STARK CO. POLITICO SAYS HEALY LIKELY TO LOSE TO BERNABEI 52% - 47% OR AS MUCH AS 55% - 45%!

THE STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT AGREES

The Stark County Democratic Party is a "classic" case study in self-destruct politics.

Its operations over the past 16 years should be top drawer stuff for political science professors across American as "the way NOT to do 'local political party politics' and expect to survive as a dominant political party even in a county which 'overall' is a Democratic county.

Perhaps Healy's campaign guru will want to do this at Mount Union University where he is a political science professor.

One can go back in modern Stark County political history let's say to 1999 when the Stark Dems appointed Gary D. Zeigler Stark County treasurer to replace "the training/certification deficient" Mark Roach and track a "self-destruct" phenomenon that haunts the Stark County Democratic Party to this very day.

As a consequence of appointing/nominating questionably qualified persons to various Stark County offices, the Dems have lost the treasurer's office (having endured the insult of "having" to appoint Republican Alex Zumbar to that office on October 31, 2011), the auditor's office and now likely the mayoralty of Canton.

All of this in the midst of numerically having the political upper hand county wide and certainly within the cities of Alliance, Canton and Massillon.

The SCPR thinks Stark County - of late - is 'overall' for a properly run campaign, a Democratic county.  In 2012 and 2008 countywide Democrat president Barack Obama won Stark.

And, Canton, for sure - at least since 2003 - should not (given the approximate 9 to 1 'voting edge' for Democrats when factoring in Democratic leaning "non-partisan" voters)

One local media person has honed in on official registration records which show "only" a 3 to 2 Democratic registration numbers over Republicans as being an accurate read of the partisan divide in Canton.

What that reporter does not understand is that in Canton most non-partisans vote Democratic in general elections whereas in a place like Jackson Township most non-partisans vote Republican in general elections.  In an area like Perry Township, the split on non-partisans in general elections is about 50/50.

If Canton were truly a 3 to 2 edge to Democrats, do you think that 11 of 12 councilpersons and the council president would be Democrats?

And the lone non-Democrat (Richard Hart who has an uphill battle to be re-elected) tough historically a Republican runs as an "independent."

Do you think that if Stark County Republican Party chairman Jeff Matthews thought that Republicans were within striking distance (which, clearly, a 3 to 2 register voter edge suggests) of Democratic candidates for elective office within Canton that he would stand by and allow Democratic candidates for council, mayor, law director, treasurer and mayor run unchallenged?

The end of the line for Republicans as viable candidates within Canton city limits was in 2003 when current Republican Stark County commissioner Janet Creighton edged out Democrat Bill Smuckler by some 300 votes.

That particular election should have an "*" next to do.

Why is that?

Answer:  Smuckler and current Democratic mayor William J. Healy, II had gone through a bitter Democratic primary battle and Healy and his Democratic Party supporters (i.e. many of the 2,741 Healy voters) were not - the SCPR thinks - supporting Smuckler in the general election inasmuch as Healy had to hoping for a Smuckler loss so that he could pick up the pieces for the Dems when Creighton ran for re-election in 2007.

As a consequence of "a [Democratic Party] house divided" within the Canton branch of the Stark County Democratic Party, Smuckler was almost certain to lose, no?  And he did.  Healy did in 2007 challenge Creighton's re-election bid and won handily.

Healy's 2007 election and the loss of Republican Mark Butterworth in Ward 8, Canton's most Republican ward (now represented going into his third term by Democrat Edmond Mack) in 2011 was a clear signal to the politically astute (OMG - how can the SCPR say that about Jeff Matthews?) that Republicans cannot win in Canton.

To jump ahead to the theme of this particular blog regarding the 2015 Canton mayoralty general election:  a case of "what goes around, comes around" as Healy now trying for a third term is likely to lose to former Democrat and now "independent" and currently Stark County commissioner Thomas M. Bernabei as a consequence of the treatment he has meted out to certain key members of the "organized" Stark County Democratic Party.

Recently the SCPR had a conversation with a Stark Dem politico who told The Report that he/she? figures Bernabei to defeat Healy on November 3rd by as much as a 55% to 45% margin, but, perhaps, as little as 52% to 47%.

With Bernabei's certification as an "independent" by the Stark County Board of Elections on the tie braking vote of Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted as validated by the Ohio Supreme Court, it is "deja vu all over again" in terms of a divided Canton branch of the Stark County Democratic Party.

