(VIDEO) IS STATE REP. TODD SNITCHLER DANGEROUS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & POLITICAL SUBDIVISION FINANCIAL HEALTH IN STARK COUNTY?

It was surreal.  State Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake) on the stage with radio personality Matt Pattrick in downtown Canton (the seat of Stark County government) at the April 15, 2009 "coming out party," locally, of the tea party movement bashing Ohio (and, as a political subdivision of Ohio) and, by implication, Stark County for being in line to receive federal stimulus dollars.

The country, Ohio and Stark County was in the throes of a near 1920's/1930's depression and Snitchler is more interested (see the video below) in being the political ideologue than helping the people survive.

Contrast what Snitchler says about the stimulus with the view of Stark Development Board CEO Steve Paquette in the same video.

Quite a difference, no?

While the SCPR thinks well of Snitchler on a personal level, The Report believes his being consumed with right wing politics does not serve Stark County well.

Had Snitchler prevailed on his wish not to have stimulus money, two very important "private sector" economic development projects (Schearer's Foods and Signet Healthcare/Mercy Medical) would not have gone forward.  No ifs, buts, and ors about it!

Moreover, Stark Countians would have suffered in other ways.  Federal stimulus dollars helped Ohio plug a gigantic budget deficit.  Had the plugging not occurred, Stark Countians could be sure that Ohio would have made cuts in services and funding (e.g. to Stark County's school districts) that would have impacted Stark Countians.

The SCPR believes that Snitchler and his "rightest" political agenda is about to strike again.

Work is already filtering out through the media that some of the more extreme Republicans (which The Report includes Snitchler) are planning to abolished Ohio's estate tax.

What Snitchler and his fellows in the Legislature will NOT publicize is that eliminating the estate tax will cost Ohio's townships, villages and cities dearly.  Just take a look at what the local goverment take (80%) has provided local government elsewhere in Ohio:

So the moral of the story is that Snitchler maintains his ideological purity at the expense of Stark County's local government?

Here is the video of Snitchler dissing stimulus whereas STB CEO Steve Paquette praises it.  Hmm?

CAN STARK CO. COMMISSIONER RECOVER FROM SUFFERING THE WORST DEFEAT EVER FOR A 50TH HOUSE DISTRICT CANDIDATE?

What a difference from 2006 to 2010!

On the day after the election in November, 2006, Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley was riding high after narrowly defeating incumbent Commissioner Richard Regula.  It was a win nobody except Todd Bosley expected.

On November 2, 2010, Bosley suffered the worst defeat "ever" by any Democratic candidate for the Ohio House - 50th.

And this after spending the better part of a half-a-million-dollars on his campaign.

How could this happen?

After all the Ohio House Democratic Caucus had come riding into town in December, 2009 with their big gun - Ohio Speaker of the House Armond Budish - to convince Bosley not to run for re-election as commissioner but rather to run for state representative.  This even though Bosley had suffered a rebuke at the hand of Stark County voters for being the leader of the December, 2008 county commissioner move to "impose" a 0.50 sales tax on Stark Countians.

There was no doubt that after the November, 2009 vote against retaining the tax, Bosley could not have been re-elected commissioner.  But state representative?  Maybe.  At least that is what polling done by Budish's caucus was suggesting.

False!

So what happened?

The SCPR believes Bosley became the biggest loser ever for three reasons (in order of significance):

1.  He and his Columbus benefactors went over the line with their campaign ad approach.  The worst was the flyer and a TV ad suggesting that Republican incumbent Todd Snitchler was placing Ohio's school children at risk of being subjected to sexual predators among a whole host of criminal offenders in opposing House Bill 19.  Before the HB 19 flyer, Bosley's Columbus group put out a flyer comparing Snitchler to a rat for co-sponsoring HB 400, a bill to do away with Ohio's income tax over a ten year period of time.
2. His leadership of and support of imposing a 0.50 sales tax increase under the guise of being to fix 9-1-1, but which had an unpublished aspect (50% of the  tax) to raise revenues for the county general fund.
3. His run in a gerrymandered Republican district in a Republican year.

