DISCUSSION: CORDRAY IN ACTION - GETS "EARNED MEDIA" AND ENLISTS LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN HIS BID TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL?

Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray (Democrat) is getting excellent political advice.

Tapped by the Ohio Democratic Party to be the party's candidate to become Ohio's next attorney general, he has embarked on a politically masterful strategy.

Cordray's strategy is all summed up in The Repository's piece (today) on action taken by Massillon City Council (the body which finally found something to do over the summer months):

MASSILLON City Council adopted a resolution Monday crafted by Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray to place pressure on credit card companies to end "unfair" practices.

The strategy: Fashion an issue that has everyday people appeal (i.e. "ending 'unfair' credit card practices" - not bad, heh?), convince a politically friendly governmental body to be your foil (Massillon City Council staffed by all Democrats and arguably controlled by the Stark County Democratic Party chairman [Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.] who is linked tightly to Governor Ted Strickland and state party chair Chris Redfern) and get the media (The Repository, The Independent and the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT, et cetera to bite [that is to say - give the event publicity]).

A political stroke of genius! Ohio's and Stark County's Republicans must be absolutely beside themselves. They probably thought (and who could argue with them) that in light of the Marc Dann scandal, this could be a Republican statewide pick-up in November.

But the Democrats (including the "non-political" Governor Strickland) are proving to be much better politicians than the Republicans. Apparently, Kevin DeWine is in over his head much as former Stark County Republican chair - Curt Braden - was, when it came to Stark County politics.

Look for Canton City Council to follow suit. Canton City Council President Allen Schulman is a local Democrat who has powerful Democratic connections in Columbus and it is predictable that the plan is already laid out for Canton.

Question: Is the Massillon City Council move a display of masterful Cordray political skills or is just plain old "good" local government in action?

DISCUSSION: LOUISVILLE CITY COUNCIL - THE "POSITIVE" EXAMPLE FOR ALL STARK COUNTY GOVERNMENTS?

The Alliance Review (this morning) reports that Louisville City Council has taken action that is hugely important to Stark County.

Council voted unanimously to seek location of Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley's proposed Stark County recycling center in Louisville.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has previously lauded Bosley for coming up with the idea of the recycling center.

A recycling center is important for a number of reasons for Stark Countians. First, in these tight economic times, the County could save up to $1.3 million on its yard refuse recycling program from its budget and have the Stark-Tusc-Wayne Solid Waste District (with money to burn) pick up the set up costs. Moreover, Commissioner Bosley tells The Report that Stark County could actually add revenues to its budget by initiating a mulching operation which will generate a saleable product on which Stark County can turn a profit. Third, recycling is the "green" thing to do. Taking care Stark County's environment is a top priority.

A lot of squabbling goes on among governmental units in Stark County which hampers the county in moving forward in economical development. But Louisville City Council gets a STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT "Tip of the Hat" for proactively being a positive force working intergovernmetally for the benefit of Louisville residents with spin off positives for all of Stark County.

A "Tip of the Hat" to Commissioner Bosley. As The Report sees it, Bosley is one of the few Stark County government officials with a "can-do," "will-do" attitude that has the potential to be good news for Stark County economic development.

Question: Is this move by Louisville in response to the Bosley initiative, a harbinger of a reversal of economic fortunes for Stark County?

DISCUSSION: DID "THE REP" DEAL A BLOW TO STARK COUNTY EDUCATION ON THE "MRDD" LEVY ISSUE?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that some Stark County school officials are privately saying that The Repository's refusal to endorse the March, 2008 MRDD levy issue was the reason it lost and may cause huge economic damage to non-MRDD Stark County school districts.

The thinking among area school officials must be that if MRDD cannot get its financial house in-order, the financial burden will ultimately shift to each of the 17 Stark County school districts.

Costs for providing MRDD-like services are much more expensive than services that schools normally provide students in their respective communities.

The Report believes that the editors at The Rep were so focused on the MRDD financial picture, they did not see the elephant in the room - the potential adverse consequences that the MRDD levy defeat could have on the already financially strapped Stark County local school districts.

Although the school officials may be overstating the consequences of The Rep's failure to endorse (an 11,000 plus vote loss), theirs is a plausible assessment in a close election as this one was.

Just look at the defeats that Stark County school levies took in March. Can these districts afford to absorb the extraordinary costs of MRDD-esque services?

The Rep frequently admonishes others for being irresponsible in not looking at all the consequences of an action.

Question: Did The Rep Editorial Board act irresponsibly in not considering the probable adverse financial consequences of a MRDD levy defeat on the budgets of the 17 Stark County school districts?

DISCUSSION: WILL THE DEMOCRATS STILL CONTROL THE STARK COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, GENERAL DIVISION AFTHER NOVEMBER 4TH?

It is a touch ironical for the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) to approach a discussion of this race in terms of which political party will control the General Division of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas after the upcoming November election?

Why ironical?

Because neither candidate focused on party identity in their respective interviews with The Report.

Prior to a judicial challenge by Judge William O'Neill (of the Youngstown area), general election candidates had to run as "non-partisans." O'Neill's challenge changed that and judicial candidates can run emphasizing their party label.

In Stark County these days, if he chose to do so; it would be an advantage for Frank Forchione to run as a Democrat. He has not made a final decision on the matter. His opponent, Jean Madden, says she is running as a non-partisan.

Currently, the General Division is staffed by three Democrats (Haas, Heath and Reinbold) and two Republicans (Brown and Sinclair). Reinbold is retiring and Madden and Forchione are contesting this seat.

