TRACKING OUR LEGISLAGTORS SERIES - BOCCIERI: HAS HE MADE HIMSELF VULNERABLE IN THE COMPETITIVE 16TH ON "CAP-AND-TRADE?"

Let yours truly say right up front, the SCPR supports Congressman Boccieri's support for cap-and-trade legislation which passed the U.S. House of Representatives recently by a very narrow margin.

Because the SCPR did not make this forum a "public-relations arm" of the Boccieri campaign, a staffer called The Report and made caustic and derisive comments about the substance of the blog which you can see by CLICKING HERE.

Obviously, the Boccieri folks have some growing up to do.

The SCPR makes poignant points of friend and foe alike. The main point about Boccieri's vote?

He was against cap-and-trade before he was for it (flip-flopping?)

In a video accompanying the earlier blog, Boccieri is caught by the camera saying he looked the president in the eye and told him he was against the bill.

Well, Boccieri and his people did not like the characterization of "flip-flopping" and they did not like that the SCPR did not go into a justification of why he changed his vote.

Today, yours truly will do so because it is apparent that he is the target of a partisan campaign being launched by the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.

Politico - a national political blog - has written (07/03/2009):

The NRCC target list included some of the most vulnerable Democrats, like Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey and Ohio Reps. John Boccieri, (emphasis added) Mary Jo Kilroy and Zack Space. But the campaign committee also went after senior Democrats, like Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher — who negotiated large portions of the bill — Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon of Tennessee and Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri.

The campaign against Boccieri et al can be summed up in the graphic below put out by the conservative Heritage Foundation:

The SCPR did send the Boccieri forces an e-mail with specific questions so as to set up his rebuttal to the claims of the graphic and to a anti cap-and-trade resolution passed by the Republican dominated Ohio senate.

No response so far. And, the SCPR suspects that the Boccieri camp will not respond. Yours truly is beginning to believe that the congressman cherry picks what he will answer and will not answer.

But as a bouquet to the complainers on the Boocieri staff here is Boccier's press release justification for being (may the SCPR say it) a "flip-flopper."

“This legislation represents the next step toward freeing our nation from its dependence on foreign resources and it will help fuel our economic recovery,” said Boccieri. “This is about creating jobs right here at home that cannot be outsourced, protecting our national security, and helping our manufacturers retool to thrive in a new green economy. This is about making America stronger.”

To ensure United States manufacturing sector will thrive and expand in a new clean energy economy, Boccieri worked with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ohio Rep. Zack Space (D-18) to secure language in the energy bill that will improve the long-term competitiveness of American manufactures and enhance domestic capacity for manufacturing clean energy technologies.

“This confirms that climate change legislation is an opportunity for Ohio manufacturing,” Brown said. “I applaud Rep. Boccieri for fighting to include the IMPACT Act in the House bill. By creating a funding source to help Ohio manufacturers retool, we can revive Ohio manufacturing through investments in clean energy. This will go a long way toward making Ohio the Silicon Valley of clean energy manufacturing.”

The legislation will create a system of clean energy incentives to spur the development of new sources of energy while confronting the threat posed by carbon emissions. These incentives will lead to innovations that will create new, good-paying jobs and ensure America will continue to lead in the 21^st century global economy.

The domestic manufacturing industry accounts for 12 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and almost three quarters of our nation’s research and development. Yet the industry continues to suffer from job loss and a reduction in demand.

To retool our manufacturers and ensure their long term survival, a provision originally authored by Senator Brown was added to the House bill by Reps. Boccieri and Space to create a $30 billion revolving loan program for states to help auto suppliers and other small and mid-sized manufactures retool, expand, and establish clean energy operations to improve energy efficiency. The provision also modernizes the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) with $1.5 billion in federal funds over five years to help manufacturers diversify to clean energy markets and technologies. Working together, Brown and the Ohio Congressmen intend to create jobs with this energy bill and ensure our country can compete in the global economy.

Additionally, language in the bill secured by Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-09) will lay the groundwork for the Midwest region to develop a regional power authority. Currently, Ohio and its surrounding states make up the only section of the country without a regional power authority, which can funnel federal investment into energy and electrical grid infrastructure.

“This language makes sure Ohio is no longer left out in the cold when it comes to electricity distribution investment,” Boccieri noted.