This time around Healy is likely to be "the house divided victim" in an ironic twist of Healy having fired Bernabei as his chief of staff and service director in 2009 after being on the job for only one year.

Double up the political irony on Healy having humiliated the-then Democratic Plain Township trustee Louis Giavasis (brother of current Stark Dems' chair Phil Giavasis and Stark clerk of courts employee once brother Phil switched over to being the Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts) when he applied to be service director in Healy's administration.

Fast forward to a fundraiser by "independent" Tom Bernabei at The Canton Brewing Company on September 15 and who should show up at the fundraiser?

You've got it:  "the Healy humiliated Louis P. Giavasis!

Though Louis likes to paint himself paradoxically as a more or less non-partisan Democrat, the SCPR does not buy it.

Louis does do some politically strange things and perhaps politically inexpedient things from time-to-time (e.g. fighting the oil/gas fracking in Plain Township, the Giant Eagle exclusionary of other grocery stores lease in Oakwood Plaza, et) cetera); he is otherwise a consummately loyal Democrat.

He was really over-the-top for George T. Maier in Maier's successful race for sheriff in November, 2014 and may have been the key factor of Maier edging out Republican Larry Dordea.

Certainly Maier recognizes Louie's key role in his election as he shown up with deputies in tow in support of Giavasis in his gaining commissioner and Stark County Democratic Party Central Committee appointment as successor to recently retired Stark County clerk of courts Nancy Reinbold who had received the appointment (2007) when Lou's brother Phil became the Dems' appointee as Canton's clerk of courts when Tom Harmon retired.

Interesting enough, in the wake of the SCPR having reported Louie's appearance at the Bernabei fundraiser, The Report received this e-mail:

Sep 21 at 2:06 PM
To:  tramols@att.net

Seems like many Democrats were upset that Louis Giavasis was at the fundraiser for Tom Bernabei and that those Democrats conveyed there disgust to his brother Phil Giavasis.  Time will tell if Lou switches sides now.

The Report made a number of telephone calls to various Stark County Democratic Party connected persons and learned that the e-mail is "right on the mark" in terms of the complaints against Louis.

As the SCPR is wont to do, an inquiry was sent to both Louis and Phil, to wit:

Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>  Sep 22 at 6:39 AM

To:  Phil Giavasis

Phil,

Any response?

Martin/SCPR

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>

To: LOU GIAVASIS ... 

Sent: Monday, September 21, 2015 5:42 PM

Subject: Are you in hot water with the DEMS because you attended Bernabei's CBC fundraiser?

Louis,

An e-mail I received from a reader:

Seems like many Democrats were upset that Louis Giavasis was at the fundraiser for Tom Bernabei and that those Democrats conveyed there [sic] disgust to his brother Phil Giavasis.  Time will tell if Lou switches sides now.

Your reaction?

Here it is September 23rd and no answer.

In the past, both have been quick to respond to SCPR inquiries.

The "silence" is interesting, no?

Some folks take "silence" to be an admission of the points presented.

The SCPR would not be surprised for it to come out in due course that Lou has recanted his Bernabei support.

If that happens, it will be too late.

There is no doubt that there is division in the Canton branch of the Stark County Democratic Party that the SCPR thinks will peel off enough normal "solid for the Democratic candidate - whomever she/he may be" (which, in this case, would be William J. Healy, II) when coupled with the substantial number of Democrats who are personally devoted to Bernabei (e.g. form Canton Municipal Court/Stark Co. Court of Common Pleas judge Harry Klide) no matter what his political identity might be to carry Bernabei to a substantial victory.

Readers should keep in mind however that Healy has demonstrated that he is a political person who is "the envy of the proverbial cat of nine lives" and one ought to and The Report does hereby acknowledge that his one chance at re-election is "to pull a proverbial 'rabbit out of the hat'."

It would be a mistake to foreclose any possibility at all that Healy's demonstrated "I am survivor" history might once again save the day for him.

If Healy loses as the SCPR expects him to, he has only himself to blame.

The mayor has left a long trail of strewn political bodies on his political pathway in his divide and conquer political way of being.

Moveover, the SCPR sees him as being arrogantly contemptuous of any who disagree with him or whom he counts as not being politically significant.

In mistreating Louis P. Giavasis and others along that pathway, he planted the seeds of his own political destruction in fostering the development of "a house divided" within the Canton branch of the Stark County Democratic Party.