While these candidates are taking the high political road, you can bet that their parties are very much tuned into the political dynamic. The only place that Stark County Republican Party has any hold in the Stark County political scene is with the courts. And that is only because Republicans hold all three judgeships in the Domestic Relations Court.

David Stucki tried his best to change that picture. Readers will recall his taking on fellow Republican Dixie Park who is the Probate Court judge. Had he succeeded, Governor Strickland, undoubtedly, would have appointed a Democrat replacement.

Getting back to the Madden/Forchione race, the largest campaign donation to Madden as of the last campaign finance filing was a $1,000 contribution by "Votes for Women," a Stark County Republican Party sponsored judicial PAC. Another major contributor is Jeff Jakmides ($500) a local criminal defense attorney who ran four years ago as the Republican candidate against Stark County prosecutor John Fererro. An interesting sidelight here is the fact that Jakmides also made a contribution ($75) to Madden's opponent Forchione. What was that all about?

Madden's total contributions to date approximate $6,700.

Forchione's list of contributors list like a "who's who" of the Stark County Bar Association: Democrat - in the main, but more than a few Republicans. They include: Harry Klide (former Democrat Common Pleas judge), Gary Willen (former Republican candidate for Carroll County Common Pleas judge), John Poulos (Democrat Canton Municipal Court judge), Mary Jo Shannon Slick (legal counsel for the Stark County Educational Service Center), Roy H. Batista (Republican who has represented a number of township trustee boards in Stark County), Randy Gonzalez (Democrat - Fiscal Officer/Jackson Township), Jeffrey Haupt (Republican - well known Stark County criminal defense attorney), Eddie J. Elum (Democrat Massillon Municipal Court judge), Thomas E. Cecconi (Republican - President/CEO of Mercy Medical Center), Ellis Erb (Republican - Lake Township trustee), Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A., William Emley (Buckingham, Doolittle, Burroughs, LLP), William J. Healy (Democrat - Canton mayor), Black, McCuskey, Souers & Arbaugh, Stanley Rubin (Republican - attorney), Mastrivacovo (Democrat - guest columnist/The Repository), and Todd Bosley (Democrat - Stark County commissioner), among a host of contributors most of whom seem to be practicing attorneys.

Forchione's contributions total some $52,000.

As far as the qualifications to be judge, both candidates emphasize their experience as practicing attorneys in Common Plea Court.

Forchione, of course, has vast experience with misdemeanor work in Canton Municipal Court including the early stages of felonies which get switched over to Common Pleas. And, he makes a point that he has tried a number of personal injury actions and real estate cases (from his civil law practice) in Common Pleas Court, General Division.

Forchione takes pride in the fact that surrounding counties have asked him to take an objective look at and or prosecution of cases which involve politically sensitive issues. He thinks these requests are a testament to his integrity.

Madden has been assistant public defender in the Stark County Public Defender's Office and has worked scores of felony cases all the way up to capital cases. Before working with the public defender, Madden had extensive experience working on the administrative side of the Stark County Common Pleas Court.

So what are voters to make of this race?

To The Report this is a contest between an establishment type candidate (just look at who is making campaign contributions to Forchione) versus an underdog advocate. Madden was impressive to The Report as a person who totally understands the plight of everydays and devotes herself to fighting for their getting a fair shake out of Stark County's legal system.

Forchione focuses heavily on his individual integrity which is curious to The Report for The Report knows of no one who questions his integrity. The Report did have an extended conversation with Forchione on the Anna Hall Colvin case.

The Report believes that his handling of this matter could be a measure of how he'll handle cases that would come in front of him as Common Pleas Court judge.

Right as the jury was to get the case Forchione elected to dismiss it when a Bureau of Motor Vehicle employee re-checked records and spotted a transposed digit on the license plate put the eyewitness accounts of identifying the defendant in question.

Forchione's rational for dismissal was based on a "maxim of American jurisprudence is that it's better for ten guilty men to go free, than for one innocent man to be convicted." The Report's take on Forchione's dismissal is that it was a real struggle for him. He was torn between standing behind the officers who investigated the incident and put together the case for the prosecutor's office to prosecute and the late arriving contraindicating BMV evidence.

That's how The Report sees this race, who do you think is the better candidate for judge? Madden or Forchione?

DISCUSSION: COMMISSIONER TOM HARMON DOESN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS?

Commissioner Tom Harmon thinks he is above returning phone calls to everyday citizens? If you believe one of the Stark County Political Report's (The Report) sources.

If this is so and if Stark Countians elect John Hagan county commissioner (Hagan v. Ferguson), then none of us will get our phone calls returned, unless, of course, we call Commissioner Todd Bosley.

A The Report source located at Stark County Jobs and Family Services tells us that
Harmon's words to the source were to the effect: "I don't return phone calls - people call me and may or may not get me - but I do not return phone calls." Also, Harmon dubbed himself as management that does not soil himself in dealing with everyday people issues.

Harmon sounds like 50th district Ohio House representative John Hagan (Republican - Marlboro) who is running against Doctor Pete Feguson for county commissioner.

Hagan filters his calls for devoted supporters and followers, or, powerful media he cannot ignore, and those are the only people who can get through to him. The moral of the story: Never take exception to John Hagan or you will end up on his ____ list and you certainly will not get your phone calls answered or returned.

So there you have it folks. County commissioner candidates who think they are not accessible and, it stands to reason, not accountable to everyday citizens?

Question: Do Stark Countians want Ivory Tower commissioners?

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?