H.R. 2454 reinforces and invests in renewable energy initiatives already happening in the 16^th Congressional district, including the anaerobic digesters being studied at OARDC in Wooster; new battery technology research for plug in hybrids like that being done at the EBO Group in Medina; research into fuel cell technology like that at Stark State; and investment in sustainable biofuels like those that can be grown in Ashland County. The American Clean Energy and Security Act builds a smarter, stronger electric grid on which homes, businesses and vehicles of the future will run.

“Nearly everyone agrees our national security is threatened by our dependence on foreign resources, and there’s little credible disagreement about whether carbon emissions are harming the Earth,” Boccieri added. “We know that the jobs of the future will be based on clean, renewable energy. It’s our responsibility to see to it that America leads the way in securing energy independence, safeguarding our planet, and protecting our jobs so that we can compete in a new, green world.”

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATOR SERIES: BOCCIERI IN ALLIANCE TALKING ON EDUCATION, GREEN ENERGY & THE OBAMA BUDGET

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) posts below the final segment of 16th District Congressman Boccieri's remarks about the Obama agenda as it is expressed legislatively in the Administration's budget.

An interesting tidbit in this video is the Congressman's account of being in the cockpit of Air Force One immediately prior to meeting with President Obama.

With the next segment the SCPR will be presenting Boccieri in dialogue with Alliance area constituents.

Here is the video referred to above.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI ON VIDEO OUTLINES OBAMA AGENDA & THE CONGRESSMAN'S TAKE

One of the highlights on this video presentation by the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) is Congressman Boccieri telling his Alliance "Congressman on Your Corner" audience about a piece of legislation that he parted company with the Obama Administration.

Not too long ago, The Report got this email from a reader who makes this point:

Fact, he gripes about the Republicans and then votes with his own party 94.1% of the time, showing he can't stand on his own 2 feet or has the b*lls to say NO to the status quo.

Assuming that the 94.1% is an accurate number, is this too high of a number?

Congressman Boccieri also, in this video, gives an outline of the Obama agenda and his thoughts on that agenda.

In later segments, The Report will present Boccieri providing specific answers to audience directed questions.

Here is the video for today.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI ON VIDEO INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO ALLIANCE RESIDENTS

On April 9th the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) was on location at the Alliance Rodman Public Library to video newly elected Congressman John Boccieri's "Congressman on Your Corner" presentation.

The Report took a lot of footage and it is being broken down to facilitate viewing (in terms of time and complexity of matters present).

In today's segment, Boccieri tells about being congressman, his first impressions of Congress and he launches into a discussion about what difficult times 16th district constituents face and describes some remedies that are in the works.

Here is the video.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI - "REPUBLICANS FOR BOCCIERI INTERVIEW"

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) continues its series TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI with an interview of Forrest Barber.

Forrest is a lifelong Republican who has worked closely with Stark County icon Republicans such as Judge Charles Brown (Stark County Court of Common Pleas) in his days as Stark County Republican chairman as well as Charles' wife Sarah who is about as a fanatic a Republican who inhibits America. But Sarah does have competition right here in Stark County. Richard Wingerter who is a member of the Stark County Education Service Center Board runs a lose second to say the very least.

Barber is much more balanced than Sarah Brown or Richard Wingerter as evidenced by his support of Boccieri.

Watch and listen as Forrest Barber speaks for himself.

DISCUSSION: CAN BOCCIERI PULL IT OFF? BRING HIGH TECH TO THE 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

The Canton Repository yesterday reported on 16th District Congressman John Boccieri's airplane ride with President Obama on the president's recent trip to Columbus produced heartening news for all district constituents, but in particular for Stark Countians.

As readers of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) know, The Report is highly enthusiastic about getting Stark County on a high speed rail towards becoming Ohio's center for alternative energies (promoted vigorously by Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley) and high tech which is all ready underway at Stark State College of Technology (SSCT) in fuel cell research and product development.

The specific part of the Boccieri encounter with Obama as reported by Repository reporter Edd Pritchard that should jump out at Boccieri constituents is this:

Obama wants to see clean coal technology developed into a functional option within 10 years and is interested in investments in other alternative energy programs. Boccieri said the district already has a good start with alternative energy, citing the fuel-cell program at Stark State College of Technology, bio mass research in Wayne County and work in Medina County to develop hybrid plug-in batteries.

