DISCUSSION: DOES MASSILLON CITY COUNCIL HAVE A CLUE?

Massillon City Council demonstrated last night at it meeting that it still doesn't have a clue.

The headline this morning in The Independent is "Council: Why are we here?"

A day or so ago The Independent had a succinct read (the editorial page) on Massillon City Council (staffed by all Democrats) in saying:

Jeers to some members of City Council for proposing a summer vacation schedule of sorts. Given the city’s tenuous financial picture and the recent vote to increase sewer rates, this isn’t the time to tell Massillon residents you want to work less for the same pay.

Question: No wonder Massillon is withering on the vine? Losing its businesses to North Canton?

DISCUSSION: FIND OUT WHO IS SUPPORTING PETER FEGUSON: ANY SURPRISES?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) researches the political candidates for Stark County elected positions.

While The Repository provides readers with sketchy reports and only for races it deems important, The Report will provide detailed reports on all the candidates.

You, the reader, can determine what significance to attach to the contributions. Of course, The Report will, from time-to-time, comment on certain patterns or high-profile locals dollar amounts ($100 and above per contribution) who are supporting a particular candidate:

Here is the list for Stark County commissioner candidate Peter Ferguson (Democrat) as of the April, 2008 filing as amended, if amended:

• Cecclia C. Spitale - $50
• Robert D. Fiquerella - $70
• Allen Schulman - $1,070 (Canton City Council president and personal injury attorney)
  
• David Meeks - $100 (Dublin, Ohio)
• John Brechbill - $200
• Ray Thompson - $35
• Mike Kell - $35
• Fedorko Chiropractic Health Ctr - $250
• Thomas Bernabei - $75 (Canton Services Director)
• I.B.E.W. COPE - $70
• Steven DiPietro - $140
• Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union #94 - $70
• James DiCola - $50
• Joy Jannine Mizer - $120
• Frank Provo - $600
• Gary Zeigler - $1,035 (Stark County treasurer)
• Dr. James Powell - $250 (Canton chiropractor)
• Harry W. Shaw III - $25
• Ernest O. Schott - $50
• Helen N. Sommer - $35
• John P. Foradas - $35
• Ronald J. C. Ward - $25
• M. Flory Fernandez - $25
• Larry V. Slagle - $35 (Massillon councilman)
• Joseph F. Cholley - $35
• Terry J. Nolan - $100
• Julia M. Stambaugh - $35
• C. G. Calhoun - $50
• Terry A. Hughes - $40
• Brent Burton - $250
• Hughes Assoc - $100
• Manuel J. Albacete - $70 (Director/Canton Art Institute)
• Frances Regiec - $25
• Tiffany Hughes - $35
• David Roshang - $70
• Michael Rufo Sr - $70
• David Regiec - $100
• Jeffrey Prlik - $70
• Gary Brahler - $70
• Phillip DeMario - $70
• Thomas Harmon - $100 (sitting Stark County commissioner)
  
• Debra Charles - $100
• Craig Chessler - $200 (Perry Township trustee and Canton City Law Department)
• Debra A. Kattman - $500
• Joseph F. Cush - $500
• Rodney L. Napier - $1,000
• Lee J. DiCola - $1,000
• Re-elect Casar - $70 (Canton councilman)
• Thomas A. Kolp - $70
• Betty W. Yaghodti - $70
• Re-elect Phil Giavasis - $70 (Canton Clerk of Courts)
• Roy Gutierrez - $35 (former Stark County Democratic Party chairman)
• Joseph F. Norcia - $70
• William J. Bachman - $35
• Timothy A. Trbovich - $35
• Peter Calac - $35
• Michael Monastra - $70
• John Kurtzman - $70 (Stark County Prosecutor's office)
• Keep Ferrero Prosecutor - $100 (Stark County prosecutor - John Ferrero)
• Samuel R. Coletti - $35
• Donald S. Beard - $70
• Frank S. Drlik - $170
• Michael J. Rehfus - $200 (Stark County engineer)
• Paul A. Milano - $70
• Douglas J. Prestier - $70
• Michael K. O'Brien - $70
• Friends of John M. Rinaldi - $35 (former board member, Canton City Schools)
• Nick Novelli - $35
• Jack R. Baker - $35
• Richard Lee Wollenberg - $370
• Shelley M. Roman - $70
• Nick Sylvester - $70
• Thomas V. Ferrero - $70 (losing candidate for Massillon Municipal Court judge - 11/2007
• Adam Rossi - $70
• Anthony C. Vitale - $70
• Joan M. Souliere - $70
• Beverly M. Kell - $70
• Aurelia Burgess - $70
• James A. Vitale - $50
• Matthew W. Widerman - $105
• Joseph M. Vitale - $250
• Friends of Mike Stevens - $35 (Stevens [Lawrence Township trustee] lost to Celeste DeHoff [50th House District] in 3/2008
  
