent that "the chickens are coming home to roost" in terms of real world consequences coming to Stark because the Republican dominated Ohio General Assembly voted last year to dramatically cut the state Local Government Fund (LGF) allocations to Ohio's cities, villages and townships for the biennium 2012-2013 fiscal years.

It appears to the SCPR that the cuts could undermine law enforcement efforts in Stark County.

Yesterday, the membership of SCOG voted to eliminate some $160,000 plus in annual payments to the Stark County Metropolitan Narcotics unit. While Sheriff Swanson said that the department would continue operating the unit, it is hard to believe that the loss of the SCOG funding will not diminish the units effectiveness.

Here is a sampling of SCOG's discussion of the issue featuring SCOG Chairman and Canton Safety Director Thomas Ream, Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson and Stark Narcotics head Sgt. John Oliver.



And here is the videotaped statement of Chief Deputy Sheriff (Jail Division) Mike McDonald who is also a candidate for sheriff in November against Hartville police chief and Republican Alliance city councilman-at-large Larry Dordea:



CLICK HERE to link with the Stark County Sheriff's website which explains the history, mission and composition of the unit.

SCOG members also discussed the future for SCOG's pride and joy project - the Stark County Crime Lab.  There was a whole lot of concern of where they are going to find the funding for it  beyond 2013.

So it seems to The Report that Stark County is going to have its law enforcement and criminal justice system adversely affected by the state cuts  notwithstanding the fact that Stark Countians voted to approve a 0.5% sales tax in November, 2011 in order to solve a financial crisis that county government was experiencing.

The levy was sold to the public on the basis of being used to used to undo severe cuts in the law enforcement and justice system of Stark County made in 2011.

And the Stark County commissioners have been good to their word and have begun restoring affected departments of county government to their 2010 levels.

Republican members of the Stark County delegation (Christina Hagan - the 50th House District, Scott Oelslager * - the 29th Senate District and Kirk Schuring - the 51st House District) voted for the budget bill (HB 153) and for ending the Ohio Estate Tax (beginning January 1, 2013).

Notice that there is an asterisk by Oelslager.  The asterisk is next to his name because he originally voted for HB 153 but then voted against it in the final vote.  One would think that by voting "no" on the final bill, he should be given credit  for being against cuts in local government funding, no?

No!

Why not?

Because he gave as the reason in a Repository report for voting "no" on the bill as being that: 

[h]e opposed the conference committee inserting provisions into the bill related to merit pay and performance standards for teachers.

 Accordingly, he does not deserve credit for looking out for local government funding.

A key action by SCOG yesterday was authorizing Canton Law Director Joseph Martuccio to prepare a resolution asking the "Stark County delegation" to the Ohio General Assembly to support HB 471 which would restore some of the cuts to local government funding.

Here is a video of the discussion of  SCOG board members including Martuccio and Stark County Chief Administrator Mike Hanke.



As pointed out on the McDonald videotape, McDonald sheriff opponent Larry Dordea has told the SCPR that while it is convenient and helpful to have a local crime lab, if it was lost because of the evaporation of funding, that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) would do just fine.

Other officials beg to differ.  An example was given to The Report that BCI reports can take up to two to three months in the making whereas Stark County Crime Lab reports are generally available within two weeks.  

Moreover, it is said that reliance on the BCI could cause a delay in the administration of justice.

It seems to the SCPR that Representatives Hagan and Schuring as well as state Senator Oelslager have some explaining to do to Stark County voters.

Democrat state Rep. Stephen Slesnick (the 52nd House District) has consistently opposed Governor Kasich's cuts of local government funding.

(TWO VIDEOS) SHERIFF SWANSON SAYS HE AGREES WITH GOP COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE CRAIG CONLEY THAT SHERIFF DEPUTY BENEFITS NEED TO BE CUT!

The SCPR could not believe what Sheriff Tim Swanson was saying in an exclusive interview with yours truly on January 19th (this year) after he had just concluded his remarks to Stark County commissioners in his session with them on the question of general fund budget allocations for 2012.

Swanson says he agrees with Republican Stark County commissioner candidate Craig T. Conley that the deputies' benefit costs to the county general fund need to be reduced.

Why disbelief?

Because historically the two have been at great odds.  One wouldn't think Swanson would have the grace a political maturity to agree with Conley on anything.

Back in November, 2009 after the Conley-led "Vote No Increased Taxes Committee" had successfully - by a wide margin - repealed a commissioner (Bosley, Harmon and Vignos) imposed 0.5% sales tax (ardently supported by Sheriff Swanson), he - Conley - appeared before the next after the election result meeting of commissioners to lambaste them as well as Sheriff Swanson.

Here's the segment:  Conley on Swanson.



Currently, the deputies pay:

• 4% of health insurance costs as compared to 10% by the county's non-union workforce and about 30% (more or less) by private sector employees, and
• 10% (or 11.8% for some employees) of annual wages towards pension (that is, for new hire deputies, whereas other Stark County deputies employees pay only 5.5%) and the county pays 14% (plus 4.5% for a total of 18.5% for eligible employees' pick up or 18% [plus pick up] for a total of 22.5% for some employees) against the annual payroll.
• In the private sector, employers pay about 5% of the annual payroll for a defined "contribution" plan, if offered, and/or
• 6.2% of payroll for Social Security.
• Public pensions currently are defined "benefit" plan which guarantees a set monthly pension as determined by a combination of length of service and income in final three years of employment.
• Private pensions currently are defined "contribution" plans the payout on which is dependent on the loss/gain of the underlying investment (e.g. bonds, stocks et cetera) over the life of the plan as set at the time distribution begins and continues until depletion.