The 16th District is “so primed to be a benefactor with these new investments,” Boccieri said, noting the different research programs. It’s exciting to see how diversified energy can help the country grow, Boccieri said.

The Report believes that national, state, county officials and the SSCT Board of Trustees ought to take a looks at restructuring the mission of SSCT.

SSCT President John O'Donnell has articulated a goal of Stark State playing a key role in elevating the overall educational level of Stark Countians in terms of having associate degrees. Such is a worthy objective. However, it is not making "the highest and best use" of Stark's technical education infrastructure.

O'Donnell's goal should not be jettisoned, but re-arranged whereby the Kent Stark campus is converted into a community college with post two year degree connections to The University of Akron and Kent State University for motivated associate degree grantees to obtain their bachelors.

Back to Stark State.

Congressman Boccieri, the Stark County commissioners, the Stark County delegation to the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio Board of Regents chairman Eric Fingerhut and Governor Strickland have a grand opportunity with Stark State and its fuel cell program high tech base to use that effort as a building block to refashion SSCT into a high level Ohio technical university.

Programs of research and development that ought to be considered as additions include "cell engineering," "tissue engineering," and "robotics." These, according to Juan Enriquez (the founding director of the Harvard Business School Life Sciences Project), says that cell engineering, tissue engineering and robotics are the leading edge of 21st century ways to reboot an economy. (See the accompany video clip below in which Enriquez is shown making this very point at a Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference)

How will 16th Congressional voters assess the quality of John Boccier's work in Congress come November, 2010?

The Report believes it is whether or not he "seizes the day" on the opportunity he identifies in the Pritchard piece as currently existing as in no other time.

But he cannot and should not do it on his own. Boccieri needs to be the catalytic force to bring together all the stakeholders identified above plus others that undoubtedly are to be identified.

A huge stakeholder not identified above is the city of Canton. Were moves to be made to make SSCT a premier Ohio technical university, Canton will have to be revamped as a much high grade cultural center for the super-tech types that would be coming to Stark County. The mayor and all city officials as well as Stark County officials should start reading now Richard Florida's collection of books (CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF HIS BOOKS) on what and how Canton or any other city that is bent on reinventing itself needs to proceed.

You would think that a certain mayor who prides himself on his New York University Stern School of Business masters degree and who is mayor of a major Ohio City has already read these books. If he has, it isn't evident in his thinking. If he hasn't he should get on with it.

Here is a video clip of Enquiez (for the full presentation CLICK HERE):

DISCUSSION: ISN'T BEING CONGRESSMAN ENOUGH?

Last week our new Congressman John Boccieri issued a "meaningful" press release.

The Canton Repository, to name one local media outlet, picked up on the release and did a nice piece entitled Boccieri kicks off 'Congress on Your Corner' meetings in 16th District/Davies Pharmacy.

The Rep story detailed why, when and where of Boccieri's initiative to connect with his16th District constituents.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) applauds Boccieri's connecting with constituents effort.

What we can do without is this piece which appeared in The Alliance review today, to wit: Boccieri hails Obama for taking control of country in recession.

A week ago or so, a Boccieri press release appeared in the Massillon Independent blasting Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. Not one of them voted for Obama's stimulus package.

The Report sees a disturbing trend with the new congressman: politicizing too much.

The 16th Congressional District is a "swing" district which means that it may not be all that easy for Boccieri to get re-elected in November, 2010. The Report believes his re-electability should depend on "bringing home the bacon" to the 16th and being responsive to the heard concerns of those of us who live in the 16th.

It has to be tempting for Boccieri to ride the Obama popularity express. For Boccieri got elected because Stark Countians, in particular, yearned for a change which Obama and the Democrats campaigned on. But nobody knows whether Obama will be popular or unpopular nearly two years down the road.

Even if Obama remains popular and advantages his political office-holding supporters, "political coattails" is not a good basis for constituents that a candidate be elected upon.

As The Report said above: Boccieri's re-electability should depend on "bringing home the bacon" to the 16th and being responsive to the heard concerns of those of us who live in the 16th.

So, please Congressman Boccieri, leave the press releases praising President Obama to his press secretary - Robert Gibbs.

DISCUSSION: AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR BOCCIERI & BROWN TO GET STIMULUS $$$ INTO UNIONTOWN, STARK COUNTY OHIO?