To say it one more time - especially in politics - "what goes around, comes around."

Consequently, William J. Healy, II is now scrambling to put "Humpty-Dumpty [the fractured Canton branch of the Stark County Democratic Party] back together again!"

OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY FORCES McTIGUE OUT AS BERNABEI LEGAL COUNSEL!

Updated/Revised at 07:30 a.m.

DID THE STARK DEMS

DO THE SAME WITH

ALLEN SCHULMAN?

IS WILLIAM J. HEALY, II
SOMEWHERE IN THE WOODWORK?

The Stark County Report has learned from an off-the-record-as-to-identity source that the Ohio Democratic Party forced Ohio elections legal expert Don McTigue to withdraw from representing Democratic Stark County Commissioner Tom Bernabei.

Originally, Bernabei (a lawyer himself and serving many years as Canton's law director) held discussions with highly regarded Allen Schulman about representing him before the Stark County Board of Elections (BOE) to quash a protest that has been filed seeking to deny his being certified as an independent candidate for mayor of Canton.

On the same day, Lee Plakas filed for the Stark and Ohio "organized" Democratic Parties, the SCPR talked with Schulman about reports that he would be representing Bernabei.

From the SCPR's May 29th blog:

Like Don McTigue has done for the Ohio Democratic Party, Allen Schulman has represented the Stark County Democratic Party.

He represented the Stark Democrats and the-then chairman Randy Gonzalez in litigation filed filed by sheriff aspirant Lou Darrow with the Ohio Supreme Court seeking to have the high court prohibit the Stark Dems from proceeding on February 5, 2013 on allegations that George T. Maier lacked sheriff qualifications under Ohio law.

Maier was one of a number of candidates including Darrow seeking the party's appointment to succeed the too-ill to take office Sheriff-elect Mike McDonald (November, 2012) who passed away on February 22nd.

While that action failed, the Ohio Supreme Court did on November 6, 2013 find that Maier was not qualify for the February 5, 2013 Stark Dems appointment.

Interesting enough, Ohio Democratic official Bill DeMora read a letter from McTigue  - on 12/11/2013 during the second proceeding to reappoint a McDonald successor - attesting to Maier's qualifications.

In a somewhat ironic note, Bernabei did support a Maier request (as a county official; supported by the-then Stark Dems' chairman Randy Gonzalez) of having elections expert legal counsel McTigue hired by the Stark County commissioners to represent Maier at the cost of some 8,000 taxpayer dollars to represent Maier in the Secretary of State/Ohio Supreme Court phase of local Massillon Democrat Cynthia Balas-Bratton's challenge with the Stark Board of Elections of the certifiability of Maier for the November, 2014 general election.

However, Republicans Janet Creighton and Richard Regula refused to join Bernabei's effort.

Both Schulman and McTigue are knee-deep in Stark County and Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) politics in their respective Canton and Columbus haunts.

In recent days, (remember on May 29th Schulman is saying that McTigue will be doing the representing) the SCPR is told, that McTigue was contacted by ODP officials and was advised to withdraw from representing Bernabei in view of his long time relationship with the party in providing legal advice and legal representation.

So what has happened over the course of two weeks or so that made what was seemingly okay all of sudden not okay?

And get this.

None of the longstanding and close ODP/McTigue connection had anything whatsoever to do with Tom Bernabei and, accordingly, there would be no attorney/client confidences being at risk in McTigue and members of his firm (i.e. partner Colombo who had sent the Stark BOE announcing his representation of Bernabei in the protest action) handling the protest matter.

The Report is told that the ODP was asked to waive any technical basès on which their request of withdrawal was made of McTigue but apparently Chairman Pepper refused.

While Schulman denies being pressured by Stark Dems to opt out representing Bernabei, the SCPR thinks he is protecting those who are upset with incumbent Democratic mayor William J. Healy, II being challenged by a former Democrat for a third term.

The SCPR is now being supplied with names of Stark County Democrats who take umbrage at the putative Bernabei candidacy.

The Report thinks this has to mean that Schulman was hearing from some of these folks, one of whom is a prominent sitting Stark County judge.

Allen Schulman is a stand up guy insofar as the SCPR is concerned.

But he is also a highly skilled political tea leaves reader.

And the McTigue referral was the perfect way out or so it seemed at the time.

