DISCUSSION: 50TH DISTRICT DETERMINES THE FUTURE OF OHIO?

Ohio’s 50th House District is a key district in determining whether the Republicans continue to control the Ohio General Assembly (OGA) or control becomes a split decision.

This Stark County district, should it decide to send Democrat candidate Celeste DeHoff to Columbus, could shape policy decisions emanating from Columbus. The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) belives that this district which has been gerrymander to ensure that a Republicans continue to hold the seat is a key to the direction that Ohio is be headed in.

Should Republican Todd Snitchler be elected, the Republicans may still control the OGA. There are contested districts among Ohio’s 99 that are likely to go Democratic in 2008 which are competitive in most election cycles and therefore do not necessarily harbinger a shift.

The election of DeHoff would certainly indicate a shift because the 50th going Democratic would likely be part of a number of gerrymandered Republican districts (four to six in number) breaking with their past and turning Democratic.

The Report has questions as to whether or not DeHoff has the kind of political heft to turn over the 50th. She is in the thrall of Chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., of the Stark County Democratic Party (who drafted her out of a lifelong involvement with the Stark County Republican Party) and will be taking her marching orders from the chairman. Moreover, looking at her website (which was a long time in coming), it appears as if she will not be contributing her ideas to the legislative mix but will be accepting lock-stock-and-barrel the legislative agenda of the Strickland administration (which is congruent with her being controlled by Maier).

But Republican Snitchler is not exactly a candidate to write home about. He is married to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce which in the eyes of The Report has less and less clout with voters these days.

As pointed out in previous articles by The Report, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has been linked arm-in-arm with the Ohio Republican Party over the nearly two decades the GOP has had absolute control over Ohio government. What is the significance of the bonded relationship? Ohio’s economy has sunk to it lowest levels in modern times while the Chamber has more or less been in charge of Ohio economic development.

So why voters support a candidate who has wedded himself to a failed organization?

Considering the foregoing points about both candidates, The Report posits that the voters will have a very difficult time deciding between these two.

If the choice boils down to DeHoff and Snitchler, The Report believes that each candidate has enough negatives and virtually no positives that voters will be voting on the flip of a coin.

A variant that may be introduced into this race is the possibility that Democrat Mike Stevens who narrowly lost to DeHoff in the Democratic primary may run as a “write-in” candidate.

Assuming that it will be DeHoff versus Snitchler, The Report believes that this race is “to close to call” in mid-June.

Agree or disagree?

DISCUSSION: HARMON (THE LION) VERSUS SECREST (THE LAMB): STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RACE?

As of mid-June, Tom Harmon comes as close as you can get (except for the unopposed candidates) as you can come to as a "unbeatable candidate" in the November 4th elections.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) tabs Harmon as the most powerful politician in Stark County politics.

He rivals, (and, in the opinion of The Report trumps - when he needs to) Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. as a power center in Stark County Democratic Party politics.

Harmon schmoozes with and has the ear of power brokers in both Stark County political parties. He has the ear of the "captains of industry" and business and has a solid relationship with organized labor. He dominated all his races for Canton City Municipal Court over his years in that office. For the foregoing reasons, The Report tabs him as the "lion" in this race.

His opponent, Travis Secrest, is indeed the "sacrificial lamb" offered up by Stark Republicans. Secrest will learn a lot in this campaign an could develop in to a formidable Republican standard bearer in future elections. But not in 2008.

Secrest's issues as articulated on his website bespeaks of a thoughtful candidate:








Harmon's vision for himself was spelled out in a Repository report (June 14, 2007) on his selection as a replacement for a resigned Stark County commissioner as being:











Undoubtedly, Secrest sees that Harmon has not made sufficient progress on public safety, economic development and government efficiencies, and, he may be right.

Unfortunately, Secrest's campaign will not be heard by Stark County voters. He will, in the end, be the sacrificial lamb of this campaign season barring catastrophic events overtaking the Harmon campaign.

Agree or disagree?

DISCUSSION: STARK COUNTY'S TOUGHEST RACE TO CALL? - FERGUSON VERSUS HAGAN

Ohio Representative John Hagan should be the odds on favorite to win this race.

He has represented the 50th House District (Lawrence, Tuscarawas, parts of Perry, Sugarcreek, Sandy, Osnaburg, Nimishillen, Marlboro and Lake Townships) in the Ohio General Assembly for eight years.

