DISCUSSION: STARK GOP TRYING TO MAKE SALES/USE TAX IMPOSITION A "REFERENDUM ON COMMISSIONER TODD BOSLEY?"

UPDATE: The SCPR stands by the assessment (notwithstanding the COMMENT published below) that in Canton this effort is being used by Stark County Republicans to test the anti-sales/use tax sentiment as a prelude (in the testing the waters sense) to challenge Commissioner Bosley. The Report's source, a high local Republican leader, tells the SCPR that Jason Wise (a Stark County Republican Party operative) is a leader if not THE leader of this event.

The Report is opininizing as to why the local GOP is heavily involved in the Canton event. Nothing in the original piece speaks to the national implications of the event.

Here is the COMMENT referred to:

dr. john has left a new comment on your post "DISCUSSION: STARK GOP TRYING TO MAKE SALES/USE TA...":

I hope you realize this is a non-partisan event. I am a democrat and I plan to attend. I think you, Mr. Olson, need to stop criticizing both parties without really checking your facts. The nationwide tax day tea party coalition is sponsoring all national events happening on April 15th, and it was a requirement for these to be non-partisan.


ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Because the Stark County Republican Party has such little political muscle these days, tha party has gone sub rosa in its efforts to defeat first-term county Commissioner Todd Bosley (Democrat - Marlboro) come November, 2010.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) does know that the Stark GOPers will be looking at the numbers very closely when the repeal effort on the 1/2% sales/use tax imposed by (all Democrat) county commissioners this past January comes to a vote this November, if it makes it to the ballot.

Bosley used an overhaul of Stark County 9-1-1 as the justification as he spearheaded the effort for imposing the tax. The measure will also reise millions annually for the county's general budget.

Leading Stark County Republicans have acknowledged to The Report that they know they cannot defeat Bosley unless they can tie the tax issue as in "albatross around the neck" to Bosley. After all, he narrowly defeated a local Republican star (son of retired 16th district congressman Ralph Regula; Richard) as "the" sunning result of the 2006 general election.

In order to attract a candidate with the financial resources and countywide name recognition to match up with Bosley, the Republicans are trying to get Stark Countians to buy into the tax-repeal movement/Bosley linkage. Party worker and stalwart Jason Wise (who was the Republican candidate against Democrat Nancy Reinbold for Stark County clerk of courts in 2008) is the Republican point man.

So on tax day 2008 (April 15th, of course), Republicans will gather in front of the Stark County Office Building to rally for the tax repeal (petitions have not yet been filed with the Stark Board of Elecltions) in an effort to lure Democrats and political independents into supporting the effort.

If the rally fizzles; so will the effort to run a meaningful candidate against Boslye. If, however, it is successful, then the Republicans will be heartened and Bosley will likely be in the fight of his political life.

DISCUSSION: ANOTHER ARROGANT ACTION, WHO ELSE? WILLIAM J. HEALY, MAYOR OF CANTON - THAT'S WHO

There once was a day that yours truly would get random telephone calls from William J. Healy, II. But no more.

Why not?

Because if anyone has the audacity to disagree with the Mayor of Canton then that person is taken off the "telephone list" and put on the "_ _ _ _ list."

Well, the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) is pleased to be on Healy's "_ _ _ _ list." The Repository is on Healy's telephone list. He calls them and asks to come in to talk with the editors so that he can finesse them into writing PR pieces for him. And, they comply. Stark County's ONLY countywide newspaper provides its readers with jaundiced editorials on Healy.

Now a story surfaces where Healy is freezing out someone other than The Report for criticizing him. Namely: Canton City Councilman Greg Hawk who according to a Repository report yesterday that Hawk had disagreed Healy on the budgeting process. Such is Healy tactic #1, if you don't work for him. If you work for him, you get fired!

DISCUSSION: ARE SWANSON & FERRERO OUT TO DIMINISH STARK COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT? REPUBLICAN PARTISAN OHIO AUDITOR MARY TAYLOR TO THE RESCUE?

If a Stark County lawyer goes through a divorce, Stark County judges are not assigned to the case. A visiting judge is brought in. This it the way it should be. Ethical appearances demand such.

Apparently, Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor (Republican - Green; highly political in her own right) knows the political landscape so well she has called the feds (the FBI) in. Obviously, she is leery of the of at least the Swanson/Zeigler (Zeigler ran unopposed in 2008) political relationship. Is she going far enough? And, is she looking herself in the mirror. Her office has been giving Zeigler's office and Frustaci a clean bill of health all along.

It is the position of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) that neither Sheriff Tim Swanson's office nor Prosecutor John Ferrero's office should be involved in investigating a case involving high profile political activists (e.g. Marlboro Township police chief Ron Devies vigorously supported Swanson opponent Larry Dordea) and political figures (e.g. Mayor William J. Healy, II) when any of these folks have a connection (pro or con) vis-a-vis either Swanson or Ferrero in a political context.

