DISCUSSION: CORDRAY - STATE TREASURER, ATTORNEY GENERAL NEXT? - THEN GOVERNOR?

Richard Cordray can best be described as the "newest" rising star as a statewide Democratic Ohio politician.

He rode the the Democratic high tide to the state treasurer's office in the November, 2006 election which saw Ted Strickland trounce Republican Ken Blackwell by about about 20 percentage points.

Also part of the statewide Democratic victory in 2006 was Marc Dann winning the attorney general's office.

But Dann couldn't stand success and embarked on a course of abusing power and consequently fell from grace and left the office under pressure from Governor Strickland and other leading Ohio Democrats.

Strickland appointed a caretaker attorney general who from the outset said she would not run for the office. Up stepped Richard Cordray and in less than two years as treasurer and becomes the Democrat nominee for attorney general. Attorney Mike Crites is the Republican candidate and Attorney Robert Owens in an independent candidate.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) sees this move by Cordray as a "stepping-stone" towards his longer term goal as succeeding Ted Strickland as governor.

One thing we were spared in Cordray's Canal Fulton was Stark County Party chair Johnnie A. Maier's perennial introduction of Cordray as a former Jeopardy game TV show champion (undoubtedly, only because Maier didn't introduce Cordray)

But The Report offers a few details of the Jeopardy caper as, perhaps, relevant in a "pun" sort of way as being apropos since the public's confidence and trust in the attorney general's office was put in jeopardy by Marc Dann.

Wikipedia describes Cordray, in part, as follows:

Cordray has the distinction of being an undefeated five-time champion and Tournament of Champions semifinalist on Jeopardy! In 1987, he won $45,303, which he used to pay law school debt, to pay taxes and to buy a used car.

But pun treatment aside, the question is whether or not Richard Cordray is the best person to complete the rescue (now being implement by the interim attorney general) from the "public confidence" jeopardy that Marc Dann placed the agency in?

See Cordray's Canal Fulton talk below.

DISCUSSION: IS SCHURING GOING BE A VICTIM OF A DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SURGE? OTHER LOCAL REPUBLICANS, ALSO?

On Sunday evening's newscast, Chuck Todd, Political Director of NBC News, says that congressional Republican candidates are going to get trounced in Tuesday's election losing between 25 to 40 seats.

Susan Page of USA Today appearing on Chris Matthews "Hardball" revealed a breaking (30 minutes at the time) USA Today poll showing generic congressional polling putting Democratic candidates up by 15%.

Readers of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) predicted a Boccieri win months ago (from 55%/45% to 52%/48%).

The Report's prediction had more to do with the political environment in the country favoring Democrats than anything else. This trend is so strong (especially in northeast Ohio) that there may be a lot of Republican casualties right down though the county level because of the Democratic surge.

John Hagan, Republican candidate for county commissioner, may well find himself on the outside looking in after November 4th. He may have to get back to his real job of being "Joe (err John) the Plumber."

Todd Snitchler could lose the gerrymandered Republican seat held by Hagan for eight years against a substandard Democratic candidate (Celeste DeHoff).

Another Republican victim? Yes, Republican Larry Dordea running against Sheriff Tim Swanson.

Dordea and county commissioner candidate Travis Secrest are the Republicans' most interesting candidates this time around.

If Dordea loses, he should take a short rest and then begin again for 2012.

Secrest? He should bone up on state issues and consider a run against Stephen Slesnick in 2010. The Report loathes uncompetivie politics. The 52nd has been uncompetitive forever, it seems. Secrest is from Canton Towship which is in the district. But he will have to start at least 18 months out from November, 2010.

Questions: If Democrats sweep Stark County, as Stark County Demoratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., says they will, - is the Stark County Republican Party leadership in for a shake up? Or will party chair Jeff Matthews be given a pass because he and the party are going through a tough cycle?

DISCUSSION: WILL DEHOFF BE ABLE TO "STAND ON HER OWN TWO FEET" IN THE OHIO LEGISLATURE?

Celeste DeHoff is out getting anyone who is anybody in the Ohio/Stark County Democratic Party to endorse her with one notable exception?

Who could that be?

Lawrence Township trustee Michael Stevens, that's who?