For a number of reasons the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes this race is neck-and-neck with the edge to Peter Ferguson who likes to trade on the fact that he is a well known Stark County based chiropractor.

First, Ferguson is a longtime friend Tom Harmon (a sitting Stark County commissioner) who is, perhaps, Stark County's most powerful politician.

Harmon is usually reserved about who he supports for public office. This will not be the case with Ferguson.

Second, Hagan has distinguished himself in the Legislature by being the manservant of Ohio Speaker of House Jon Husted. While Husted did reward Hagan for his devoted loyalty with a leadership position (chair - public utilities), he kept Hagan on a short leash and therefore Hagan has never been anything but a conduit for Husted's policies and positions.

So what should be a strong advantage for Hagan is no advantage at all. Ferguson has no government leadership experience. Who would be better for Stark County. It is a flip of the coin.

Third, to indeed have an edge in this very close race, Ferguson will need get the other sitting Stark County commissioner (Todd Bosley) to a neutral position. Bosley has said that he is okay with Hagan. The Report interprets this as a Bosley perceived opportunity to seize control of the Stark County Board of Commissioners.

Current commissioner Jane Vignos is generally allied with Tom Harmon. Bosley, who privately has never been complimentary of John Hagan, likely sees Hagan as a potential ally on issues that he disagrees with Harmon on.

Fourth, favoring Ferguson, is the political reality that Stark County is trending Democratic of late. Just look at who controls most Stark County offices these days. Moreover, Canton (which Hagan has never run in - he has been ensconced in the gerrymandered Republican 50th District), will produce a heavy Democratic majority this year.

This is is a strong plus for Ferguson.

There you have it Stark Countians. As of mid-June, The Report gives a slight edge for Ferguson. This could be the tightest race in Stark County: mirroring the Stevens/Vignos race of four years ago.

Agree or disagree? Who do you think will win and what are your reasons for saying so?

DISCUSSION: 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - BOCCIERI VERSUS SCHURING

Throughout the 2008 election cycle the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) will be periodically analyzing Stark County political contests.

First up is the 16th District congressional race pitting state Senator Kirk Schuring (Republican - Jackson) against John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance).

The issues in this campaign will center on:

(1) The Economy

(2) The Iraq War

(3) Heath Care

Already in this campaign we have a signicant mistake by one of he candidates. Recently, Schuring joked that Canton is a place that congregant Republicans rallying for their candidates risk getting shot.

The Report has already taken the position that this careless expression was a reference to the fact that Republicans in Canton are a rare breed and Canton is not a place for a Republican candidate to get many votes. Stark County political observers understand this reality. But Schuring reckless framing of the reality may cause some offended Canton Republicans to vote for Boccieri. So the goof is likely to cause Schuring to lose some votes that otherwise would have gone to him.

What compounds the problem for Schuring in Canton is the significant African-American vote which will be dramatically higher this year because Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential standard bearer.

You can be sure that John Boccieri will join the Obama campaign to push the Canton/Stark County African-American vote to all time highs. African-Americans generally vote overwhelmingly Democratic and this year the numbers will be in the 90% plus range.

All three of the major issues are trending across the county in favor of Democratic candidates. Stark County will follow this pattern.

Schuring will run strong in Ashland, Medina and Medina counties. How strong? It depends on Matt Miller whom Schuring narrowly defeated in the March Republican primary election. Will Miller and his extremely conservative supporters enthusiastically support Schuring. The Report doesn’t think so. There will be some “sitting on hands” going on among Republicans in these counties, especially Ashland County - Miller’s home base. Sc The Report believes Schuring will win these counties in the general election but by a surprising narrow margin.

One part of Stark County that offers possibilities for Schuring is in some of the townships, small cities and villages of Stark County. Lake Township and Jackson Township, Hartville, Marlboro Township, Hills and Dales. Glenmoor and North Canton could turn out sizeable pluralities for Senator Schuring.

As of mid-June The Report believes this election is Boccieri’s to loose. He will run a safe campaign because the stars are aligned in his favor.

Do you agree or disagree with The Report’s analysis. If you disagree, point out which parts of the analysis you disagree with and the basis of the disagreement.

DISCUSSION: ISN'T THE DEMOCRATS CHARGE THAT CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE KIRK SCHURING IS ANTI-CANTON SILLY?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has gone after Schuring - the 16th District congressional candidate for his ineffectiveness as a state legislator. That’s one thing. The attempt to paint Schuring as anti-Canton is absurd.