As readers can see/hear in the following video, it appears that Conley has had an impact on Sheriff Swanson.



Conley, a local attorney, has been probably the most effective citizen activist in Stark County.   As seen in the first video, he rode herd on the commissioners from December, 2008 through November, 2009 and was all over Swanson.

He has been a most vocal critic of Swanson's negotiation of contracts (he has been sheriff since 1999) with the union who represent the department deputies especially in terms of the contracts' generous provisions on the proportions paid by the employee versus the county general fund on health insurance and pension benefits.

In Swanson's defense, one needs to keep in mind that the mindset of some of the negotiations both pre-Swanson and during Swanson's term has been to step-up benefits for employees in lieu of wage increases.

You can bet that Conley as county commissioner, if elected county in November, will be putting pressure on Swanson's successor, either Democrat Mike McDonald, (who, by the way, tells the SCPR his health is dramatically improved and he is "full bore ahead" in running for office) or Larry Dordea (projected by the SCPR to win the Stark GOP March 6 primary contest) to negotiate reductions in the county share of deputy benefits.

The SCPR has heaped high praise on Conley for his work from April, 2009 through a good part of 2011 to force the hand of Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero to obtain financial recovery for Stark County taxpayers on the loss of upwards of 3 million (in the opinion of many, $2.46 million admitted to) Stark County taxpayer dollars at the hand of former Stark County Deputy Treasurer Vince Frustaci.

However, his chances to become a Stark County commissioner is believed by The Report to be significantly less than 50/50.

Incumbent Democrat Commissioner Tom Bernabei did not come into office until the election of November, 2010 (to fill out the term of former Commissioner Steve Meeks) and therefore is not vulnerable to the criticisms that Republican Conley has made about Stark County's deficient county commissioner governance because the problems occurred during the time of former Commissioners Bosley, Harmon, Ferguson and Meeks (2006 - 2010).

Most observers credit Bernabei and fellow commissioner Janet Creighton with having turned around their part of Stark County government on the issues of openness, transparency, communicativeness, accountability and hence in an overall sense trust.

Conley opposed the recently (November 8, 2011) passed 0.5% sales tax largely on his belief (in the analysis of the SCPR) that Stark County was not yet in enough of a fiscal crisis and that major changes (such as dramatic reductions in sheriff deputy benefit reductions) would not occur until the county was completely down and out.

Nevertheless, because of Conley's "civic" hard work over most of the past four years, Stark County government is much more attentive to frugality and efficiency than in former days.

(VIDEO: SHERIFF SWANSON TELLS - THE REST OF THE STORY - HIMSELF) PLAIN TWP TRUSTEE LOUIS GIAVASIS COMPLAINS TO THE SCPR ABOUT THE REP'S COVERAGE OF TUESDAY NIGHT'S REGULAR TOWNSHIP MEETING. HMM? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IN A "ONE NEWSPAPER TOWN?"

Yesterday, late afternoon, yours truly returned a call from Plain Township Trustee Louis P. Giavasis.

The SCPR had been at the regular meeting of the trustees on Tuesday (September 27th) and he wanted to know whether The Rep's report of the meeting told the full story of what happened at the meeting.

Here is the article he complains of:

First, Giavasis was unhappy that for a meeting that lasted about an hour, The Repository saw fit to publish two paragraphs (his words).

Second, he was upset with this sentence:  "Swanson said the sales tax campaign doesn’t affect the police service his department is contracted to provide for Plain Township." (enlarged for emphasis)

The Report's response:  "No! it doesn't."

An important part of the presentation by Sheriff Swanson and his Chief Deputy Mike McDonald (the jail division) was that: (paraphrasing) "Yes, the Plain contracted officers could come to the scene of the incident, but if there was a need for an arrest and jailing, Plain Township residents were in no better shape than any other Stark County police jurisdiction because booking will be limited to a specific block of time (not 24/7 as it is now) and except for murderers and rapists and the like, there will be no room in what will be a 122 bed jail should the November 1/2 cent on the dollar sales tax increase be rejected by voters."

For those readers who want to see a much more complete version of Stark County Swanson's presentation, a video of such is included in this blog at the conclusion of the written portion.

More and more the SCPR gets calls from the Stark County public complaining about the thoroughness and completeness of Repository reports of governmental meetings and political happenings in Stark County.

For years now (even before the SCPR began upwards of four years ago) yours truly has via letters to the editor and comments in The Rep itself complained that The Repository being a monopoly (i.e. "one newspaper town') has a special obligation to take measures to ensure that it compensates for the lack of competition.

But in the judgment of The Report, it hasn't.  To yours truly, it acts as if it were a public utility or, perhaps, a unit of government.  One of SCPR's favorite lines out of The Rep comes from former Executive Editor David Kaminski when he made a statement in one of his editorials equating The Rep to "An 800-pound gorilla which buys ink by the barrel."

Statements like that folks, is unbridled arrogance and we all know the arrogant just shove it down our collective throats and we get what we get in coverage and ability to respond or contest what is written and just go away and shut up!

July 3, 1930 was a day of infamy in terms of Stark County newspaper readers having a choice and The Rep being compelled to compete.  It was on that day that the then owners of The Repository bought out the Canton Daily News.  In hindsight, we Stark Countians would have lamented and wished that it would have been the reverse.

Of course, not many, if any, of us Stark Countians were around then to read the pre-July 3, 1930 competing newspapers.  But it is impressive that the in 1927, the Canton Daily News was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service on the work of prize reporter Don Mellet.