Ohio's junior U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown rushed back to Washington, D.C. last night from attending his mother's wake, to cast the deciding vote (the 60th) in gaining congressional approval of a bill providing for $787 billion in economic stimulus money including $5.5B to cleanup "nuclear waste sites."

Concerned Citizens of Lake Township president Chris Borello of Plain Township who has been spearheading efforts to force cleanup of the Uniontown Industrial Excess Landfill (IEL) jumped right on this news in a e-mail to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) and others.

The first question is: Why would "cleanup of nuclear waste" apply to the IEL?

The Report has no clear answer.

But there is a dispute about whether or not plutonium was dumped by the U.S. Army or its proxy at the IEL.

If The Report understands the IEL position on the plutonium issue, it is that CCLT does believe that plutonium was dumped at the Uniontown area. Other locals and Ohio and federal officials dispute whether or not this was the case.

The Report's position is this. Why not err on the side of caution? Isn't there enough of a question to justify pushing for some of the $5.5B to be applied to the IEL?

Shouldn't Boccieri and Brown be fighting to get some of this money into Stark County and Uniontown?

DISCUSSION: CAN KIRK SCHURING WIN COUNTYWIDE IN STARK COUNTY?

It was truly shocking. No, not that Republican Kirk Schuring lost to Democrat John Boccieri in November, 2008 in the contest for the 16th congressional district. The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) early on in the race predicted a Boccieri victory by about 10%. Which turned out to be pretty much on the money.

The Report thought Schuring would lose Stark County because Stark has turned into a Democratic county - if the Democrat runs to his/her strength, to wit: the cities of Alliance, Canton and Massillon.

But not 57% to 42%. Not for all the ink that Schuring has gotten in area media and all the campaigning he has done in Stark over the last 14 or so years. The Report thinks the size of the loss was mostly due to the strong Democratic tide that is sweeping the nation. Schuring gets more specific. He blames Taft (former Ohio governor) and the now ex-president Bush. Taft left office with a favorability rating of 19% and Bush was in the 20s.

Does the pounding Schuring took from Boccieri signal that he is a vulnerable candidate, no matter what he runs for in Stark in 2010? If he chooses to run for anything.

Schuring and his musical chairs partner - except there is a chair for each of them to sit on; just different looking chairs - have exchanged the 29th Ohio Senate seat and 51st Ohio House seat over the last several election cycles. Why? Because in the early 90s the Ohio Republicans came up with the idea of term limits as one of their tools to wrestle control of the Ohio General Assembly away from the then "in control" Democrats.

So Oelslager and Schuring have defied the "spirit of term limits," but Stark Countians and Jackson Township voters have left them get away with it. Of course, there is the factor of Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.. who gave Oelslager a "free pass" in the 2008 elections.

Oelslager has already announced that he is running for the 29th come November, 2010. The question is: will he have a viable Democratic opponent or will Maier and the Democrats either put up a token candidate or none at all.

Schuring? Well, he is undecided. He has told The Report that he may run for Oelslager's seat in the House, leave politics altogether and re-enter business or - are you ready for a surprise? - run countywide for either county commissioner or county auditor.

It could be that Stark County Republican Party chair Jeff Matthews is urging Schuring to run for a county post. Right now, the Republicans have NO countywide elected officials except for a few judges. Would Schuring running for commissioner or auditor be the beginning of a Republican resurgence in Stark County?

DISCUSSION: STARK COUNTY LEGISLATORS COST STARK COUNTY $55,200 IN 2009 ($140,000 - 2011?) ON COUNTY BUDGET VIA UNFUNDED MANDATE!

Who should pay for the operation of the Stark County Law Library?

Lawyers and other users - right?

Not right.

In its collective wisdom the Ohio General Assembly including Stark Countians Kirk Schuring (R - 29th Senate), Scott Oelslager (R - 51st Ohio House), John Hagan (now term limited out R- 50th), John Boccieri (now 16th District congressman - but then D - 33rd - Senate), Steve Slesnick (D 52nd - Ohio House) and Mark Okey (D - 61st which included a part of Stark County) voted to reverse direction on who pays for the operations of the Stark County Law Library.

Now yours truly is a lawyer and a dues paying member of the Stark County Law Library.

But should I and my colleagues-at-the-bar and other users of the library be subsidized by Stark County taxpayers?

A resounding no! - so says the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report).

