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

Stark County Commissioner Tom Harmon with a “straight” face tells the media that he has saved taxpayers money.

A whopping $4,000!

He initiated action to raise Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District Executive Director David Held’s $72,800 to $90,000.

But it could have ben $94,000.

Harmon heroically resisted the recommendation of a Franklin County wage analysis firm to raise Held’s income about 30% and held (no pun intended) out for 25%.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT wonders why the announcement was made at a press conference. For all the penetrating questions The Repository reporter asked, the announcement could have been make by press release which would have satisfied The Rep’s curiosity.

Not a word in The Rep’s report that Held was demanding a wage increase as a condition for staying on the job. And, of course, The Rep did not report that David Held draws income from North Canton as it elected mayor.

Those of us who have read The Rep for years note how “less favored” public figures, when reported on by Canton’s only newspaper, get everything but the “kitchen sink” thrown in the news article.

The questions: Does Tom Harmon deserve a “big thank you” for saving taxpayer money? Does The Rep deserve a Pulitzer for investigative reporting?

DISCUSSION: IS A NEW LEGISLATIVE STAR RISING IN STARK COUNTY?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) was not impressed with one of newly appointed Stephen Slesnick’s first public pronouncements - his initial equivocation on the severity of the sins of former Ohio attorney general Marc Dann.

But his timidity probably can be attributed to his being new. Stark County needs a strong legislator. Something we haven’t had in Boccieri (D), Healy (D), Hagan (R), Oelslager (R), Okey (D) and Schuring (R).

The Democrats in the group have some excuse. They have been in a minority as is Slesnick. The Republicans have none. They’ve been in a majority/super-majority for a long time, but our Stark County Republicans have very little to show for being part of political dominance.

Other than the Dann matter, Slesnick does seem to be “starting right,” especially on the communication front.

The Report (located in the 50th House District) received Slesnick’s email newsletter within the past few days. Slesnick talks to his constituents about cleaning up Ohio’s environment, stemming foreclosure and economic development.

The Report will be watching Slesnick closely. He shows promise to bring a strength of legislative leadership that Stark County has not seen for a very long time.

The question: Are you encouraged by Stephen Slesknick’s first days in office?

DISCUSSION: DOES STARK DEMOCRATIC CHAIR HAVE A PROBLEM?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that an official within the Stark County Democratic Party is planning to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Local Obama supporters are outraged that a party official is planning not support the Democratic Party nominee.

The Report's source is not reporting the name of the official but promises to do so when the source feels the time is right. The Report will follow up on this article with the name when the name becomes available. The Report does know that the official is connected precinct committeemen/women operation of the party.

If this defection becomes more widespread, then it could mean that Chairman Johnnie Maier has a major problem on his hand carrying Stark for Obama.

Question: Is this defection likely to be an isolated occurrence, or, it is bound to be commonplace?

DISCUSSION: WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR STARK COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

The Repository reports ballyhoo after ballyhoo on Canton/Stark County efforts to get the local economy going. One wonders if The Rep editors will ever (in the light of many previous false starts) develop a healthy skepticism to these supercharged announcements. Or, will they remain cheerleaders as a mimic of their longtime favorite Janet Creighton (former Canton mayor)?

The latest report centers on a tag-along-effort promoted by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT supports this effort to streamline government. But it is not a Stark County economic development plan.

The Chamber is a well-meaning organization that is currently on a hunt to ferret out every last penny of ill-spent public school funds. Who can quarrel with eliminating all waste and inefficiency? In addition to his “cost-cutting” modality, wouldn’t it be impressive if Chamber came up with a positive plan to provide the proper finances for Stark County’s public schools?

One other note on the Chamber. If you are conscious, it should be apparent that the Chamber (i.e. the Ohio Chamber of Commerce) has an incestuous relationship with the Ohio Republican Party. This is the same party that has controlled Ohio for most of the past two decades. The Chamber has been used as the economic development tool for Ohio by the Republicans. Have the Republicans and the Chamber been a success story for Ohio over these two decades?

If the leaders of 21st Century Government Initiative can get localities to stop bickering among themselves, more power to them. Stark County, in particular, has a gaggle of elected officeholders (not necessarily leaders) who spar with one another and lose sight of common community economic goals.

It is disturbing to read that governments in Stark County are costing more than can be explained by inflationary factors. While costs are important, what is more important is producing high paying jobs which yield higher government revenues. Just ask Mayor Healy (Canton).

Stark County has no articulated, comprehensive plan to create such jobs. And, The Repository turns a blind eye on accountability. For example, The Repository sends its reporters to Tom Harmon’s press conference announcing his appointment as county commissioner . The reporters report his promise to lead Stark County’s economic revitalization. But The Rep does no follow-up by pressing Harmon (and Bosley - who, at least, has initiated fragmented efforts) to publish an “ in writing” plan with benchmarks subject to review to determine whether or not they are being met.