Apparently, the assassination death of the hard-hitting, thorough Mellett was also the death of the Canton Daily News.

As terrible as all of that was, it is only part of the story of tremendous loss visited upon Stark County.

Because the ownership of The Repository has basked in the comfort of being the only newspaper in Canton rather than take on "super-responsibility," the constituents of the seat of Stark County government and other Ohio political subdivisions (boards of education, villages, cities and township, et cetera) and the concomitant politics that goes with such government, have been poorly served in the "public service" aspect of newspapering.

Yours truly has lived in Stark County for nearly 40 years.  How much of that time has been spent as a subscriber of The Repository?  Six months, perhaps, a year total.  An avid newspaper reader until the onset of online newspaper editions, that says quite a lot about one estimate of the quality of The Repository.

About year ago, Reporter Robert Wang of The Rep told yours truly how much Executive Editor Jeff Gauger at The Rep hated Martin Olson and his Stark County Political Report.

Interesting, no?

A one-person-operation sought to be devoured by a self-described 800-pound gorilla?

So much for fostering a free press, no?

A SCPR PREDICTION: WHETHER OR NOT STARK COUNTY ACHIEVES A COUNTYWIDE 9-1-1 SYSTEM IN THE HANDS OF STARK CO SHERIFF TIM SWANSON

 

It sent shockwaves through Stark County officialdom when Sheriff Tim Swanson on April 29th sent an e-mail to county commissioners which was generally perceived to be the "death knell" of a reworked countywide 9-1-1 system.

Here is the essence of that e-mail:

We’re not interested in proceeding with the dispatch center at this time.

We are combined with Canton in regards to the radio system. Any further issues with dispatching will involve Canton and the Sheriff’s Office. The future dispatch issues will involve dispatching and the radio system and both of us will discuss the issues with any interested party.

In review of the status of everything that’s occurred, and the reluctance of other law enforcement and fire departments to participate at this time or to contract for services, we will regroup and proceed at sometime in the future with Canton.

Truthfully,  right now we are more concerned with making it through this year with the allotted budget and preparing for next year’s possible calamity.

There isn’t a need for any meeting at this time, we are NOT moving forward at this time.

We (Canton and SO) have worked very hard and made many compromises to help enable the creation of the dispatch center.

There are still those that do not wish to participate or utilize the proposed dispatch center. With that in mind,  we’re not going to spend any more time trying to make it happen now.

The proper process would be to create the center and switch to the 800 radio system and it appears some in the county are still not interested. 

Perhaps in the future their thoughts would change. One shouldn’t happen without the other.

We are satisfied with the efforts that have been made to better what we have but also can live with the fact that others aren’t interested at this time. We will continue to operate our own dispatch center and our combined radio system and be opened minded to discuss any future dispatching and radio system issues.

However, in Canton (the Healy/Ream duo) and in Nimishillen Township (Township officials and Fire Chief Rich Peterson) they probably broke out the champagne.

First, Nimishillen

Nimishillen Township officials have gotten themselves into hock with it new $1 million fire station a number of years ago and need to keep its dispatching operation going (mostly for fire) in order to generate the money just to pay the fire station mortgage.  However, calls continue to be and will continue to be received by the Stark County Sheriff call center (SCCC) which means that those needing emergency services in Nimishillen (not Louisville which has already merged with the Canton Communications Center - CCC) will, consequently, have a lesser quality of service (according to 9-1-1 Project Manager Joe Concatto) than most other areas in Stark County.

Had Nimishillen accepted new equipment offered by the 9-1-1 rehab effort, such would not be gthe case.  For with the new setup Nimishillen's CenCom would receive the call and dispatch in on fell swoop.

Second, Canton.

Originally, Canton was on board with the 9-1-1 countywide rehab.  However, somewhere in the past six months ago Safety Director Tom Ream and Mayor William J. Healy, II had an epiphany.

Epiphany?

Yes and epiphany.  It probably dawned on Ream and Healy after Louisville joined the CCC and began paying for access and use to the Canton system:  "Hey, why didn't we figure this out before!  If only we can get most of Stark County's political subdivisions to join us here in Canton, we can make a our CCC a profit making center.  Why would we want to join a countywide system when we can have it all here in Canton.  Duh?"

County 9-1-1 officials probably are kicking themselves for allowing Ream to become the president of the Stark Council of Governments (SCOG).  It was about a month ago or so that Ream sent a Canton fire captain to "take over" the county 9-1-1 planning process when it appeared to him that Concatto would be departing due to the fact that the federal funding for the project manager position was running out.

What he (Ream) did not accurately access was that too many in the Stark County political subdivision fire and police leadership cirles are not about to allow Canton (Healy) to take over their operations in the context of their working to meld into a more effective and efficient countywide system.

Hurriedly, the opposition demanded Ream call a meeting of the SCOG Executive Committee.  Ream refused.  Led by Healy political enemy and Stark County Commissioner Tom Bernabei, the opposition found three members of SCOG to call the meeting over Ream's refusal.  Result?  Concatto was hired to stay on for at least six months to complete the planning and implementation of a rehabbed 9-1-1 countywide system.

During Healy's campaign with Smuckler, the councilman made a issue on the foot dragging by Healy and Ream on "a letter of intent" sent by the countywide 9-1-1 folks asking Canton to formally commit to the plan whereby the CCC would be the hub (backed up by the SCCC) of the new configuration.  Smuckler's motivation was two fold.  First, to find about $480,000 for Canton sorely strapped finances and, contrary to Healy is has a need to dominate, Smuckler has a long history of advocating for government consolidations and efficiencies.