• Teresa J. Purses - $300 (superintendent/Canton Local and wife of former Canton mayor Same Purses)
• Dan Fonte - $35 (retired leader of Plumber and Pipefitters Local #94)
• Donald G. Jones - $70
• Harold Ziegler, Jr - $35
• Kay H. Paar - $35
• Victor DiCola, Jr - $35
• Carl L. Capestrain, Sr - $70
• M. Catherine Swallen - $70
• Paul M. Gemmato - $70
• Mary Ann Horrigan - $70
• John P. Kotagides - $70
• Ronald W. Steffen - $70
• James J. Purses - $70
• Karl A. "Butch" Kraus, Jr. - $70 (Canton councilman)
• David A. Dorland - $70
• Vincent L. Guardado - $70
• James A. Pastore - $200
• Richard V. Forte - $50
• JM Associates - $200
• Mark J. Pellegrino - $35
• Roseann M. Pucci - $35
• Richard Jacobsen - $35
• Dale J. Wheeler - $35
• Rose Everhart - $35
• Hoffman for Judge Committee - $35 (William B. Hoffman - 5th District Court of Appeals)
• Virginia R. Vernier - $35
• William J. Hamann - $35
• Lester Baroni - $35
• Christopher Clay - $70
• Jeffrey W. Crowl - $35
• Thomas G. Valentine - $70
• Marland J. Hoover - $70
• Peter M. Ranalli - $70
• Leo E. Doyle - $70
• Peter N. Porrazzo - $70
• Edward A. Rehfus - $70
• Paul L. Pucci - $70
• Leonard P. Bossart - $70
• Jeffrey A. Ferry - $70
• David Sager - $70
• Jim McDonald - $70
• Marianna Lijoi - $70 (from Wadsworth)
• Keep Joe Martuccio Law Director Committee - $70 (Joe Martuccio - Canton law director)
• Sam Anthony Purses - $100 (former Canton mayor)
• Celeste M. DeHoff - $35 (Tuslaw Township trustee, Democrat candidate for Ohio House - 50th)
• Guy R. Bertram - $30
• Randolph Lee Snow - $35 (former board member, Canton City Schools)
• Katherine M. Catazaro-Perry $35 (Massillon councilwoman)
• Timothy M. Wise - $35
• Peter T. Pertinc - $35
• Vickie Ashbaugh - $35
• Suzanne Farelli - $35
• Donald A. Diamond - $35
• Re-elect Judge Haas Committee - $35 (Judge John Haas - Stark County Court of Common Pleas)
• Ray E. Jones - $35
• James M. Carmon, Jr - $35
• Timothy K. Souliere - $35
• James A. Purses - $35
• James D. Hare - $35
• Milia M. Dorkin - $35
• V. Maria Byington - $35
• Gary J. Ranalli - $35
• Joec V. Souliere - $35
• Dr. Murthy - $35 (Stark County coroner)
• Joseph F. Hawkins - $35
• Friends of Rick Campbell Comm - $35 (Stark County Recorder Rick Campbell)
• Jeanette Mullane - $50 (Director - Stark County Board of Elections)
• John R. Guia - $70 (Canton attorney)
• Mary A. Falvey - $70 (Canton Municipal Court judge)
• Gregory A. Haban - $70
• Dr. James R. Pritchard -$70 (former Stark County coroner)
• C. Fred Hock - $70
• Samuel J. Ferruccio - $70 (Canton attorney and Democrat member of Stark County Board of Elections)
• Jane M. Carman - $70
• Bradley R. Iams - $70 (Canton attorney)
• James D. Purses - $70
• Anthony J. Norcia - $70
• John E. Oliver, Jr - $70
• Robert J. Bolek - $70
• Re-elect Judge Gwin Comm - $100 (Scott Gwin/judge - 5th District Court of Appeals)
• Richard D. Reinbold, Jr - $100 (judge - Stark County Court of Common Pleas/General Division)
• Thomas A. Ascani - $100 (member of Mayor Healy transition team)
• Rick Purses - $100
• Paul L. Williams - $140
• Samuel J. Sliman - $140
• Tasos G. Kalantzis - $350 (president, Tasos Electric Co Inc)
• Bernard L. Hunt - $35 (former Canton Safety Director/Republican Janet Creighton's administration)
• Joseph C. Joseph - $35
• James W. Kessler - $35
• Timothy A. Swanson - $35 (Stark County sheriff)
• Brian F. Fitzswimmons - $35
• David N. Novelli - $40
  