Nobody is talking about William J. Healy, II perhaps having a role in the ODP all of a sudden taking an interest in forcing McTigue out.

Healy spends a lot of time in Columbus.  Last year he was the president of the Ohio Municipal League headquartered in Columbus.

He was also involved in the Chris Redfern fight to remain as party chairman of the Columbus  based ODP several years ago.

The Ohio Democratic Party injected itself into the Healy/Perez Democratic primary face off on May 5th in endorsing Healy.  Such is a rare intervention indeed!

The SCPR smells a rat in the political woodpile fomenting political havoc and his name likely is William J. Healy, II.

The political party venue is the perfect place for Stark County's most accomplished politico to flourish.

Political parties are known to be havens for the likes of Healy who demonstrates little if any leadership ability in terms of actually producing on the job.  But in the wheeling and dealing backroom world of political parties, he is a virtuoso.

If Bernabei gets on the ballot, Healy's political career is over.  No doubt about it.

These are days of desperation for the man who is the envy of a cat with nine lives.

Healy has been a survivor in many of self-inflicted problems over his nearly eight years in office.

He survives but Canton continues to nosedive notwithstanding all the buzz about Utica shale, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village among various other feel good projects that the self-promoting Healy has tried to capitalize upon over his tenure as mayor.

With Healy it has always been about the two slices of bread with no beef as Clara of advertising fame (Where's the beef!) put it.

While Healy was nowhere to be seen yesterday at the Stark BOE and is seeming uninvolved in the fight to keep Bernabei off the ballot, do not believe it.

His sister Joyce (a 2012 District 7 congressional candidate) was there.

Interesting, very interesting, no?

So where does all this Schulman/McTigue hubbub leave Bernabei in his quest to obtain representation?

Stay tuned.

The Report understands that there is a McTigue wannabe out there in the hinterlands of Ohio and it appears that Tom Bernabei is determined to find that person.

VOLUME 2 - SERIES ON POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. THESE FOLKS "APPARENTLY:" REALLY LOVE THEIR POLITICAL PARTY?

How to tell who is a bedrock political party supporter?

How about:  Follow the $?

As only The Stark County Political Report will do, this blog analysis who "the big hitters" are in terms of their contributions to local political party support.

Using the pre-primary (April 23, 2015) data supplied by the Stark County Board of Elections (Travis Secrest) on the SCPR's request, The Report analyzed both the Stark GOP and Stark Dems contributions to baseline organizations.

THE REPUBLICANS

TOP COMMITTED?

Notice that Stark County Court of Common Pleas Dixie Park's spouse John is one of the more reliable Stark County Republican Party causes supporters.

The SCPR finds his place on "the most committed" list to be consistent with an oft repeated phrase among organization Republicans that "so-and-so-candidate" has the financial ability to "Parkize" an opponent.

And that goes to a perception among Stark County organized and elected official Republicans that if Dixie is in a race she is in it to win and that husband John (a prominent Stark County medical doctor) will spend way more than what most politicos think necessary to ensure a win.

As readers of the SCPR know, The Report thinks Dixie (as documented in prior blogs, with more to come) is an embarrassment to Stark County's judiciary and to the citizens of Stark County.

But there is no denying that having loads of money to campaign with cures lots of what otherwise be fatal political/governance defects.

Surprising on the "committed list" is Republican Stark County commissioner Janet Creighton.

The SCPR thinks she is "the face of the Stark County Republican Party.  And yet she is at the bottom of "the [financial] commitment list published above.

Of course today's listing is only part of the evidence that one should rely on in making a "commitment determination" Republican or Democratic.

Also to be factored in is the scope and degree of contributions to party candidates and the mentoring that one provides to new party activists.

The SCPR thinks Creighton is particularly strong in the mentoring area.

THE ALSO-RANS? 

No disrespect here.  For these folks are "the heart and soul" of any political organization.

There are a few surprising names in terms of who is not on the list.

How about "among the missing" being:

• Stark GOP chair Jeff Matthews, 
• the Republican Board of Election members Curt Braden (a former chairman) and William Cline,
• Republican judicial appointee (two times) Curtis Werren,
• County Auditor Alan Harold, and
• County Treasurer Alex Zumbar

Surprising in the "low level of support" are North Canton councilpersons Stephanie Snow Werren (the judge's wife) and Marcia Kiesling.

Could it be that Kiesling thinks she more than makes up for "the low level of [financial] support" in helping Republicans get appointed positions in North Canton government?