One of the things that the Healy administration has done with Canton City Council (Council) - especially those members who oppose the administration on various issues - is to not communicate with them and to exclude them from the decision making process.

Since he was challenging Healy for the mayorality, of course, Smuckler and his supporters on Council were being left out of the 9-1-1 loop (e.g. the "letter of intent" matter).  That's how Healy operates.  He punishes those who oppose him, those who differ with him.

The SCPR believes that Smuckler waited way too long to make an issue of the Healy arrogance.  But finally he got an agreement from the administration to hold a meeting for Council members (through Healy supporter Councilman Thomas West as chair of the Judiciary Committee) to become informed with the meeting being scheduled for May 18th.

Well, guess what has happened to the meeting of the 18th since the Swanson e-mail surface and Healy et al figured that the were in "the catbird seat" on 9-1-1.  Yep!  It got canceled!!

Go figure!

To boot, the SCPR believes that there are other motivations for Healy's resistance to anyone other than Canton running a countywide 9-1-1.

9-1-1 Project Manager Concatto is a former official with the Healy-intensely-hated Creighton administration whom healy defeated in 2007 in a bitter, bitter campaign to become mayor of Canton.  When Healy became mayor is primary thing was to trash Creighton and the mess he says that she left Canton in.

Now add this.  Healy survived his contest in this year's Democratic primary with Councilman Bill Smuckler (who, by the way defeated Healy for the right to run against Creighton for mayor in 2003.  But guess who he is going up against this November?

You've got it!  In a sense, none other than now Stark County Commissioner Janet Creighton in the person of former Creighton administration (2004 - 2007) official A.R. "Chip" Conde who bested Leon Gerig in the Republican primary about two weeks ago.

In checking the campaign finance statements of Conde, guess who were contributors to his campaign?  Of course, Creighton - in a major way - and Concatto in a lesser but significant way.

So, while the financial thing is the main thing; this little political tidbit is not lost on the consummately political Healy and the political alliances and connections of the Creighton associates add fuel to his fire to be the political lord and master in Stark County.  Along these lines, if he is re-elected, look for him (if his allies Allen, Resnick and McIllwain remain on the Canton City Schools Board of Education) to make moves to consolidate his de facto sway over Canton K-12 education.

Stark County officials and SCOG officials realize that the 9-1-1 countywide project "is deader than a door nail" if Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson joins with Healy and Nimishillen Fire Chief Richard Peterson (who appears to control the trustees based on the fire station mortgage situation).

Healy/Ream (if Canton is not running it) and Peterson (since he was not selected 9-1-1 project manager) are opposed to a county consolidated 9-1-1.  Swanson is not because he does not appear to have a personal agenda.  But he is frustrated with all the delays.

Thursday's meeting of the well-attended SCOG Governance Committee (chaired by Jackson Township fiscal officer Randy Gonzalez) may have been a turning point in the battle between the Healy forces and his foes.  It is noteworthy that Canton has not shown up for these meetings for three months running.

Sheriff Swanson showed up prepared to answer any and all questions that his April 29th e-mail generated.

And answer them he did.  While some say that Swanson did not alter his position, The Report hears that such is not the perception of those who were at the meeting.  At least in terms of Swanson's willingness to listen to and work with anyone who genuinely is willing to work together to making a countywide plan work.

Here is Swanson's e-mail (May 13th) to the SCPR addressing several questions that the Report had for him on his April 29th e-mail and what yours truly was told about the discussion at last Thursday's SCOG Governance Committee meeting, to wit:

I and the City of Canton will remain open for discussion on the issue. I have tried everything possible to cooperate and compromise on issues to make this work.

It just appears anything we (Gov. Bd.) do is met with opposition or more hurdles are placed in front of the project. It doesn’t appear to me that I should waste any more time on this issue, but try and develop a funding mechanism to properly fund SCOG (Crime Lab, Metro & Child Abuse Investigator).

With local government funding being cut by the State, this directly impacts the funding of SCOG. There also legal issues that really need to be accomplished before we proceed and the Gov. Bd.is (sic) working on that issue.

The City had NO impact on my decision. CenCom had NO impact either.

I think with the cut in local government funds that we have to be sure that we can first fund SCOG and then address the dispatching issue again.

 

I remain optimistic, that someday everyone will see the light and all move to the 800 system and central dispatching, maybe just not in my time?  

 

I still support the project and will remain a member of the Governance Board and always try to move forward in a positive manner when appropriate.

 

Sheriff

In talking with Gonzalez, The Report pushed him on the question of the sustainability of 9-1-1 finances over the long term.  He is adamant that between the user fees, the 9-1-1 wireless fund and the property tax that supports 9-1-1 that the finances are in place to sustain a countywide plan.

To sum it up, the SCPR believes that the analysis that countywide 9-1-1 is dead is premature.

There is talk that the major players on 9-1-1 (referring to Canton, the Sheriff and SCOG officials) will meet in early June to determine whether or not the Canton/Stark County Sheriff model can be salvaged.

The Report believes that Healy and Ream will find one pretext or another to scuttle such a meeting.

It is clear to yours truly that Sheriff Swanson is the key to whether or not 9-1-1 lives or dies.

Even if Canton "takes its ball and goes home" like the little boy who hasn't gotten his way (as the SCPR expects Healy and Ream to do), there is an alternative.  Countywide advocates could pair up the RED Center with the Sheriff's operation and achieve an all but Nimishillen and Canton consolidation.

Bullies like Canton and Nimishillen should never be permitted to be the tail that wags the dog.