Could Swanson's folks have bungled the investigation because of a overzealousness fueled by politics?

A second reason that should have recused his office from the Devies investigation is the fact that Marlboro trustee Tim Wise (who is one of two of anti-Devies people on the Marlboro board) is the brother of former Ferrero hire, (prosecutor) E.E. Wise, Jr. The Report doesn't believe that EJ (as he is popularly known within Democratic circles) would try to influence the course of the investigation.

The Wise family has been has been heavily involved in Stark Democratic political circles. Even assuming these folks have kept their proper distance from the investigation as the SCPR does, these political interrelationships do not look good to the general public and Ferrero should take on the "public perspective" more than he does.

Does Ferrero (who ran unopposed in 2008) care about the public perception?

Ferrero not too long ago was the chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party. Having been such, should make him particularly sensitive to cases in which politics is deemed to be a factor.

And it is not good enough that Swanson is ONLY keeping his distance from the Stark County treasurer's office. Swanson is an avowed political support of Zeigler. Swanson even wrote a "letter to the editor" to The Repository supporting Zeigler's handling of the treasurer office operations.

The Report remembers Swanson, Ferrero and Zeigler tunning together as "a law enforcement team" for a period of time in 2004. How does Ferrero justify staying in this matter. Shouldn't he be bringing in a outside of Stark County prosecutor?

DISCUSSION: IS "KEVIN MONROE" STILL CANTON'S PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR?

From the good book:

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 1 Samuel 18:6-9

Why would the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) "uncharacteristically" open with a biblical quote today?

Because The Report believes that this passage of holy writ zeros in on Canton Mayor Healy's major fault. He sees himself as a "Saul-type."

Call it Divine Providence or whatever you wish, but this past Sunday yours truly was at a church service in which the sermon topic was about leaders who are into "obsessive control" and the sermon went on to describe the concomitant havoc that such leaders visit on all in their path.

The Report asks in the title to this blog: Is Canton public works director Kevin Monroe still a member of the Healy administration?

Why is The Report asking this question?

Because of two somewhat divergent responses from Mayor Healy and his public works director Kevin Monroe in The Rep's story: Colonel Sanders fixing Canton's roads? It could happen. It is not good to disagree with Mayor Healy.

First the Healy perspective:

Don’t count on Mayor William J. Healy II among those interested in Kentucky-fried potholes.

“We are facing some challenging times, but we’re not quite that desperate,” Healy said Tuesday. “City employees are working hard to patch potholes as we speak, and we are grateful for all the work they do."

Second, Public Works Director Monroe's perspective:

“I have no problem with that. If there’s a way you can save taxpayers money, and I’m sure that would do it; and why not?” Monroe said. “If there’s somebody willing to do it, by all means we should be looking at it.”

Apparently, Monroe remembered has an "obsessively-controlling mayor" he's working for and may have made a job-saving comment by adding a comment to the effect it was Mayor Healy's decision as to whether or not Canton applies for the Colonel Sanders offer.

You can be sure that the Mayor will either personally or through others dress Monroe down for not clearing his differing thought from the Mayor on the KFC offer before talking with the media.

Moreover, The Report, knowing Healy as yours truly does, believes Monroe is now on the Healy "watch-list."

Healy cannot act against Monroe now because the community, the media (local and national) and fair minded people everywhere would rise up in indignation. The better test will be when public attention is diverted.

King Saul was an insecure man (as The Report surmises Healy is) who could not handle it when others were recognized for their superior qualities. The Report thinks that's why Bernabei got bounced and why Nesbitt is on his way out; maybe even the finance director earlier in his administration. The longer Healy is mayor, the more exitees we will see.

For those of us who have the temerity to criticize the Mayor, punishment is meted out by his refusal to answer questions about campaign finance matters, the future of the Stark County Mayors Association, et cetera.

On matter of Canton needing help, Monroe has the better idea for Canton than does Healy. Obviously, there is an important personality difference between Healy and Monroe. Healy is too proud to ask for help; Monroe just wants to do public service.

What's that other biblical expression?

"Pride goeth before ... [a] haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

Hum?

DISCUSSION: STARK COUNTY GOP ON THE MEND?

The Stark County Republican Party is on life support these days. And this is not good for Stark County. With Republicans not holding any non-judicial offices countywide, Stark County is in the brink of being a politically non-competitive county and perhaps a mirror of Canton city government which is totally controlled by Democrats. At least in the countywide sense.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has been probing some leading Stark County Republicans for answers on what is being done to rectify this political imbalance in Stark.