Towards the end of the campaign, both Bosley and Snitchler were telling the SCPR that they had polls showing each about 10% ahead.  As it turns out, Snitchler's poll was the more accurate of the two, but even it did not indicate the freight train that was bearing down on Bosley.

Quite a turn of events for a campaign thought - at least one time - to be a close race. If the race was ever "really close," Bosley has only himself to blame (except for the Republican tidal wave factor) for his huge loss.

So the question is this:  Is Todd Bosley finished as a viable political figure in Stark County?

Could be.  Losing is one thing, but losing by 21+ percentage points in the context of the "imposed" sales tax (something that voters are not going to forget - or, allowed to forget) is another.

One could tell that Snitchler was more than annoyed with Bosley's campaign tactics.  But he handled himself with class.

Unless he does something completely stupid, it looks as if Snitchler can look forward to six more years as the representative for Ohio's 50th House District.

Look forward?

Well, there is that $8 billion deficit he now has to tackle with newly elected Governor John Kasich, the man who has said he wants to take a look at eliminating Ohio's income tax over time.

Should be interesting folks.

BOSLEY AND SNITCHLER IN A HORSE RACE FOR THE 50TH OHIO HOUSE RACE. "BLOG" DEBATE EXPANDS BEYOND ORIGINAL ISSUE. BOSLEY EMAIL#2 IN REPLY TO SNITHCLER #2 CHALLENGES SNITCHLER TO DEBATE ON "POINTS TO PONDER" IN JULY

 UPDATE 07/09/2010 AT 11:30 AM - BOSLEY #2

"toddbosley@aol.com" ....
To:  tramols@att.net

A quote from Todd Snitchler about House Bill 360

The bill received sponsor testimony in committee and has not been called to another hearing (despite our request for more attention to the bill). Todd Snitchler

In response to Mr. Snitchlers House Bill 360

The truth about HB 360 is as follows: It was such an awful and poorly written bill that it was opposed by both Union and non union workers alike! It did not receive a second hearing because no one supported it.

Here is my take on why Todd Snitchler has failed as a State Representative. He knows Ohio needs jobs, but does not understand how to get them here. He wants to gut the budgets of schools, libraries, and infastructure (sic) projects not understanding that companies assess these factors before deciding where to locate their businesses. If company employees can’t send their children to schools, and the libraries are closing and the roads to get to either are falling apart, they aren’t bringing their business to Ohio!

And since Mr. Snitchler challenged my knowledge on House Bill 360, I would like to issue a challenge to him. I would like know the top 3 bills he has sponsored (not Co-sponsored) which are now law and how they directly effect the people of the 50th District.

In closing, why do we have to wait until the Fall to debate? I challenge you to debate me on the Ron Ponder Show this month (July)! Will you accept?

Sincerely,

Todd D. Bosley
Your Stark County Commissioner

 UPDATED 07/07/2010 AT 5:00 PM - SNITCHLER #2

The SCPR presents state Representative Todd Snitchler's (R - Lake)  reply to Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley (D - Marlboro).  The Report will published the back and forth between the two candidates for the 50th Ohio House District seat which includes Marlboro, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Sandy, Sugarcreek, Tuscarawas, part of Perry, Lawrence and Lake Townships.

As long as the candidates are willing to go back and forth the SCPR gladly provides the space on The Report.

The Report thanks each of the candidates for illuminating 50th District voters on the issues that they should consider in voting for either Snitchler or Bosley.

Here is Snitchler's response to Bosley #1.

Martin –

            Good afternoon.  I read with interest Mr. Bosley’s comments on my proposed legislation (HB 360) to give a tax credit to both union and non-union workers.  I was interested, because he failed to comment on the legislation I actually introduced and its merits and instead chose to distort and misrepresent my actual record on several other bills.  Let me make sure you and your readers have the facts and not the cherry picked distortions of my record which it seems may be an indication of the tone of Mr. Bosley’s coming campaign.