Kelli Young of The Repository reported on 1/22/2009 that a Stark County Board of Commissioners obligation to pay for the library on a phased out basis was abruptly reversed in December, 2008 when the Ohio General Assembly completed action on HB 420 to re-institute - immediately - an non-reimbursed (from state of Ohio funds) mandate that Ohio's counties (of course, including Stark) pay for the operation of county law libraries.

If you were to ask any of the supporters of HB 420 whether or not they are in favor of "unfunded mandates," undoubted they would also say an unequivocal no.

What these legislators hide behind is no one pointing out chapter and verse where the rhetoric doesn't match the action.

One of the missions of The Report will be to go and check on how these folks vote on "unfunded mandates" and report to Stark Counties name, rank and serial number of the offending legislators.

There is nothing like a "high intensity light" on an legislative activity to put the actions in the public spotlight.

So thank you Stark County - courtesy of your Stark County legislators - for the subsidy.

GRAPHIC "CALL TO ACTION" BY THE STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT

DISCUSSION: A CLASSIC CASE - CANDIDATES TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT?

An upside down question mark? Yes, indeed. Because the candidates for the 16th Congressional District are trying to confuse the voters by denying their history.

J. Kirk Schuring is business through and through.

John Boccieri is a union man, through and through.

But now, according to area media reports, both are out courting the other side's base support.

Try they may, but a "leopard does not change its spots" except the leopard in the accompanying cartoon figure.

J. Kirk Schuring is owned lock, stock and barrel by business types. Just look at his history with the W.R. Timken family.

John Boccieri is owned lock, stock and barrel by union organizations. Boccieri would not have a political existence unless the unions had made him their cause celebre in his run against right-to-work Ron Hood in a race for the Ohio House years ago.

It's Stark County politics "really weird" when candidates try to being something they're not. Everybody knows, but guess who? The candidate!

Does any one other than a Rip Van Winkle-esque person in Stark County think Kirk Schuring is pro-union?

Does any one other than a Rip Van Winkle-esque person in Stark County think John Boccieri is about to become the darling of chamber of commerces?

DISCUSSION: WHICH ISSUE WILL PROVIDE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY IN THE 16TH? IMMIGRATION?

It will be if Steve Salvi of the Ohio Jobs and Justice PAC (OJJPAC) has his way.

Salvi is working hard to raise the profile of immigration as a deciding issue in congressional, Ohio House and Senate races across the state.

So far J. Kirk Schuring's main issue in his battle to win the 16th Congressional District seat over John Boccieri has been to harp on Boccieri being a carpetbagger candidate.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) still believes that his race is Boccieri's to lose because voters across the nation, including Ohio, are looking for Democrats to support. However, this is a highly competitive race.

If Salvi is successful, the Schuring campaign is positioned to piggyback on his effort. Why? Because Schuring signed on as a sponsor of Senate Bill 260; Boccieri has not. One has to wonder why not?

Could it be because his chief political sponsor, Governor Ted Strickland is, apparently, against the bill? Strickland is quoted in a recent AP report as being concerned about the fruition of patchwork of state laws trying to deal with immigration.

What level of importance do you attach to bills like S.B. 260? Is support of this bill a key issue to you in deciding which candidate you will vote for in November?

DISCUSSION: AREA "DEMOCRAT" EDUCATORS ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR SCHURING ON HANDLING OF STRS OVERSIGHT?

One should sit back and admire the "political spin" skills of state Senator J. Kirk Schuring (R), candidate for Congress (16th district versus Democrat John Boccieri).

Back in the summer of 2003, Schuring was on the hot seat with Ohio/Stark County teachers and teacher retirees when allegations of State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) of mismanagement surface.

How did Schuring get in the middle of this mess?

From his responsibility as a member of the Ohio Retirement Study Council even serving a stint as chair, that's how.

Paul Kostyu (fomerly of The Rep) in an August 20, 2003 piece set up the debate as follows:

A formal interpretation of state law says the Ohio Retirement Study Council has the power to look into the day-to-day operations of the state’s five pension funds.

That interpretation, by the Legislative Service Commission, runs counter to the position taken by Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and the council’s executive director, Aristotle Hutras. They maintain the council fulfills its oversight by annually reviewing legislation that affects the pension funds. They said the council does not have the power to delve into day-to-day operations.