For the most part, there have not been any promising answers. In fact, one disturbing observation from a key Stark County Republican offers the possibility that Democrat Stark commissioner Todd Bosley will not face any meaningful opposition in 2010, unless the sales/use tax repeal effort gets up a head of steam and wins thereby signaling that the prime mover of the imposition of the tax (Commissioner Bosley) is vulnerable.

In other words, the Stark GOP is so down and out these days that it would take the equivalent of "a sign from Heaven" for the local Republicans to make a serious attempt to defeat Bosley.

Readers of The Report understand that yours truly thinks very well of Bosley. Nevertheless, no public official should ever skate into office with out a serious test.

Notwithstanding the bleak news about Stark Republicans, the SCPR did hear a glimmer of hope about activities and Stark Republican headquarters.

The Report hears from a source that Jason Wise has been an increasing presence at party headquarters. This could be good news for Stark Republicans, but more importantly Stark Countians who want to see the Stark Republican Party to once again be competitive. Political competition and the fear of being voted out of office, is the most effective way to avoid the abuses of "one-party-rule."

One-party-rule is not good for Stark County as it was not when Republicans controlled all statewide offices, the Legislature and the governorship.

Why might Wise be good news?

Here is a summary of why The Report thinks he might lead the way:

Wise ran against Democrat Nancy Reinbold for Stark clerk of courts in 2008. The result wasn't pretty. Wise took offense with The Report because his candidacy was described as being a "sacrificial lamb" candidacy. Nevertheless The Report thinks it was courageous for Wise to take her on - and - in a sort of way; the Democratic machine that now runs Stark County.

Reinbold had virtually been handed the county clerkship by self-appointed Democratic kingmaker Phil Giavasis (now Canton Muny Court clerk of courts - so he can earn more money and beef up his retirement). Giavasis took personal umbrage when Lawrence Township Michael Stevens met with him to express an interest running for the county clerk position. As an interesting aside, Nancy Reinbold hired Phil's brother Louis (Plain Township trustee) into the clerk of courts office not too long ago.

No doubt the now former Stark Common Pleas judge and husband of Nancy Reinbold placed a major role in getting his Nancy into the clerks office in the first place. For the most part, these jobs are not open to the public, but are set aside for party leaders for their relatives, friends or friends of their political insider friends. From there it would just be a matter of time until she had the top job.

The Report has roundly criticized former Stark Republican Party chair Curt Braden and his political twin Jeff Matthews (deputy director of the Stark County Board of Elections) for allow the Stark County Political Party to waste away to nothing.

The question now becomes with the information that Jason Wise is more and more of a factor as Stark County Republican headquarters is this: Can Wise spearhead a resurgence of Stark Republicans?

Why would The Report hold out hope that Wise has anything special about him that would make him more effective that the Braden/Matthew regime?

The answer: It may be in his genes.

He is the grandson of Carl F. Wise who ran as a "reform" Republican in November, 1951. He served from 1952 to 1958 and did what he promised. He hired a "no non-sense police chief" and together they cleaned Canton up.

So the question becomes:

Can he be to the Stark County Republican Party what his grandfather was to Canton in the 1950s? Will he turn things around?

Time will tell.

And the test will come next year on the county commissioner and county auditor races (Perez).

If it is left of to Matthews, Bosley and Perez will likely have only token opposition.

Could it be that Jason Wise with his heritage of having "fire in the belly," bring renewed energy and vibrancy to the Stark Republicans?

All Stark Countians should be hoping for this possibility.

Otherwise, Stark will sink deeper and deeper into the mire of political intrigue and abuse of power that one-party-rule brings.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI SEEMS TO BE OFF TO A GOOD START

John Boccieri is getting off to "sprint" pace start in his first term as 16th district congressman. If district Republicans have any idea of unseating Boccieri early on in order to prevent a Frank Bow/Ralph Regula type dynasty from happenint; they had better get up and running now. Because the congressman is off to a huge initial lead.

Boccieri (pronounced "bowl-of-cherries," - according to the congressman when he is out on the political stomp), is very impressive to STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) in terms of constituent contact.

He started of f in mid-February with his "Congress on Your Corner" constituent contact and continues the effort with appearances this coming week focusing on Alliance.

Boccieri lives in Alliance and readers of the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) will recall that Boccieri's opponent, state Senator Kirk Schuring, seemed to make whether or not Boccieri was actually living in Alliance a focal point; and, alternative whether or not he was at heart a 16th district person or more interested in the welfare of Mahoning County (Youngstown area) where Boccieri has his Ohio roots.