                Let me be clear: I did vote against HB 1 (the state’s budget) which increased NEW fees and taxes by more than $1 billion, payable by those same working people who because of the state of Ohio’s economy are already struggling to make ends meet.  That would include both union and non-union people.  Mr. Bosley claims my “no” vote would result in 18,000 union teacher layoffs and that I voted to deny collective bargaining rights to home care providers because those provisions were included in the same budget bill.  Frankly, I don’t view the budget bill or people as “union” and “non-union” as it seems, based on his comments, he does.  HB 360 reflects that I support ALL working people, not just those who have contributed heavily to my campaign.

The budget in addition to its new fees and taxes also included the Governor’s education reform plan, which came with a multibillion dollar price tag and no way to pay for it.  Because of the inadequate funding for the Governor’s plan (more than two years in the making), it is being slowly implemented over the next decade.  School districts already have no way to pay for the mandates being imposed from the first year and are already seeking waivers from ODE from the plan requirements because they have no way to pay for the mandates.  Cutting state investment for education for the first time since the DeRolph decision – as was done under HB 1 – is not something I support.  I did not and will not vote yes on a state budget where there are billions in unfunded mandates on local schools and no means to pay for the spending.  Perhaps that is step one to solving the school funding problem we face in Ohio. 

I can only surmise from Mr. Bosley’s comments that he would have voted for the budget, and therefore vote once again for tax increases on the people of Ohio - including all union and non-union workers.  I think all voters should be mindful of both candidate’s actual positions on tax and fee increases when they cast a ballot this fall knowing that the looming budget is going to be incredibly difficult.  We each have a very clear track record on that question.

As for HB 400, which Mr. Bosley wrongly states I introduced, this bill would seek to make Ohio competitive with the other 9 states who operate without a state income tax.  So while Mr. Bosley may want to argue the “straw man” of HB 400 and the terrible “what if” scare tactics claiming it would specifically hurt organized labor members, I prefer to deal with the realities of the legislative process and the negative impact of bills that actually have passed and been signed into law by the Governor that hurt ALL the people of Ohio.

I have worked steadily on legislation that seeks to improve Ohio’s climate for jobs and families, ensuring that all Ohioans have the opportunity work and to succeed rather than play politics.  Ohio’s families are entitled to keep more of their money rather than send it to Columbus and hope for the best.  I trust people to make the right choices with their dollars; government should keep its hands out of their pocketbooks and wallets rather than reach in even deeper making it harder to succeed in these difficult economic times.  Further, I have also worked at the same time to limit government spending and get the size of government in check, protecting the people’s money sent to Columbus and trying to eliminate wasteful spending.  These goals are not mutually exclusive and I will continue to work on these issues going forward for as long as I have the privilege to serve.

Clearly, Mr. Bosley is confused about my position on these issues.  I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to have the people of the 50^th District hear from both of us and see the stark contrast in their choice for State Representative this fall.  I think the differences between the candidates are and will be very clear to voters.  Perhaps when debates are scheduled this fall, and I welcome them, people will attend and hear directly from each of us.   I welcome the opportunity to answer people’s questions truthfully, face to face, rather than have voters get spoon fed distortions and spin.

 Best –

Todd A. Snitchler

UPDATED:  07/07/2010 AT 7:21 AM - BOSLEY #1

Stark County Commissioner and 50th District Ohio House candidate Todd Bosley replies to Todd Snitchler (Bosley's Republican opponent who is the incumbent in the 50th) on who is better suited to representing working men and women issues coming before the Ohio General Assembly, to wit:

Dear Martin,

Mr. Snitchler must have forgotten about his past voting record or is just not being honest with you and your readers.  He not only voted to lay off 18,000 Union teachers, but he has introduced HB400, which (if enacted) would lay off tens of thousands of Ohio union workers – from firemen to janitors to teachers to police officers.  He also voted against the state budget, which expanded collective bargaining rights for homecare workers. Mr. Snitchler has been anything but pro-Union. Mr.Snitchler makes a habit of misrepresenting himself by speaking one way about an issue and voting in direct contradiction to his words.  

Sincerely,

Todd D. Bosley

Stark County Commissioner

 
ORIGINAL POST

The SCPR cannot imagine in wildest dreams that Stark County trade unions would support Republican state Representative Todd Snitchler of Lake Township.(Ohio's 50th House District).