Sad to see that former Minerva councilman and SCPR celebrity Phil Davison is not on the list.

Davis who when viral on the Internet with his speech back in September, 2012 in quest to be the Stark's nominee for Stark County treasurer in the November, 2012 election, has often been spotted by the SCPR on Stark GOP candidate lists as being a contributor.

But he is missing from theses lists any more, it seems.

Small contributions to be sure.

But as any candidate for office will tell you; they are appreciated, treasured and in combination with other small contributors can be a difference maker.

THE DEMOCRATS

TOP COMMITTED?

Hmmm?

The Dems' Stark County Board of Elections (BOE) appointees William Sherer, II (a Ironworkers #550 honcho) and Sam Ferruccio (a local attorney) a far and away "the top guns" for Stark Democratic Party elite contributors.

One has to wonder if a condition of their being appointed to the BOE is an understanding that they will contribute back to the party's prime organization; namely, the Stark County Democratic Party Executive Committee which makes the appointments in the first place.

THE ALSO-RANS? 

Glaring MIAs (missing in action) for the Dems include:

• former Stark Democratic Party chairs
• Johnnie A. Maier, Jr,
• John Ferrero and 
• Sheriff George T. Maier, and
• Kody Gonzalez (a recipient of the top job in the offices of Recorder Rick Campbell and Canton Clerk of Courts Phil Giavasis [also current Stark Dems chair] who it appears to the SCPR is being groomed to replace Giavasis

The SCPR's take on Maier, Jr is that he is one the most miserly of all Stark County Democratic Party officials and Democratic Party elected officials with contributions to party candidates.

But doesn't that figure?

The chief prima donna of the party is not expected to help but rather to be supported by "the also-rans."

Go figure!!!

LEAKY ARGUMENTS BEING MADE FOR GEORGE T. MAIER AS SHERIFF?

In our democratic-republican form of government, we certainly like to maximize "the vote of the people."

Look at the masthead of the Stark County Political Report.

The Report from its very being has been formulated and filled with content designed to inform Stark Countians about the quality and lack of quality of candidates (incumbent or not) for Stark County public office.

To the SCPR, it is more than just a little bit ironic that some Stark County Democratic Party politicos The Report does not see as being stalwart "small letter 'd' democrats are now - as a last minute desperation tactic - stepping forward and clothing themselves in the garb of thoroughgoing democrats in order to convince Ohio's secretary of state to side with them to get George T. Maier on the May 6, 2014 Democratic Party primary ballot.

But in the view of The Report these "in sheep's clothing people" are not at heart small letter "d" democrats.  Rather the SCPR sees them as the purveyors of a culture of power politics the likes of which Stark County has not seen in a very long time, if ever.

Had they done things properly starting in January, 2013; their man would be on - without the secretary of state having to decide - May's ballot.

But as political arrogance will have it, they did/have not and now they are trying to bully their way through our democratic-republican safeguards (ORC 311.01) and thereby trying to change the rules of our political processes "on the fly" in order to have their way.

Stark Countians should be wary of these folks because their political history "does not hold water" in terms of their devotion to our democratic-republican ideals. 

"Organized" Democrats have dominated the Stark County sheriff's offices going back "at least" to 1950.

Many of us remember the 1980 election when "the reform" candidate - Republican Robert C. Berens (an insurance industry man who liked being a "dress-uniform" sheriff) took on the political machine power politician of his day George Papadopulos

Papadopulos  had been sheriff for 13 years.  In fact, interim Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson "cut his policing teeth" during the Papadopulos era.

Berens was successful in portraying Papadopulos as not having the qualities that Stark Countians would have their sheriff possess.

And, accordingly, "in the wisdom" of the people Papadopulos swept from office.

What a horrible mistake that was!

And, admittedly, Papadopulos was nobody the write home about.

Moreover, the Stark Republican leadership "of the day" absolutely and miserably failed the Stark County voting public for allowing Berens to be its candidate and - to add fuel to the fire - actually supported the guy.

Berens proved many times over over the span 1981 through 1984 that he was in no way, shape or form prepared to be sheriff.

While the originator of ORC 311.01 does not recall the Berens experience as being a factor in the crafting and passage of the statute, it undoubtedly was wafting through the air in Columbus in 1987 when the Ohio Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association (BSSA) prevailed on Youngstown area legislator Ron Gerberry (a Democrat) to help push the "keep Berens-esque sheriff wannabes" out of the county's chief law enforcement post.