If he will, Sheriff Swanson can rise to the occasion and be a leader on working with "a coalition of the willing" to help Stark County to repair a badly broken 9-1-1 and thereby leave a legacy of having helped the county solve a major problem.

But will he?

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER - POOF! SHERIFF SWANSON DISAPPEARS INTO THE DEEP, DEEP RECESSES OF "OFFICIAL, OFFICIAL, OFFICIAL" RETIREMENT? DORDEA MAY NOT BE RUNNING AGAINST SWANSON'S DESIGNATED SUCCESSOR - RICK PEREZ

At the "Frustaci" press conference, who should appear as the representative of the Stark County sheriff's department?

Of course, Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson?

Wrong!

Who then?

The de facto sheriff, that's who.  Chief Deputy Rick Perez (retire/rehire).

 Sheriff Swanson is scarce to be seen these days at the department's Atlantic boulevard facility.  The word i sthat he is set to "finally" quit in September.  However, he will not quit without taking a final shot at Stark Countians (remember, he said "poop on them" at a Stark County commissioners meeting on the sales/use tax imposition of December, 2008).

A final shot?

What might that be?

Seeing to it that long time associate and friend Rick Perez, brother of  Stark County Auditor Kim Perez becomes his successor.

This deal seems something like the Phil Giavasis (now clerk of courts at the Canton Municipal Court) escapade when he left the Stark County clerk of courts post for the greener pasture (pay wise and retirement pay build up wise) of Canton Muny.

Readers will recall that Giavasis took umbrage at Lawrence Township trustee Mike Stevens (who is now one of Massillon Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's top honchos) wanted to succeed him.

Not on your life Mike Stevens or anybody else!

Giavasis had set aside the job for his top aide Nancy Reinbold.

It just so happens that Reinbold is the wife of former Common Pleas Judge Richard Reinbold (now running against Scott Oelslager for the 29th Ohio Senate District seat).

Think she might have had an inside track to get a job in the county clerk of courts office in the first place?  Perhaps, some in the general Stark County public might take that tack.

But for the SCPR, the answer is "probably not."

After learning that the former judge will not be taking political action money in his current campaign against Republican W. Scott Oelslager in their Ohio Senate 29th District race, The Report now realizes that Richard is a strictly "on the merits"  type and it is likely co-incidental that wife Nanci ended up as a county clerk of courts employee.

Of course, it could be that this was a "no contest" situation.  That is, on the merits, there was no one better than Nancy.

Hey, when you are blessed, you are blessed!!!

The Rest of the story is that Nancy apparently is just as impressed with Giavasis as he is with her.  So when the "Car Title Czar" position opened up at the clerk's office, who did she go out and get (or did he just walk in off the street)?  Of course, another Giavasis - Louis Giavasis, Phil's brother.

Hey, doesn't it figure?  If Phil is just great shakes, why not get the next best thing, Louis.  After all, Louis knows the inside/out of Stark government being a Plain Township trustee.  Could there be a more qualified person that Louis in all of Stark County?  Of course, not!

Indeed!  What a co-incidence!  Brother Louis (to Phil) Giavasis is the "Car Title Czar."  A Stark County gets the very best.

BACK TO PEREZ/SWANSON

Perez has been busy of late sprucing up his resume with the help of Swanson.  Here is an excerpt from public relations arm (the department's website) of Swanson's operation, to wit:

Tuesday October 6, 2009

The Stark County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Chief Deputy Rick Perez has been chosen F.B.I.N.A.A. Graduate of the year 2009. Chief Perez is a 1995 graduate of the F.B.I. Academy and has been an active member in the Ohio Chapter since that time. Chief Perez was recognized for his willingness to work with other law enforcement agencies across the country and the role he played in the Jesse Marie Davis homicide. Chief Perez was presented the award at the F.B.I.N.A.A. fall re-trainer Wednesday September 30, 2009. 

Moreover, Perez is a graduate of the 23rd Signature class of the Leadership Stark County (a project of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce).

It was at an outing at the Stark County Sheriff's facility for the leadership class earlier this year, that Sheriff Swanson anointed Perez his successor.

Sheriff Swanson must know something about Perez that the SCPR is missing.  For yours truly was totally unimpressed with his handling of the Devies matter (Marlboro Chief of Police Ron Devies and son Kyle) that got going in January, 2009.  And that was a case that the quality of the investigation was such that the prosecutor could not even get Judge Sinclair to require the defense to put on its case.  Wow!

What's more is that Perez wore a wire when interviewing Ron.  Now that will inspire trust and confidence on the part of police chiefs across Stark County in Perez, no?

Will Stark Countians abide a Swanson "Jacob-esque" bless on Perez when Perez finally has to stand before the voters?

It depends.

Depends on what?

Whether or not Republican Larry Dordea decides to run in 2012.  Dordea ran a very competitive race against Swanson in 2008.  But the Jeff Matthews/Curt Braden Stark County Republican Party failed him badly.

If he does, then there is a good chance there will be a change at 4500 Atlantic Boulevard.  If he does not (and it is appearing more and more that Dordea will not be making a second run), then the pickings are slim among Republicans to run against the Stark County Democratic political machine-backed Perez.

Swanson doesn't seem to be able to get his budget under control.  He keeps asking commissioners for more and more and more money.

Guess what, Sheriff?  There ain't no more!  And there won't be for the foreseeable future.

Will Perez have improved frugality and efficiency skills than Swanson?

At whose feet did Perez learn to do the administrative work of being sheriff?  Timothy A. Swanson, right?  So does it make any sense he would be more frugal, more efficient?