But Snitchler thinks he deserves a look see.

And maybe he does.

Snitchler could have helped himself big time by attending the "Justice for Local Workers" last Thursday.  His opponent Democrat Todd Bosley didn't and probably because he thinks he has the East Central Ohio Building and Trades (ECOB&T)  group is in the bag for him.   ECOB&T represents the organized carpenters, plumbers, electricians, ironworkers and sheetmetal artisans of Stark County.

Below is an e-mail that the SCPR received from Snitchler as to reasons why the ECOB&T should take a look at him.  Competition is good for groups the the ECOB&T and perhaps they ought to be seinding Democrat Bosley a message for their own good.

The e-mail:  SNITCHLER #1

From: "Todd Snitchler" <todd@toddsnitchler.com>

To:  tramols@att.net

Martin –

 

                I heard about your blog posting today concerning Republicans apparent lack of interest in helping labor get jobs and recognize the importance of labor and blue collar workers in Stark County and Ohio.  I thought it would help if I shed some light on legislation I introduced to try and address one aspect of that issue.

 

                I along with Rep. Seth Morgan introduced HB 360, which would give a 5 year 100% income tax credit to all labor – union and open shops – where workers who secure journeyman status or higher according to the state of Ohio authorized training programs.  (This bill was in response to a similar measure introduced to make sure college graduates got a 5 year income tax credit.) Since not every student wants to go to college and their contributions to our economy and society are no less important, I wanted to reflect that fact in HB 360 and encourage ALL kinds of continuing education and skill development.

 

                The bill received sponsor testimony in committee and has not been called to another hearing (despite our request for more attention to the bill).  What is more, rather than just wait for action on it, I had HB 360 drafted as an amendment to HB 519, the casino enabling and job creation bill recently passed by the House and Senate.  I offered the amendment on the floor of the House in an effort to have it included in the bill.  Despite an explanation in my floor comments about why this amendment fit with the goals of HB 519 and would further encourage local employment AND increased job skills (and casino construction will obviously include trades people), the amendment was tabled along party lines with ALL Democrats voting against the pro-labor amendment.  That vote was against a bill that would help labor – both union and non-union.  As I believe I’ve heard you say before, this just might smack of partisan politics and unfortunately put political scorekeeping ahead of ideas that have the potential to positively impact Ohio’s labor force.

 

                With that said, I hope that labor and its members will look at the as actually being offered and the work being done to try and help encourage growth and development in the trades, rather than simply assume that party affiliation is indicative of where someone stands on these issues.  I think this example demonstrates that certain assumptions may not be exactly correct.

 

                I hope you had a great July 4^th holiday.

 

Best regards -

 

Todd A. Snitchler

State Representative - 50th District

10689 Cleveland Avenue NW

Uniontown, OH 44685

330.858.4930

330.305.1202 (fax)

www.toddsnitchler.com

SNITCHLER: A SINGLE ISSUE CANDIDATE?

It is looking more and more like Ohio Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake Township) is going to pretty much be a "one-issue-candidate."  Is he putting all his eggs into a one basket containing only one kind of eggs?

What is the issue?

Performance audits!

Although Democrats are hard pressed to find a reason why they would oppose such an apparently politically benign idea (who can be against government efficiency); you can bet that Snitchler's Democratic opponent (Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley of Marlboro Township) will try.

Why?

Because it is basically a Republican initiative.

Though Republicans deny it, the idea is the focal point of many Ohio Republican candidates and practically no Democrats have embraced performance audits as a "be all" of their campaigns.

At Navarre's tea party on Sunday last, tea partiers heard, perhaps, the foremost advocate for performance audits in all of Ohio in Representative Snitchler.  He spent nearly all of his speaking time at Navarre talking about his House Bill 65 which he introduced in March, 2009 and which has only had one hearing to date.  So it is a long, long way from passage.

Don't look for House Speaker Armond Budish, who personally persuaded Snitchler opponent Bosley to take the first term incumbent on, to allow Snitchler's legislative pet project see the light of day.