 

Gerberry apparently had the ear of the-then autocratic Democratic political strongman Vern Riffe (speaker of the Ohio House 1975 - 1995) and therefore was the"go-to-guy" in terms of getting legislation passed.

Gerberry tells the SCPR that the more direct concern was not the Berens matter but a similar one that had surfaced in Mahoning County, Gerberry's home.

ORC 311.01 was passed to ensure that only "by the book" (i.e. according to 'the rule of law') qualified candidates for sheriff need apply to counties' respective Boards of Elections to get on the ballot for any given election in Ohio.

Similar sorts of statutory standards apply to candidates for county engineer.

Undoubtedly, back in 1980, those who the SCPR terms as being power politicians trying to force George T. Maier onto the May ballot - if they had been politically active - would have been at the forefront of saying Amens! to ORC 311.01.

But now that it is inconvenient to their cause, they are promoting the bastardization of ORC 311.01 (or, if you will, "the rule of law") to suit their on political ends.

While the SCPR thinks that Ohio secretary of state will "do the right thing" and reject the specious arguments of those for a mongrelized interpretation of 311.01, we all should be just a tad nervous that he will not.

The Maier proponents are now at the "hope and prayer" phase of their effort to make George T. Maier a candidate for sheriff.

There is no doubt that Maier had plenty of time between January, 2013 (when Sheriff-elect Mike McDonald sent in his resignation declining to take office on January 7, 2013) and February 5, 2014 (the deadline for filing petitions with the Stark County Board of Elections [BOE, Board]) for George T. Maier to acquire impeccable qualifying credentials.

But someone in his political support entourage (i.e. "culture of political power" as the way to run our democratic-republic) apparently told him that he need not bother.  That the sticky points of whether or not he was literally qualified by the standards of 311.01 were "mere technicalities" of "the rule of law" which could be easily cured by a "rush and pummeling gush of political power" applied against anyone who would stand up for "the rule of law."

George should have ignored those close to him.

He should have gone about building on his impressive list of policing credentials to as to be undeniably qualifying under ORC 311.01.

Absolute proof that he has not done so is evidenced by his ouster as a usurper to office by the Ohio Supreme Court (Swanson v. Maier, quo warranto, decided November 6, 2013).

If Secretary Husted does "the right thing," he will follow the high court's lead and the compelling legal arguments advanced by Republican Stark BOE members William S. Cline (who happens to be an attorney) and Curt Braden.

Otherwise, he will allow to be put before the voters of Stark County as a candidate for Stark's top cop a man who would enforce the law of Ohio on each of every one of us but has shown that he will not apply that very same law to himself.

The demonstrated hypocrisy (February 11, 2013 through November 6, 2013 and December 11, 2013 through the date of this blog) of George T. Maier is the work of "political might makes right."

The Maier folks have taken to having his supporters apply mobocracy techniques (packing hearing rooms and filing petitions and the like) and offering specious arguments (e.g. "if the secretary does not side with us, we will not have a candidate") as part of their "hope and prayer" campaign.

That a secretary ruling of Maier off the ballot might leave Stark County Democrats without a candidate, is of the Party's own making.

If such is the consequence, it is the likes of Party chairman Randy Gonzalez and his executive vice chairman and ironically executive vice president Deametrious St. John (a Board member who voted to allow Maier on the ballot) who have perpetrated the circumstances under which the vacancy occurs.

It may be that Stark's organized Dems purposely endeavored to put the secretary of state in the uncomfortable position of denying a ballot place to them on May's ballot.

On the surface it seems that the secretary is to blame - if he votes for denial - for the Dems not having a candidate.

Of course, any one with a half of a mind, knows better.

George T. Maier and the organized Dems have done it to themselves, if they have no candidate.

To those of us who can think, the cup containing the Maier argument of perhaps ending up with no candidate to stand for election has "sprung a leak!"

Had George T. Maier ignored his political advisers and qualified in the right way, to wit:

He would unquestionably have made it to the ballot.

If so, he would have faced a duly qualified candidate in Larry Dordea.

While the Berens 1980 election brings into question how well equipped voters are to make "the better choice," such is our system of government.

It is obvious that George T. Maier is a "spit and polish" type of guy.

But The Report questions the content of this character, his demeanor and temperament.