Evidence that The Rep editors have their collective heads in the sand is indicated by their recent editorial characterizing North Canton’s raid of a Massillon based business as “win-win.” Aren’t they aware of other businesses located in Stark County who get tax breaks who produce no new jobs? Shouldn’t these folks withhold judgment until the result is known?

Even if the North Canton raid turns out to be beneficial, intra-county competition is not a wholesome economic development approach. At best, it is a tactic; not a plan, and certainly not an economic development strategy.

Questions: Isn’t the long term and continuing Stark County economic downturn an indictment of Stark County leadership? When will The Rep and its editors stop giving a pass to area Chambers, the Stark Development Board, the Stark/Canton Convention & Visitors’ Bureau on their deficiencies?

DISCUSSION: WHICH PARTY CHAIR CAN DELIVER?

Chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. (Stark County Dems) is reported to have said that he "tried to equally support Clinton and Obama."

Don't you believe it!

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) well remembers how Governor Ted Strickland was front and center for Clinton. Maier has aligned himself with Strickland through and through. Accordingly, it is absolutely incredible to believe Maier's post-Obama - winning the Democratic nomination - statement.

The Report believes that Maier pretended neutrality, but that is exactly what it was - pretense. Behind the scenes he was working feverishly to roll up the numbers for Hillary. Undoubtedly, he was praised by Strickland operatives for his effort.

As party chairman, Maier will be pitted in battle against new Stark County Republican Party Chairman Jeff Matthews. They are the local surrogates for Obama and McCain.

Maier has a much more formidable challenge than Matthews in delivering Stark County for their respective candidates. McCain won Stark County by a substantial margin whereas Obama did not do well. Maier, if effect, has to undo all the work he did for Clinton.

Another problem for Maier is that Obama is much more liberal than Maier. The Dems chairman will have to psyche himself up on a daily basis to get through this election. Will his heart be in it?

Matthews’ problem is that Curt Braden (the former chairman) left him with a decimated party. The Stark County Republican Party is in as bad a shape as it has ever been its history. Matthews billed himself in his days a director of the Stark County Board of Elections as an “elections professional.” So what? How will this translate into being an effective chairman/

The question is: Who, from among Maier and Matthews, will surface as the local political victor in the November, 2008 election?

DISCUSSION: HOW WILL 50TH DISTRICT VOTERS GET INFO ON OHIO HOUSE CANDIDATES?

Pathetic is all the STARK COUNTY REPORT (The Report) can say about the DeHoff and Snitchler websites.

DeHoff discusses three issues, Snitchler doesn't even have an issues section on his website.

DeHoff had nothing but a promise of a website for months. Snitchler had a problem with the Ohio Ethics Commission on in primary election website (something about Snitchler implying that he was already the representative.

It looks like both candidates want voters to know as little as they can get by with about their position on the issues that concern Stark Countians.

DeHoff's website is laughable on several counts. One being that she wants to go to Columbus to work on the predatory lending issue. Truly amazing to The Report. (Is DeHoff in touch with what is going on in Columbus?) Last The Report has heard the Ohio General Assembly has already passed very strong legislation dealing with this issue. On another count - a "sleight of hand" move by DeHoff - is her referring having children in school. What she doesn't tell the voters (according to a Tuscarawas Township source of The Report) is that DeHoff's children do not attend school in the 50th District.

Snitchler's website is even sketchier than DeHoff's and has the audacity to suggest that Snitchler is going to forget he is a Republican if he gets to Columbus.

It looks as if the media will have to go into a "tooth pulling" mode in order to get a fix on these candidates. Many 50th District Democrats are upset with having DeHoff as the Democratic candidate because a mere four years ago she was a registered Republican.

One leading Democrat county officeholder told The Report that Democrats, despite their unhappiness, should support DeHoff because she more likely to support Governor Ted Strickland's legislative initiatives.

The question: Is the county officeholder right - loyalty to the governor is the test to select or should we be looking for other criteria as a basis for voting?

DISCUSSION: IS CANTON ON ITS WAY TO BEING A TRENDSETTER FOR STARK COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

Kudos to Canton City Council and Mayor William Healy, II for "sticking to their guns" - figuratively, that is. (See Rep article published today)

Despite being ridiculed from some quarters, Council toughened up the consequences for neighbor dishonoring neighbor and for blighting the community picture with high grass and weeds.

The STARK POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes this a a good first effort to get Canton on the right track towards becoming “all that it can be.”

The Report also believes that this initiative is co-incident with the election of William Healy as mayor. A new spirit pervades Canton city government. Over time Canton is destined to become more like it was in its glorious past in terms of vibrancy.

All Stark Countians have a stake in Canton’s well being. Too boot, we should be rooting for a Alliance and Massillon resurgence. Recovery for these three urban centers will signal good times for all of Stark County.

What Stark County does not need is our cities, villages, and townships being at each others throats (e.g. North Canton and Massillon fighting over a company which is already located in the county). This is the turfism that Merele Kinsey of COMPASS spoke to recently and which is also all too prevalent in the 9-1-1 restructuring endeavor.