For the SCPR, the apparent impending appointment of Rick Perez as the next Stark County sheriff is not a comforting thought.

Especially, if Larry Dordea elects not to run in 2010.

HARTVILLE POLICE CHIEF LARRY DORDEA GETS "BIG, BIG" BOOST FROM PAST POLITICAL FOE SHERIFF TIM SWANSON IN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE STARK'S EMERGENCY FORCE COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS?

In November, 2008 Hartville Police Chief Larry Dordea (formerly the Alliance police chief) was duking it out with Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson as to who was going to be Stark's sheriff for the next four years.

In March, 2010 they are working together to solve some lingering communications problems that plague Stark County's emergency forces.  Smooth and integrated communications are a key in effective law enforcement and emergency force response.

For years  now, Sheriff Swanson has been working, through obtaining federal grants, to equip all of Stark's policing/emergency forces with a state-of-the-art 800 megahertz radio communications system.  At yesterday's Stark Council on Governments Governance Committee regular monthly meeting, it was made known that Congressman John Boccieri has agreed - as one of his top priorities for Stark County - to see an "earmark" of federal funds to complete the purchase of the necessary monies to fulfill Swanson's dream.

Larry Dordea, of late, has become an evangelist for advanced integrated Stark County emergency force communication.  He has been pushing a plan for Stark County's law enforcement, fire departments and EMT forces to get behind a plan proposed by TAC Computers, Inc utilizing the Summit County Emergency Management Agency's grant submission facilities to obtain TAC's state-of-the-art software to integrate home base and "in-the-field" police/emergency force including Computerized Assisted Dispatch (CAD) for the revamping of Stark 9-1-1 centralized dispatch.

There has been some skepticism (healthy, in the judgment of the Stark County Political Report) about the viability of the TAC system in view of the promise that the system would be "free."

The SCPR has been at two of Dordea's presentations and is satisfied the "deciders-in-chief" are asking the right questions and putting Dordea and TAC owner Tom Craven to the test in providing answers to key questions as to whether or not the system would - indeed, be "free," and effective.

As it turns out, "free" means that the $1 million or so in cost will be paid for (if Stark officials can get the Summit Emergency Agency to get behind the TAC plan) by a federal grant.  However, there will be ongoing maintenance costs in the range of $150,000 per year.

Dordea may have achieved a critical mass that might well propel his effort to success at yesterday's Governance Committee meeting.

Among the most enthusiastic for the TAC plan was none other than old Dordea political foe:  Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson.

That Swanson would support Dordea in his effort for the good of Stark County does not surprise the SCPR.

During the campaign when The Report talked with Swanson, he had nothing to say critical of Dordea.  In fact, he credited Dordea with cleaning up an illegal drug use problem in Alliance where Dordea had been police chief.

The SCPR applauds both men for setting aside their political differences in a mutual quest to do the right thing for Stark Countians!

GOOD NEWS FROM MARLBORO! CHANGE IN BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!!! HOWEVER, STILL NO APOLOGY FROM PROSECUTOR FERRERO TO CHIEF DEVIES.

 

Dave Wolf chose not to run again as trustee in Marlboro Township.  As for that "Wise guy," he had to be drug out kicking and screaming by the voters of Marlboro.  In the November election just past, "former" trustee Tim Wise got only 244 votes.

The SCPR hears that Wise was telling friends that he was confident of a win as indicated by pats on the back he was getting from his many friends and well-wishers.

Talk about living in a cocoon?

Well, we all now know that Wise was only fooling himself.

Recently, The Report had an exchange of an email and telephone conversation with Police Chief Ron Devies.

The Devies family is iconic in Marlboro Township for the family's many years of service in varying capacities to the community of Marlboro.  It appears to the SCPR that  being looked up to -  made the chief a target of the egotistic former trustees Wolf and Wise.

What is particularly offensive and outrageous about the whole Wolf/Wise/Devies saga to the SCPR, is the failure of the Stark County criminal justice system at the the sheriff and prosecutor level.  The judiciary (Judge Lee Sinclair) did right the obvious wrong that the Devies had been put through..  But we all should shake in our boots at the low, low quality of work done by Sheriff Tim Swanson (Rick Perez) and Prosecutor Ferrero (Dennis Barr).

But matters are on the mend in Marlboro.

In his email to the SCPR, this is what the Chief had to say about conditions in Marlboro, to wit:

Everything is going great since the new board is in. My wages have been compensated and I know enjoy working with three men who are professionals and mutual respect is shared rather than the oppressive micro-management and leadership lacking a clue, that we endured the last four years. Ken Eddleman has proven to be a die hard worker that goes above and beyond his job description.........in a real good way!

In a follow-up telephone conversation, Chief Devies related to The Report a situation in which he and Prosecutor Ferrero were seated within one person of each other at the head table of an event.

We all know that it is very difficult to sit virtually next to someone who has had such a prominent place in your life and nary a word being spoken between the two.

One can understand Devies not initiating a conversation because he was a Ferrero victim.  For if he had, it would have been - if it were yours truly - something like "why did you try to ruin my life over what was obviously a communications problem?"

But Ferrero?  A man charged with doing justice for Stark Countians, should have found a way to say something like:  "Ron, I want you to know that I understand we obviously made a mistake in the handling of your case.  I wish I could undo what we put you, your family and the people of Marlboro through, but I can't.  However, I do apologize and promise to do a much better job in similar situations as they arise."

Unless and until Prosecutor Ferrero (and for that matter, Chief Deputy Rick Perez or his boss Sheriff Tim Swanson) make an apology, Stark County voters should not consider returning the offenders to office or, in the case of Rick Perez, electing them to office.