And that he has fought to circumvent "the rule of law" while wanting to be Stark County's chief law enforcement official is not encouraging.

The SCPR thinks that the Stark Dems' does think that Gonzalez et al do have "an ace up their sleeves" in the event Husted rules against them.

It is the Douglas S. Smith filing as a "write-in" candidate as a Democrat.

The Report does not believe that Smith will endure to run against Republican Dordea in November.

What is likely to happen, if Husted (an ultimately the Ohio Supreme Court) rules against Maier being on the ballot is that Smith will make a timely (so the Dems have an opportunity to appoint a replacement) withdrawal.

The Report believes that there has been a dispute among those in the inner circle of the Stark on the Smith "apparent" candidacy.

One group, The Report thinks, wanted him to file to "hedge their bets" on the upcoming Husted decision.

The other, The Report thinks, wanted to put "all the Dems eggs in one basket" in order to impress on Husted that a "keep Maier off the ballot" decision would have the appearance of his being "anti-democratic" and therefore "hoping against hope" he will vote with BOE members Ferruccio, Jr and St. John.

However, the SCPR keeps coming back to the notion that if the Dems do not end up with a candidate, it will have been of their own making.

To repeat, their cup of political argument(s) has "sprung a leak!" for the thinking person.

STARK GOP & REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY & CIVIC ACTIVIST CRAIG CONLEY TRYING TO GOAD DEMS INTO FILING A ORC 3.07 & 3.08 ACTION TO REMOVE REINSTATED CO. TREAS. ZEIGLER. WOULD THAT BE A SMART THING FOR THE DEMS TO DO?

Stark County Republican Party Chairman Jeff Matthews says if anyone files an action under Ohio Revised Code Sections 3.07 and 3.08, it should be the Stark County Democratic Party.

Dems Party Chairman Gonzalez's response:  (a paraphrase)  "Our only obligation was to ask Zeigler to resign" (which Gonzalez et al has done, perhaps, repeatedly).  It would have been a godsend for Stark's organized Democrats and the Party's elected officials had Zeigler done so.

But Zeigler has repeatedly said that he did not do anything wrong in the management of his office which implicitly is to say (in the opinion of the SCPR) that he had adequate and reasonable safeguards in place to prevent his former chief deputy - Vince Frustaci - from making off with county money to the tune of what some say is $2.96 million (Frustaci has admitted to taking $2.46 million)

Moreover, county and federal prosecutors have exonerated him of any involvement in the theft itself.

At face value one might say that since Zeigler adamantly maintains that he minded the county treasury properly, that is the full explanation of why he has not heeded calls for his resignation.

But is it?

Some think that Zeigler (being wholly blameless in his eyes) is outraged that the Stark Dems "threw him under the bus" and that his insistence of reassuming office in light of the June 23rd Ohio Supreme Court decision reinstating him is sort of a revenge on the Stark Dems.

The problem for Zeigler and the Stark County organized Democrats is that the Stark County voting public seems to think that Zeigler did not have adequate and reasonable safeguards in place.  Moreover, The Report believes that the public perceives that Zeigler (before the Frustaci story broke) was a key member of the Dems' "good ole boy network" and therefore his stubborness in not resigning rubs off on most of the remaining Stark County Democratic Party officeholders.

Zeigler clearly cannot get re-elected if he chooses to run again in 2012 and his former connections to many of the remaining Democratic officeholders could be a key factor in their losing.

One has to wonder whether or not Zeigler would get a measure of satisfaction in their losing.

Back now to the focal point of this blog:  Gonzalez's rejection of the Stark GOP's (and Republican Craig Conley's) entreaty for the Stark Dems to initiate a constitutional challenge to Zeigler remaining in office.

Here is a copy of a letter sent by Conley to Gonzalez on Friday:

So, the question remains:  should the Dems take up the Republican challenge?

Con:  As pointed out by Conley a larger number of valid Stark County voters signatures would be needed (about 20,000).  While very doable given the Stark County electorate's negative take on Zeigler's handling of his office, it still would divert Party resources from the 2011 and 2012 elections, and make the Republicans' task to win whatever offices/issues are at stake much easier to achieve.

Pro:  It is likely that unless or until the Stark County voting public has cleaned its own house, they will not be of a mind to elect Democrats to anything.  Going the 3.07/3.08 route would be proof positive that the Stark Democrats (win or lose) are doing everything they can to deal with its Zeigler problems.  Win or lose, having made the effort should go along away towards Stark Countians being open to electing Democrats countywide.