Stevens nearly defeated DeHoff in the Democratic primary in March notwithstanding DeHoff getting the massive support of the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. wing of the Stark County Democratic Party.

DeHoff should have done a Barack Obama. Go get your main rival to support you like Obama did with Clinton.

But Barack is a smart politician, DeHoff isn't. She relies constantly on getting "propped up" by her political friends. Apparently, her main Democratic political opponent does not see her as the preferred alternate to her Republican opponent Todd Snitchler. But she probably hasn't even tried to reach out to Stevens.

Quite to the contrary.

Readers of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) complained to her friend on Massillon City Council (Kathy Catazaro-Perry - her campaign treasurer?) about Stevens getting a job in the Cicchinelli administration.

So how's that for a real being a "bridge-burner?" An ideal person to reach across the aisle in the Ohio House?

All of this brings the following question to mind.

What if DeHoff thinks differently than Strickland, Glenn, Brown, Maier, Meeks, Gonzalez and her political handler Shane Jackson ("the group think tank") on a given issue that comes up in the Legislature (which is hard to conceive her doing); is there any chance she can vote her conscience?

VIDEO SERIES: CLIP #5 CANTON AREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM - LARRY DORDEA - CANDIDATE FOR STARK COUNTY SHERIFF

Larry Dordea was the first candidate to post a comment on the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report or SCPR).

He was unhappy with The Report's suggestion that he was, perhaps, ([t]oo provincial to be Stark County sheriff).

His admonition, which proved to be prophetic, that when The Report and others got to know him; they would see The Report's suggestion would not borne out.

Of course, The Report makes no apology for posing the question. Questioning and analyzing is at the heart and soul of our democracy.

The Report had a devil of a time to get Dordea to sit down and talk. But eventually we did. And Dordea proved to be quite impressive.

Just an aside to other Stark County politicians. The Report's attitude is that a public official or candidate for public office has no right to refuse a media request to talk about the public's business. If they do refuse, The Report promises to harp on the inaccessiblity or cherry picking who they will talk to as a reason why the voting public should consider not voting for the official/candidate. The public does has a right to know and not under questioning by a hand-picked interview. But someone like The Report who will ask the pointed questions.

Readers can read the many posts on this race by seaching in the search box under Dordea and Swanson.

As pointed out by Dordea supporters, The Report has known Sheriff Swanson and long time and thinks well of him. And The Report believes the roof would not fall in if Swanson were to be re-election which The Report thinks will happen because of the Democratic tide that is likely to hit Stark County on November 4th.

But The Report believes that Dordea has a better set of ideas to implement that likely enable the Stark County sheriff's office to cope more effectively with the Stark County budget crisis which currently afflicts Stark County.

What is particularly impressive about Dordea's ideas is that they offer the possibility that they will result in more sheriff services to the county; the financial crisis notwithstanding.

Whether or not Dordea wins, he has done a huge public service in offering himself has a candidate. He has compelled Swanson to respond. It is up to voters to make a judgment as to whom among the two will do the better job.

If Dordea wins, The Report will be here to press him to deliver on his promises. If Swanson wins, The Report will be here to press him to do better and to consider implementing some of Dordea's ideas.

Competitive campaigns like the Dordea/Swanson race make for more effective government. It is tragic when you have situations like county Prosecutor John Ferrero (Democrat), county Treasurer Gary Zeigler (Democrat) and state Representative Scott Oelslager (Republican) running unopposed.

The lack of political competition in Stark County lies at the doorstep of current Stark County Republican Party chairman Jeff Matthews (but mostly on his predecessor Curt Braden) and current Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

All Stark Countians get the shaft when there is no political competition.

Along this line, it would have been productive for Tim Swanson to appear at the Canton Area League of Women Voters event to answer Dodea's charges on the administration of his office. The question is: was absence purposeful and convenient for him or was there something more compelling for him to attend to?

Anyway, see Dordea's accusations on the sheriff in the post below.

VIDEO SERIES: CLIP #4 - CANTON AREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM - TRAVIS SECREST - FOR STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Travis Secrest is another "fresh" face on the local political scene. He ran for trustee against a long term incumbent in Canton Township recently and lost by only 90+ votes.