The Devies matter goes down in the annals of Stark County law enforcement history as a high ranking grievous offense against the Devies family and all the citizens of Stark County.

There, but for the grace of God - with a prosecutor like John Ferrero and a sheriff like Tim Swanson, we all go!

Despite the travail the Devies matter wrought, some good did come of the ordeal.  Marlboro now has a trustee (Eddleman) who is doing what trustees ought to be doing and a community is on the mend and the wiser in being on the lookout for office seekers with ego problems.

SWANSON AND MAIER - ARE THEY LOOKING FOR EACH OTHER?

Could it be that Stark County sheriff Tim Swanson and Massillon clerk of courts are out looking for each other?

Makes sense to the SCPR.

The Report is getting persistent input that each of these public officials are among the missing when it comes to being on the job.

Why doesn't someone turn them in?

Turn them in to whom?

Both are their own bosses being the elected the elected officals they are.   If the reports are true that they are not putting in full weeks of work, then there is only one person to complain to>  In the case of Swanson, it's Swanson.  In the case of Maier, it's Maier.

The only real remedy is for the public to take action at the next ensuing election and not re-elect them.

With Swanson, the public will not have that opportunity.  The SCPR believes that Swanson is in his last days as sheriff.  He denies that he is about ready to quit.  But The Report does not believe him.

The SCPR remembers one meeting of the Stark County commissioners within recent months that Swanson showed up donning his sheriff's top dress but wearing blue jeans.

Let's say that an emergency came up and the good sheriff got the call to go and apprehend someone.  Would he be taken seriously if he informed "the to be apprehended person," that despite his garbled garb, he is Stark County's sheriff with authority to arrest the person?

Swanson, remember, is the guy who said words to the effect (again at a commissioners meeting in December, 2008), "poop on the public."  Moreover, he bragged about dipping into public monies to get as much retirement as he possibly could, and the public be damned.

Maier, too is not shy about getting as much from the public as he possibly can.  He's the clerk in Massillon, he's on the Stark County Board of Elections, he is on a state board and, likely, he is looking - like Swanson - for other opportunities to expense the public.

A SCPR source tells The Report that Maier's (undoubtedly "preferred" ) parking space at Massillon City Hall is largely unused.

But maybe the vacant parking space is not what it appears to be.  Perhaps Johnnie's wife Debbie (also a public official - being the elected fiscal officer in Tuscarawas Township) drop him off for the day at Massillon City Hall.

Hmm?  Probably no one believes that this scenario is the case.

In any event, as with Swanson, the only real recourse, if the public believes the "missing-in-action" reports, is not to re-elect Maier the next time he comes up.  And he must be planning on running again.  The Report hears that he has a fundraiser scheduled.

In the opinion of the SCPR, public officials like Swanson and Maier and their reported "missing-in-action" modality should be an outrage to Stark Countians and Massillonians.  Moreover, other Stark/Massillon public officials should be putting the heat on Swanson and Maier - a kind of elected official peer review group - to admonish the two on their reported "missing-in-action" habits.

To quote a famous Maier line: "Why would I [err they] do that?"

Because the likes of Swanson and Maier bring a cloud of presumptive dalliance over all elected public officials.

Some, perhaps even many,  in the public start believing that the Swansons and Maiers of public offcialdom are the rule rather than the exception.

Is this how the self-disciplined, responsible and "I'm on-the-job" daily types want to be perceived by the public?

POST SALES TAX DEFEAT SERIES #2 "VOTE NO INCREASED TAXES'" CRAIG CONLEY UPBRAIDS SHERIFF SWANSON AT STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING NOVEMBER 4TH

Wednesday was "Comeuppance Day" at the weekly Stark County commissioners meeting generally held each Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Stark County Office Building.

Commissioners meetings are not an event that the Stark County public should miss.

This is the second the series:  "Post Sales Tax Defeat."  CLICK HERE to see Series #1.

Last week the SCPR caught Commissioner Bosley in a toe-to-toe with Jackson trustee James Walters.  Here's the link to that blog.

This week the "Vote No Increased Taxes Committee" provided the entertainment.

The kingpins of the group (Conley, Snyder and Marcelli) each took a turn taking swipes at the commissioners (limited to Commissioner Bosley for the most part).

Who was the star?

Craig Conley - in the opinion of yours truly.

No surprise to the SCPR.  Like yours truly, Conley is an attorney and theatrical ability is a "stock-in-trade" (along with billable time) for attorneys.

Off yesterday's performance at the commissioners' meeting, the SCPR believes Conley is ripe for Hollywood and this assessment is meant as a compliment and not a criticism.

Stark County needs more citizens like Conley to step forward and be politically active.

Now to Conley's comments about Sheriff Swanson.

Conley called Swanson a "horse's behind."

Some will say that you don't say things like this in "polite society."

Well, that's exactly what Swanson types rely on while they are not polite themselves as pointed out by Conley.

Swanson prides himself on his "in-your-face-attitude" and, apparently, the attitude is catching because Chief Deputy Perez seems to have the same bearing about him.  And this is the guy who wants to succeed Swanson when Swanson "finally" hangs it up?

How Swanson can take public money in the face of a "public-be-damned" attitude is beyond the SCPR.

Despite his denial, the SCPR thinks Swanson will be resigning before long.

Here is the video showing Conley teeing-off on Swanson.

MARLBORO CAN NOW SETTLE DOWN. MARLBORO VOTERS "WISELY" REMOVE THAT "WISE GUY" FROM TOWNSHIP HALL. WILL THE MARLBORO DEBACLE SPILL OVER TO SWANSON, PEREZ & FERRERO?