The SCPR has learned that Bosley has in hand a recent poll that shows him with a healthy lead with very few voters in the "undecided" category.  Such a small number of undecideds four months out from the election is unusual for a race at this level.  That is what makes these races like these for the likes of The Report to call.

And the SCPR is not about to call this one.

The Report is convinced that this race will be every bit the equivalent of the Bosley/Regula contest for Stark County commissioner in 2006 in which Bosley came from nowhere to defeat the incumbent Richard Regula.

The question for the SCPR is this.  Can Bosley do it again?

Maybe.

Snitchler is in the unhappy position of being a minority party candidate and as evidenced in the tea party speech video presented at the end of this blog, he is totally frustrated at Budish's blocking of his HB 65.

Perhaps Snitchler ought to issue a challenge to Bosley to call on Budish to let the bill get an up or down vote?

Here is a SCPR video of Snitchler's entire speech made to the Navarre tea partiers.

.

A SCPR PREDICTION: AT MONDAY'S 10:30 AM PRESS CONFERENCE, STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER TODD BOSLEY WILL INFORM STARK COUNTIANS THAT HE IS RUNNING AGAINST REPUBLICAN TODD SNITCHLER FOR THE OHIO HOUSE - 50TH DISTRICT SEAT

The SCPR projects that Stark County commissioner Todd Bosley will announce to the Stark County public that he is, indeed, tossing his hat in the ring for the right to be the Democratic Party nominee to run against incumbent Republican Todd Snitchler who currently represents Ohio's 50th House District.

Bosley has called a press conference on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the  AFL-CIO's Golden Lodge located on Harrison in Canton to annouce whether he will seek to be re-elected as Stark County commissioner or opt to take on state Representative Todd Snitchler in Ohio's 50th House district.

 

Bosley does have a potential opponent in the Democratic primary.  However, with the big guns in the Ohio House Democratic Caucus lined up behind Bosley (even though Bosley is not the darling of some of Stark's organized Democratic leadership);  readers can be sure that Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish, Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern and the like will not tolerate any wandering off the party reservation in this race.

The Ohio Democratic House Caucus is banking on Bosley to take away the Snitchler-held seat and will put more money into this race than they did in Celeste DeHoff's race against Snitchler.  Moreover, if he gets elected, the SCPR believes he will surface to the top of the Ohio House Democratic leadership in quick order.

Snitchler really has his work cut out for him to retain his seat.  Last time he relied heavily on the Young Republicans (YR) to do his on-the-pavement campaigning for him.  With this being a year in which Stark Countians will be electing two commissioners, an auditor, and voting for a number of state offices including the governorship, the SCPR believes that Snitchler will not be able to command the YR support and attention he did in 2008.

Bosley's main problem in this race will be his decision to "impose" the 0.5 of a percent sales/use tax increase.  However, it will not be the concern in this race that it would have been had he opted to run for re-election as commissioner.

Bosley is a master at corralling campaign workers and The Report believes his on-the-street presence will dwarf Snitchler's.  Moreover, Snitchler had better be an exemplary citizen.  If he is not, Bosley will dig it out for all to know.  Just ask Richard Regula.

Snitchler will be on the defensive as Bosley bobs and weaves with him about his inability to get anything done in his two years as a member of the minority in the Ohio House.  Expect Bosley to dog Snitchler about his "Tax Day, Tea Day Party" (April 15, 2009) statement that Ohio should not take federal stimulus money.

While one might agree with Snitchler that relying on stimulus money is not sustainable over the long haul, it is the only game in town.  GOP gubernatorial candidate John Kasich's with his "let's do away with the income tax" (about 40% of Ohio's budget) goody which some experts say will generate a $12 million deficit in Kasich's first year (if elected), won't help Snitchler to get on the offense.

Undoubtedly, Snitchler will try to make Bosley defend Governor Strickland's failed promise to fix Ohio's public education funding problems as well as ofther Strickland administration goofs.

Stark Countians are in for a hot political year.

And the Bosley/Snitchler race will be at the top of their interest.