The Report’s take on the election is that it is Boccieri’s to lose. The latest Democratic engendered flap about Schuring’s “slam” on Canton is silly. Very few, if any, Stark Countians (including the complainers) really believe that Kirk Schuring was smearing Canton.

Canton Councilman Thomas West and the Ohio Democratic Party lead by Chris Redfern should examine Schuring’s very deficient legislative record and focus on that. Forget the silliness that turns the public off on politicians.

The Report takes Schuring at his word. There are indeed few votes for Republican Schuring in Canton. Canton has a Democratic mayor, 12 Democratic city councilpersons and well as other elected officials. There are a few elected Republicans (a couple of judges is all that comes to mind) in Canton.

Republican Schuring is apparently ceding Canton to Democrat Boccieri. Being the smart politician he is, The Report believes that Boccieri will be working hard to get all those Canton Democrats to the polls on November 4th. Let Schuring spend his time in Ashland, Wooster and Medina.

Schuring’s ill-conceived reference to Canton is a signal that he will not be seriously campaigning in Canton nor Massillon nor Alliance.

The real battle will be in the townships and small cities and villages of Stark County.

Question: Has the “silly season” started in the 16th District race?

DISCUSSION: WHAT IS KIRK SCHURING UP TO ON HIS PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

On December 4, 2007 state Senator Kirk Schuring introduced his bill to amend the Ohio Constitution on the issue of school funding. So Schuring, who has been in the Legislature for 14 years, waits until he is running Congress to give the appearance of doing something on this festering problem.

On substance alone, the major effect of Schuring’s amendment would be to stabilize funding at 1970s levels.

But the bill was DOA. Governor Ted Strickland was not about to allow the man (John Boccieri - Schuring’s opponent) he describes as “being like a brother” be upstaged by Schuring.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes that proposal was a political stunt by the senator who had to know his gambit had no chance from the get-go. Stark County school districts struggle with financing and Schuring seizes on their desperation for a politically motivated publicity gain.

When Schuring introduced his bill, he heralded Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut (a Democrat) as supporting his amendment.

Well, Fingerhut must have had a chat with Schuring and told him to quit using his name as a supporter. Have you heard Schuring using the Fingerhut name lately?

The question: Is Schuring lying low for now only to spring into action in September? Or, is The Report right? Schuring proposal was never a serious effort to solve the public school funding crises.

CORRECTION: STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER TOM HARMON - PROTECTING THE TAXPAYERS!

A STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) thank you to Commissioner Tom Harmon.

Commissioner Harmon emailed The Report pointing out that his initiative to raise Held’s salary from $72,800 to $90,000 per annum did not come from taxpayer money.

The Report stands corrected.

The money, in fact, comes from consumers who patronize trash haulers.

This is the first correction issued by The Report. But undoubtedly it will not be the last. The Report above all else endeavors to have the facts right. From time-to-time there will be inadvertent errors. And, The Report will issue front and center corrections.

The Report will not bury corrections in an obscure location as The Repository does.

Again, thank you Commissioner for pointing out The Report’s mistake.

The Report goes one step further and republishes the email in its entirety in the interest of providing space to Commissioner Harmon to explain the total circumstances of how the pay increase unfolded and amplify on the reporting or lack of reporting by The Rep as well on whether or not Held had threatened to leave.

(A note: The Report does have reliable information to the effect that Held did request more money but accepts Harmon’s word that Held did not threaten to leave. Moreover, The Report does not accept the notion that The Rep is somehow exonerated by the New Philadelphia Times Reporter not getting the job done with incisive questioning. The Rep should have been present since the pay increase issue involved a number of Stark Countians and The Rep did not disclaim by crediting the report to the Times-Reporter)

Hi Martin.

Just wanted to set the record straight about your recent posting concerning Mr. Helds (sic) increase in compensation.

1) No tax dollars are involved. The District receives funding from tipping fees paid by solid waste providers.

2) The average Director's salary of $94,000 is the state wide average. However, our solid waste district by any measure is the largest in Ohio and the average of the largest five districts is $108,000.

3) There was no press release issued. The Ray and Barney report was debated in an open and public meeting and the Repository did not have a reporter present. GateHouse Media owns the New Philly Times Reporter and they picked the story up from their report.
4) David Held has never informed me he was thinking of taking another job. However, I know if we had to replace him with someone experienced in solid waste management the salary demands would have been in line with the survey.

I hope you are well and I enjoy reading the report even when it is sometimes at my expense. ....

Tom