Secrest is likely to lose against "incumbent - appointed" commissioner Tom Harmon. But Secrest will poll well.

Harmon, like Reinbold (candidate for Stark County clerk of courts), has office because Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., thinks he will be personally politically loyal to Maier. In fact, The Report, has inside information to the effect that Harmon has said that he thinks he owes the Stark County Democratic Party.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) generally thinks well of Harmon but mostly on the "potential" side. Harmon has all the skills and local government/politics knowledge to be an effective county commissioner. But The Report doubts he will use the skills/knowledge to benefit the everydays of Stark County. Harmon, in The Report's opinion, enjoys his special relationships with Stark County's power brokers and political leaders and therefore will not counter them when they are on the wrong track in trying the right the economic Stark County "Ship of State."

Travis Secrest will.

He and sitting commissioner Todd Bosley would be an outstanding team to get Stark County's economy moving in the right direction. Secrest demonstrates (see his website) that he does think outside-the-box and does put his idea out in the public domain (in specificity) for Stark Countians to judge.

Secrest will not win this race. But he is a person that will lead the way for a revitalized Stark County Republican Party.

His main problem with the Republican Party is its currently leadership. The Report (SCPR) has learned that there is a lot of internal dissatisfaction with current party chief Jeff Matthews.

If the party gets blown out as Democratic Party strongman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., says it will (CLICK HERE TO SEE MAIER'S STATMENT), then certainly Stark County Republicans will demand a change at the top.

See the video posted below to get a first-hand impression of Secrest.

VIDEO SERIES: CLIP #3 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS - JASON WISE - CANDIDATE STARK COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS

The Stark County Democratic Party under the direction of Chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., and in complicity with former Stark County Clerk of Courts Phil Giavasis decided to play a game of musical chairs at the expense of democracy and the voters of Stark County decided to anoint Nancy Reinbold (wife of Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Richard Reinbold) as the successor to Giavasis who, wanting to enhance his pay grade, his retirement benefits and how often he as to run for re-election, ran for and was elected to the Canton Municipal Court clerkship.

Why all the background?

Because Republican Jason Wise is the only chance for voters to say anything about the political machinations of Giavasis, the Reinbolds and Maier. The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) is highly dubious that Wise will prove to be an effective vehicle to stop the Stark County Democratic machine that Maier has constructed and led from pulling off this "back room politics" caper. Lawrence Township trustee Micheal Stevens was highly interested in this post and was roundly chastised by Phil Giavasis for even considering taking on personal and party pros, choice Reinbold.

Last time The Report checked, America/Stark County are still democracies?

As luck would have it for the Democrats, the Republicans (probably blame former chairman Curt Braden) in putting up Wise as their candidate have accomplished one thing: offered the voting public a sacrificial lamb in Wise.

Reinbold is clearly more qualified than Wise. But maybe Stevens would have been a more attractive alternative. Especially because he might tell Maier "to go fly a kite" if Maier were to make an "employ this loyal Democrat" demand on the officeholder. The Report thinks Reinbold will do whatever Maier tells her. After all, she owes him and Giavasis.

The Report does not think Wise has anything to recommend him other than he is not the choice of political party bosses.

View the accompanying video on Wise set up below. Maybe you will see something The Report doesn't?

VIDEO SERIES: CLIP #2 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM - FERGUSON FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Doctor Peter Ferguson is a candidate for Stark County commissioner. Republican Jane Vignos is retiring and therefore this is what politicians call an "open" seat. An open seat race usually is hotly contested because there is no built in advantage to an incumbent.

Democrat Ferguson is a "new" face on the local scene who is running against long time area Republican politician John Hagan who has been Ohio House state representative for 8 years and, being term-limited out of the Ohio General Assembly, is seeking a political "nesting place" whether or not he is qualified for the office.

The appeal of Ferguson is his "freshness." He hasn't run the most invigorated campaign probably because he hasn't had the experience of running for political office. John Hagan on the other hand has also run a low-key campaign. In his case is, in the opinion of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report), has been a lazy officeholder and having run in a gerrymandered Republican district all of his political career has not figured out that his laziness carried over into campaigning could well cost him this election.

See Peter Ferguson at a recent Canton Area League of Women Voters forum in the video taken by The Report below.