STARK COUNTY PROSECUTOR RACE - VOLUME 1 - POLITICAL NEOPHYTE THINKS HE CAN UNSEAT PROSECUTOR FERRERO. HMM?

Recently retired as chief legal counsel for the Babcock & Wilcox Company headquartered in Charlotte, NC but with key facilities just up the road for Canton and Stark County in Barberton, Lake resident Micheal J. Grady thinks he is a realistic hope for Stark County Republicans to wrestle the Stark County prosecutor's office from the Democrats come this fall.

The SCPR thinks that it should have been a slam dunk for the Stark GOP to have done so given what many view in a less that stellar performance by Prosecutor John Ferrero's office in the handling of the civil side of the Vince Frustaci (former chief deputy of the Stark County treasurer who sits in federal prison for having stolen what some think was nearly $3 million in Stark County taxpayer money) engendered "confidence in Stark County government" which lingers to this very day.

Despite a voluminous report by the state of Ohio Auditor's office (OA) expressing opinion to the contrary, the then Stark County treasurer - Gary D. Zeigler denied he had done anything wrong in the management of the treasury in terms of practices, policies and infrastructure structure so as to prevent thefts like that pulled off by Frustaci.

Ferrero's office had the responsibility to provide legal advice and representation to the Stark County commissioners as they endeavor to remove Zeigler from office (by virtue of ORC 321.38) and to recover bond and insurance monies as well as Ohio statutory imposed personal liability (ORC 321.37)  on Zeigler himself in order to make Stark County taxpayers whole on the loss.

The Report has been discussing for some time with various Republicans as to who the Republicans were going to put up against Democrat John Ferrero (who was appointed prosecutor by Stark Democrats in 2003 when then prosecutor and Democrat Bob Horowitz became Stark County Probate Court judge).

The Democrats have held the prosecutor's office since 1985 when, in November, 1984, Horowitz defeated Republican Rick Ketler (who had served in the administration of the last Republican - Jim Unger - to hold the office) in a very close race.  Prior to 1985, the Republicans had held the office for many years witness the names Jim Unger, David Dowd and Norm Putman.

It became apparent early on to the SCPR from the tone of the conversations that the Republicans were probably going to blow this opportunity.

With the selection of Grady, The Report thinks that it is likely that Ferrero is going to survive his office's lackluster performance in handling the civil aspects of what local attorney and civic activist Craig T. Conley (also a Republican candidate for county commissioner against Democrat Commissioner Tom Bernabei) has termed as being "Zeiglergate."

Although Grady has impressive credentials as having been a lawyer for the Babcox & Wilcox Company which had its origin in Barberton, he lacks experience in holding public office and, more importantly in terms of gaining office in the first place, in how to run an effective political campaign.

This blog is the first in a series that the SCPR will be running between now and November of several key races that are likely to be competitive.

AN UNFAVORABLE ZEIGLER SETTLEMENT COULD MEAN POLITICAL DEFEAT FOR COMMISSIONERS BERNABEI & FERGUSON?

Just about everybody in Stark County government just wants Stark County Treasurer to be gone! gone!! gone!!!

A week ago today, as we media types waited as a Stark County commissioners executive session meeting with Stark County Ross Rhodes et al  dragged on and on and on, yours truly figured out what this session was all about:  "a discussion of the way to reach a settlement with Stark County Treasurer Gary D. Zeigler to get him out of office.

Conventional thinking is that as long as Zeigler continues as Stark County Treasurer as he was when his employee and then Chief Deputy Vince Frustaci is believed to have stolen $2.96 million (he admitted in his guilty plea to having stolen $2.46 millon) in Stark County taxpayer dollars, Issue 29 (a county sales tax of 0.5% proposal) has no chance of passing.

The SCPR agrees with Stark County Prosecutor John Fererro's assessment as reported by Kelli Young in Treasurer’s presence in county government weighs on sales tax vote, The Repository, October 5, 2011.

Ferrero expressed doubt that whether or not Zeigler is present as county treasurer as being a material factor in whether or not the new tax will pass.

Should the county agree to a settlement with Zeigler which results in his resignation from office, the major factor will not not be a groundswell of support for the tax issue.

The larger factor, the SCPR believes, is how the public would perceive the favorability/unfavorability of the specific terms of any such settlement and the fallout on the two November, 2012 commissioner races.

Commissioners Tom Bernabei and Pete Ferguson are up for re-election in 2012.  So far, neither they nor any prospective opponents have taken out petitions from the Stark County Board of Elections.

Whether or not they (especially Bernabei) seek re-election could hinge on whether or not the sales tax passes in the first place.  Presuming that it does pass and both decide to run, then any settlement could play significantly in their chances for re-election.

The Report believes that it is highly unlikely that a settlement can be reached before November 8th and even if it does, it will take time for the Stark County voting public to absorb and reflect on the terms of the settlement, and determine whether or not the commissioner adequately protected the Stark County taxpayer interest in negotiating a settlement.

Such is the "tightrope" that the commissioners, and more specifically Commissioners Bernabei and Ferguson, are walking on as they consider whether or not they can abide settling with Zeigler.

In any event, Zeigler, of course, has no chance whatsoever of being re-elected should negotiations totally breakdown.  Already waiting in the wings is former Treasurer Alex Zumbar who Zeigler's attorney has described as a usurper treasurer for the time he served after Stark County commissioners removed Zeigler from office in 2010.

Whether or not Zeigler serves to September, 2013 (the statutory end to his term) is unknown as this blog is written, but the SCPR is confident that Zeigler's successor will be Zumbar.

A Zeigler resignation will likely mean that commissioners will be appointing an interim treasurer if Zeigler resigns and The Report believes that the choice will be Zumbar.

The Report doubts that Stark's Democrats will put up a candidate to oppose Zumbar, that's how well taken Stark County officialdom (Democrats included) were with Zumbar for the time that he served as Stark County treasurer.