Gonzalez in rejecting the Stark GOP/Conley prod is preserving Party resources.

But to what end if the Stark County public feels that Party has not done all it can to put Zeigler behind it?

WHY DO VOTERS "FLIP-FLOP?" EXPLAINING STARK'S 9 TO 1 SWITCH TO REPUBLICANS

Voters are known to criticize officeholders/candidates who flip-flop.

But how about voters flip-flopping between being a Democrat, then a Republican and then, perhaps an independent?

Flip-flopping, whether it is officeholder/candidate-based or voter-based is indicative of fundamental self interest.

The question is this.  Is it good or bad to be a flip-flopper?

For officeholders/candidates it is bad.

Let's take Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.  Understanding that he was going to have a hard time being reelected this November because he likely was not going to be able to get through the GOP primary due to a challenge from the right wing of the Party, he switched to being a Democrat.

Many Pennsylvania and national Republicans said "good riddance, he was a Republican In Name Only (RINO).  Democrats, on the other hand were mixed on the switch.  President Obama welcomed him with open arms.  But some Pennsylvania Democrats didn't quite see it Obama's way and have - ironically - mounted a primary challenge to Specter on the Democratic side.  Obviously, these folks don't think switching at the candidate level is a "cool" thing to do.

From a voter standpoint, the SCPR believes it is perfectly acceptable.

For the voter is perceived as trying to align himself/herself with the political party he/she most reflects his/her interests and, of course, the interest of nation, state or locality.

You hear it all the time.  Question.  Who do you vote for?  Republicans or Democrats?  Answer:  "I vote for the 'best' candidate!

So what to make of reports in state and local media (See Lots of local Dems switch to GOP, Tim Botos, The Rep 04/08/2010) about significant shifts from Democrat to Republican this election cycle?

The SCPR's answer:  very little.

First of all, the only heated Stark County primaries are on the Republican side.  There is the congressional race (the 16th) which pits political newbie Jim Rennaci against "third time is the charm?" Matt Miller.  There is also a primary between James N. Walters (Jackson trustee) and Dean Windham (a Stark County builder) for the right to be the Republican to take on Democrat Tom Bernabei for the county commissioner seat for the remaining two years of the Tom Harmon seat.

The Report doubts this is much of a factor (the desire to vote in the Republican primary), but it is part of the reason for the switch.

Second, despite the Botos headline, it is not "lots" of Democrats switching to Republican in the context of the total Stark County voter base.  So the consequence on voter patterns will be negligible.

Third, switchers are voters who will, in the assessment of the SCPR, vote - in November's general election - not a straight party-line vote, but rather the "best" candidate.

So the story makes for a good headline, but is not indicative of a major political shift in Ohio or in Stark County.

In Stark County, Democrats will continue to dominate local elective office.  Perez will win the auditor's race, Bosley is likely (but, this race will be very, very close) the 50th Ohio House seat while Democrat Steve Slesnick will win the in the 52nd House District over Republican Travis Secrest.

There is a bright spot for Republicans in Stark.  Former Canton mayor Janet Creighton is running against former Jackson trustee Steve Meeks (now serving as a politically appointed commissioner by the Stark County Democratic Party Central Committee).  The SCPR projects Creighton to win this race.  But it will be a relatively close race (something in the 55 to 45 range to 51 to 49).

Why does the SCPR think Creighton will win this race?  Because she will run particularly strong in Jackson and Lake Townships which are dominated by Republicans and because she will hold her own in the Democratic strongholds of Canton and Massillon.

Also, helping Creighton and other Republicans running in Stark, although not enough for the "others;" is the growing perception in Stark that it is not in the interest of voters to have one-party-rule in countywide offices.

Of course, "musical chair" and the SCPR believes, ineffective Republican candidates Oelslager (29th Ohio Senate and Kirk Schuring (51st Ohio House) will win easily.  Reason?  The Dems failed to come up with challengers who match up well with Oelslager and Schuring.

So the Botos story is "much ado about nothing."

Most Stark County voters (irrelevant of the registration numbers) are not wed to either the Dems or Republicans, they will flip-flop, flip-flop and flip-flop some more, if necessary, to get to whom they perceive to be best for their interests, and by extrapolation, the community-wide interest.

That is the baseline line political dynamic in Stark County.