This coming week Boccieri will be appearing Cedar Valley Energy located in Wooster of Wayne County (Monday); VFW Post 3747, Canton (Tuesday - NOTE: Boccieri is a major in the USAF Reserve); Sare Plastics located in Alliance (Wednesday); Mercy Medical Center (Wednesday, to discuss the upcoming Obama health care plans with hospital personnel and other community health care stakeholders), Alliance for Families and Children (Wednesday, located in Alliance, to discuss poverty issues); Alliance Community Hospital (Thursday, to discuss the upcoming Obama health care plans with hospital personnel and other community health care stakeholders), Alliance High School (Thursday, to motive high schoolers toward community involvement); and the Rodman Public Library (Thursday, a "Congressman on Your Corner" event).

So let's give the congressman an A+ for his constituent contact work.

Now for a couple of negatives.

First, The Report was real unimpressed with the congressman coming into the district and complaining about the lack of Republican congressional support for the Obama stimulus plan.

Let the Republicans play out their role as the "loyal opposition." That role is healthy for our democracy. Why is Boccieri complaining about what the Republicans do? Some Democrats say that Republican leaders are becoming "the party of NO." Let voters be the judge of whether or not the Republicans are being constructive.

Second, The Report is unmoved by Boccieri's inordinate focus on keeping postal operations in Canton.

To The Report this is a Boccieri bow and scrape to the postal union. Very few workers are invloved and Boccieri is better advised to work for organized labor and all other 16th district working class citizens on real job producing initiatives.

Now to another positive.

Recently, Congressman Boccieri announced that he had introduced his first piece of legislation House Bill 1545.

16th district folks would be pleased that Boccieri teamed up with a Republican in introducing this bill. If The Report did not that the congressman was not being productive in bashing Republicans for not supporting the Obama stimulus plan; this bipartisan effort undoes much of concern that The Report has about the possibility that Boccieri has thoughts about becoming some sort of political hack.

The question the SCPR has asked the Boccieri camp is this.

What will this bill do for the specific benefit of the 16th?

Here is Communications Dirctor Jessica Kershaw's response:

The most important things to remember are that the bill does two things:

1) It makes the R&D Tax credit permanent, therefore allowing companies in our district the confidence that they can apply for the credit year after year

2) It extends the R&D Tax credit on a bonus basis to companies that manufacture their products within the US (thereby encouraging companies to conduct R&D here at home, and this creates and saves jobs here at home). So companies in our district will benefit greatly if they manufacture products in the US (instead of off-shoring them) and this benefits the people of our district because more jobs are created or saved right here at home.

3) Also, as I outlined on the phone, several companies in our district would benefit from this legislation including Timken (specifically making the R&D Tax Credit permanent), and TekFor USA, Schmack Bioenergy, LukUSA to name a few.

So what is The Report grade for Congressman John Boccieri after nearly 100 days in office?

B is the grade.

Not bad, but leaves room for improvement.

DISCUSSION: LARRY DORDEA TO BE HEALY'S NEW SAFETY DIRECTOR?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) remembers well being the first in Stark County to reveal that Canton safety director Tom Nesbitt had applied to be the new Project Manager of the 9-1-1 countywide restructuring effort.

For The Report, the Nesbitt decision to move on (only after about a year on the job; having come from Nebraska) was the second most significant event in a line of precursors to the end of the Healy administration.

After the Nesbitt application, there was a day about a month ago or so when the rumors where flying hot and heavy that Healy had given Nesbitt the heave-ho. Despite the Healy and Nesbitt denials, The Report believes that Healy did tell Nesbitt that he was "fired" but thought better of it when he realized he had no one in the wings he could feel comfortable with as a replacement.

Why did want Nesbitt gone in the first place?

Because Nesbitt failed on Healy's desire to be rid of Canton police chief Dean McKimm.

When the Nesbitt decision was made, Healy and his is left of his top administrators, huddled in the lofty reaches of the 8th floor of Canton City Hall and asked among themselves: "Who can we replace Nesbit with?"

No one on current Canton scene was satisfactory. So it was decided to float the name of retired Alliance police chief Larry Dordea.

Only problem was, nobody had asked Dordea (a Republican who had run against Democrat Tim Swanson (the incumbent sheriff in November, 2008) if he was interested.

It turns out that Healy was being his old presumtious self and "assumed" Dordea would be interested. How silly of Healy. Larry Dordea is a smart guy. Why would he want to join a sinking ship on its way down?

Answer: He's not.

The only conversation Dordea has had will Healy is to tell him to quit floating his name as a possible replacement for Nesbitt.

Do you get it Mayor? Smart, savvy folks don't want any part of your rapidly failing administration If you cared anything about Canton, you would resign first thing Monday.

If there is a "crisis of confidence" at the national lever, then just magnify it many times over as far as the furture of the city of Canton is concerned.

The more Healy hangs on, the more clear it is that he cares for his own future over the future of Canton and Stark County.