It is obvious that soon to be "former" Trustee Tim Wise is a very bright guy.

Perhaps too smart for his own political good.

In the opinion of the SCPR, he got it in for the Devies family (Police Chief Ron Devies and his son Kyle),  and seized on a politically "unwise" course of events that resulted in his coming in 4th out 4 candidates for Marlboro Township trustee in the election held yesterday.

Yours truly is still astounded by Wise's taking what appears to be have been a communications problem between Ron and Kyle Devies and township officials (Trustee Wolf, in the main) and invoking the insertion of the Stark County's sheriff/prosecutor's office which resulted in criminal charges being filed against the Devies.

Not only was the Wise/Wolf/sheriff/prosecutor venture  politically unwise for Trustees Wise and Wolf (the Devies family is sort of an institution in Marlboro), but it was legal disaster from the get-go.

Sheriff Tim Swanson (via Chief Deputy Rick Perez) and Prosecutor John Ferrero (via his chief criminal prosecutor Dennis Barr) failed Marlboro residents and all of Stark County in allowing this "misunderstanding" to escalate into a criminal prosecution.

Swanson, Perez, Ferrero and Barr owe Marlboro and Stark Citizens an apology for not stopping this "runaway freight train."  But do not hold your breath.  These folks have egos that will not quit and therefore there will be no apology.

Judge Lee Sinclair put them back on their heels in dismissing the case right after the prosecution had finished its side of the case.  The defense did not have to put on a case at all.  This, folks, was a "legal slam dunk."  And yours truly (an attorney - but not criminal defense) knew it was a non-starter from the beginning was the the first and only media type to say so.

Can you imagine all the public tax dollars and resources that went into this "never should have been prosecuted" case?

Beyond Marlboro, that a highly respected police chief and son experience communication problems could end up being criminally prosecuted should not be lost on Stark County voters the next time Swanson (it will likely be Perez for Sheriff in 2012) and Ferrero run again.

The SCPR will be periodically reminding voters between now and November, 2010 of the failure of the sheriff's department and the prosecutor's office in the Devies matter.

Stark Countians are reminded that Perez, when he investigated this "minor" matter, thought he had to wear a "hidden" wire because he did not trust a fellow police officer to tell the truth.

The "wire wearing" was not lost on police officers throughout Stark County and the SCPR believes that Perez - in donning the wire - did enormous damages to Stark County law enforcement confidence and trust in the Stark County sheriff's office.

If Perez does run to succeed Swanson (the SCPR does not believe that Swanson will serve a full four year term), he has an awful lot of "explainin" to do and appologies to issue in order to have any chance whatsoever of being elected.

Larry Dordea is soon to become police chief in Hartville.  He was just elected to city council in Alliance.  And, he plans to run for for Stark County sheriff in 2012.

Dordea learned a lot from his 2008 try against Swanson.

What Dordea could have planned on is Perez getting stupid and doing what he did in the Devies matter.

If the line up stays as anticipated and Dordea doesn't play the blunderbuss like Perez somewhere along the way; he has to be the favorite in a Dordea/Perez match up.

In the end, the "unwise" and "unwarranted" (in the opinion of the SCPR) actions that we have witnessed in Marlboro Township - January through November, 2009 - could result not only in Trustee Tim Wise becoming - as he has as of last night - a "former" trustee come January, 2010 but also in the eventual political demise of Sheriff Tim Swanson and his cohort Rick Perez and, indeed, Prosecutor John Ferrero!

Oh, by-the-way:

Congratulations Trustee-elect Eddleman, and - must I say it - Hagan.

WHAT DOES CANTON HAVE TO HIDE? WITH HEALY AS MAYOR, EVERYTHING!

William J. Healy, II is probably Canton's most secretive and controlling mayor ever.

He has been out to nail Canton police chief Dean L. McKimm pretty much from day one of his administration.

From material that the SCPR received from the city of Canton pursuant to a public records request, it is clear to yours truly that outgoing safety director Tom Nesbitt has been under pressure from Healy to get rid of McKimm.

Plaudits are in order to McKimm and his attorney Craig Conley for asking for an "open to the public" hearing. This is a crazy world indeed. The prosecutor (the city of Canton administration) is spending money Canton doesn't have to "behind closed doors" to put McKimm on the outside looking.

There is an strong irony here. Canton is insisting on a - closed to the public hearing - while McKimm has gone to court to force the hearing open. (Safety director postpones hearing on Canton police chief, The Rep, July 6, 2009)

The SCPR is reminded of the prosecution of Marlboro police chief Ron Devies. The Marlboro trustees (Wise and Wolf), Prosecutor John Ferrero and Sheriff Tim Swanson were all "closed mouth" (cowardly) about the unwarranted and unfair prosecution of the highly respected Devies, while Devies was very open and would talk to anyone with questions.

Quite simply Devies had nothing to hide. And Judge Sinclair saw it his way. The prosecution's top gun (Dennis Barr) couldn't force the defense to put on its case. That's how bad the trustees, the prosecution and the sheriff served Stark County justice. But they have never apologized. They just sleeked into the night.

Healy is also cowardly type who works other people to do his dirt. Like when a celebrity fundraiser function he was trying to get Stark County commissioner Todd Bosley to sic the sheriff on his political enemy Greg Hawk. Healy was bogus on this as he is on most things.

Meanwhile Canton sinks deeper and deeper into an economic morass while Healy games his opponents for the sake of his own ego!