Many of us, including yours truly, blamed Schuring for failing to spot and curb the abuses in the first place in his capacities on the Ohio Retirement Study Council.

But that's not the take of two Stark County teachers.

An excerpt from today's Letters to the Editor section of The Rep:

We are Democrats who will be voting for Kirk Schuring in November, hoping he will enter the U.S. House of Representatives this January. When in Washington, D.C., we know that he will still hear educators' voices, along with other Stark County citizens' voices, whether Democratic, Republican or independent.

SUSAN JACOBY, PLAIN TOWNSHIP

MARILYN GIBBS, LAKE TOWNSHIP

Question: Is Schuring a masterful political spin artist?

DISCUSSION: WHOM, AMONG BOCCIERI & SCHURING IS BEST EQUIPPED TO REPRESENT ORDINARY PEOPLE?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has done a detailed analysis of the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) report on individual contributions to both Boccieri and Schuring.

Republicans want to skewer Boccieri on his Youngstown connection.

Democrats want to lampoon Schuring on his connection to business to the exclusion of ordinary people.

What does the FEC data show on the Youngstown/predominantly business factors.

The Report's analysis shows that approximately 30% of Boccieri's money comes from Youngstown area supports.

The Report's analysis shows that approximately 61% of Schuring's support comes from business owners and executives in major area corporations. The Report believes that the number is actually higher than 61% because many of Schuring's contributors are listed as "retired." The Report suspects that a significant number of these folks are retired CEOs, CFOs, and business owners.

Question: Looking at this data, which candidate is most beholdened? If Boccieri is elected, will this mean that the Youngstown area has 1-1/3 in congressional representation (Tim Ryan represents the Youngstown area) and 16th district residents will get shorted? If Schuring is elected, does this mean "ordinary people" can forget getting their congressman's ear?

DISCUSSION: IS THIS HEADLINE WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE?

Appearing on Time Warner's In the Spotlight recently, Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II made a startling statement: Healy, said he was supporting both congressional seat opponents (16th district) - Boccieri and Schuring.

But - for different positions.

Boccieri for Congress; Schuring to remain in the Ohio Senate.

Healy pointed out that it is almost certain that Boccieri will be part of a Democratic-majority House of Representatives where he will be given (in Healy estimate) priority to get things done for the 16th Congressional district to aid him in getting re-elected in 2010.

On the other hand, tongue-in-cheek, Healy observed how, as a part of a Republican majority, Schuring would be most useful for Stark County and Canton by his remaining in the Ohio Senate.

Question: Is Healy making sense in supporting both Boccieri and Healy?

DISCUSSION: IS KIRK SCURING ABOUT FINISHED?

Not long ago the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) made a call in the Boccieri/Schuring race (16th Congressional District).

The Report tabbed the race at least 52% to 48% - Boccieri, and, perhaps as high as 55% to 45%. Maybe this latter number was too generous to Schuring.

Most readers probably think it is way too early to make a call. But is it? The Report will have "egg-in-the-face," if Schuring pulls this out. In the face of this risk, The Report stands by its early call in this race.

In the blog world, there is a lot of discussion about "disarray" in the Schuring campaign. The Report along with large list of media types are being "deep-sixed" by the Schuring campaign.

At the recent Boccieri event at the Sunoco station in Canton, media types (including Main Street media personages) discussed among themselves the lack of accessibility of the Schuring campaign.

The Report believes that Schuring has lost control of his campaign. To whom? Most likely the Republican National Congressional Campaign Committee (RNCCC). Was it the RNCCC's idea to send Schuring surrogates to the Sunoco station? Why not Schuring himself? That would have spiced up the event.

The question: Why is Schuring being kept under wraps? Are the Republicans raising the white flag? Is this race over for all intents and purposes?

DISCUSSION: HAS SCHURING GOTTEN PUBLIC EDUCATION RELIGION IN TIME FOR NOVEMBER?

Has Kirk Schuring the consummate Republican lost his "GOP-esque" memory?

Ohio media outlets reported yesterday that Schuring was one of three votes against a Republican-initiated Ohio General Assembly plan.

Paul Kostyu of The Rep described the effort as being "Senate Bill 57, which the Senate passed 17-15 Wednesday, would create a five-year pilot program in the Department of Education for "scholarships" to allow families of special-education students to choose a school that best fits a child's individual needs."

Another quote from Kostyu's piece is very revealing (reading between the quote marks).

"State Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said he has a 'longstanding' position opposing moving money for programs that are better suited for public school systems."

For those who have known Schuring for the better part of his 14 years in public office know that he has been a Legislature voting supporter of charter schools, community schools, vouchers and other Republican contrivances to undermine public education.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) takes this vote by Schuring to be a political gambit. He knew that the bill, even if it passes, will not see the light of day because Governor Strickland has promised to veto it. His friends in the political Right will soon forget this vote but Schuring has begun to and will continue to use this vote to confuse the voting public on his true position on the charter school versus public school competition.

These are desperate time for Schuring. Political wisdom says that Schuring is substantially behind Democrat John Boccieri in the race to become long time Congressman Ralph Regula.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT spoke with Boccieri a couple of weeks ago when The Report did a piece poking a little fun at Boccieri over when he will move into the 16th District.

Boccieri who was mildly upset at the setting for the piece but seemed to settled down when there was no intended specific meaning of the make up of the crowd that Boccieri was seemingly lost in, told The Report that he would be moving into the district as soon as his childrens' school term ended.

Boccieri also said that "he hoped Schuring would continue to use the [carpetbagger issue - my phrase] as his main campaign issue." Meanwhile, Boccieri promised focus on issues he feels voters really care about: Iraq, the economy and healthcare insurance issues.

The Report notes that efforts to get a response from Kirk Schuring on various campaign issues failed. The Report notes that at least one other blogger experience similar experience from the Schuring campaign.

But all this makes sense. Last summer in a one-on-one talk with Schuring in Hartville (before the campaign began), Schuring confirmed that he knew he had favored status with The Repository Editorial Board.

So obviously Schuring is going to try to use The Rep as his public relations arm. Wise readers will read Rep opinion pieces on Schuring with skepticism.

A strange position for a man who is substantially behind in the race.

But the question remains. Will voters see how Schuring works the "chameleon effect" strategy of the Schuring campaign?

DISCUSSION POINT: Will Kirk Schuring ever produce on education?

The graphic on the left from the Kirk Schuring website gives a big clue on the state senator's campaign approach. The 16th District Congressional candidate (borrowing from George Bush) bills himself as a "reformer with results."

Slogneering is apparently what the Schuring campaign is to be all about. Republicans desperate to hold the 16th District have resorted to a favorite Karl Rove operation: running a name-branding strategy.

As many of us who live in the 16th District know, Kirk Schuring has spent 14 years in the Ohio Legislature accomplishing very little but appearing prodigiously in print in The Repository (mainly) as if The Repository was his public relations arm. In a one-to-one conversation Kirk shared with me that he understands that he is a favorite political figure of The Repository editors.

My point here is that you cannot trust The Repository editorial page to give a thorough going analysis on the 16th District race.

Stay tuned for the next Schuring slogan. Something like "Education Reform in Your Lifetime - I promise it." Candidate Schuring has a political life about the same as the famous DeRolph line of cases in which the Ohio Supreme Court held Ohio's way of funding public education is unconstitutional.

DISCUSSION: Who is best suited to succeed Regula?

U.S. CONGRESS - 16TH DISTRICT - BOCCIERI VERSUS SCHURING

A match made in Heaven? Hardly. John Boccieri, who comes from outside the district, and, Kirk Schuring are not the dream candidates each (especially Boccieri) likes to portray.

Witness that in the March 4th primary Boccieri had 38,372 negative votes (i.e. votes for Mary Cireilli) and Schuring had 36,217 negative votes (i.e. votes for Matt Miller and Paul Schiffer). In fact, in Schuring's case, he only got 32,503 votes. So more Republicans disliked Schuring than liked him.

Does this mean that Schuring has big problems come November? Keeping in mind that the 16th District is a gerrymandered district created by the Ohio Republican leadership to favor keeping a Republican in this office, does the "disaffected Republican vote" bode ill for Schuring to the point of overriding the "gerrymander" factor?

On the other hand, how much of a problem does John Boccieri have by virtue of the fact that he has not lived in the 16th District and therefore has to deal with the "carpetbagger" charge?

The 16th Congressional District will be a battleground district for control of the U.S. House of Representatives and we at the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT promises to provide district voters with key information and independent analysis so voters can make an informed choice as to who would be best serve the 16th District come November.

Whom of the two have an advantage going into November?