• Michael S. Shaheen - $70
• Barbara Wood - $70
• Susan Steiner - $70
• Rodney L. Fete - $70
• James J. Spitale - $70
• James L. Ergon - $70
• Nick G. Koinoglou - $70
• Canton Auto Repair & Towing - $70
• Paul Mastriacovo - $70 (Repository guest columnist and former prosecutor)
• Mariella Mestel - $50
• Marlene K. Oster - $100
• Scott E. Oster - $50
• Friends of Perez Comm - $1,250 (Kim Perez - Stark County auditor) LARGEST SINGLE DOLLAR AMOUNT CONTRIBUTOR
  
• Leon Orin - $70
• Greg Hawk - $35 (Canton councilman)
• Al Leno - $70 (Plain Township trustee)
• Vincent Frustaci - $35
• Darla Mroczkowski - $35
• Gary Young - $50 (Canton - chief deputy auditor)
• Marcello Frustaci - $50
• Jim Armstrong - $35
• Bill Smuckler - $35 (Canton councilman)
• Hallie Umpleby - $35
• Joan M. Ungashick - $70
• George N. Michael - $70

Questions: Any surprises on this list?

DISCUSSION: OHIO STATE FOOTBALL TICKETS - PREFERRED BUYERS. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE POLITICAL PROCESS (FROM A STARK COUNTY PERSPECTIVE)?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) commends Dennis Willard of the Akron Beacon Journal for his revealing series on the purchasing of Ohio State football tickets. The main impetus for Willard to do this fine investigative piece, is an allegation that former Republican state representative John Widowfield (Summit County) sold his preferentially obtained tickets (by virtue of being a state legislator) for a profit.

Williard is undoubtedly opening a can of worms that will "displeasure" current and former members of the Ohio legislature.

Of course, the focus of The Report will be the involvement of Stark Countians who have served in the Legislature.

In fact, Willard's initial piece refreshed The Report's recollection of a couple of instances of Ohio State football tickets and former representative Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. (now chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party and the elected Massillon City Clerk of Courts.)

For some background and stepping aside from the nominating myself as The Report and speaking personally because there was no "The Report" in 1994, I (Martin Olson) was a staunch supporter of Maier in those days. I worked hard to provide Maier entry into the inner circles of Lake Township leadership (my home area which is mostly Republican in its politics).

My effort was successful. To this day, one will hear Lake Township folks (remember - mostly Republican) speak supportively of Maier.

Now to my point. I was delightedly surprised in 1994 to be given tickets to the Ohio State/Penn State game of October 30, 1994 by Maier. My daughter Heidi (to become Maier's page in the Ohio House in 1995) made the trek to Columbus to take in the game.

Another surprise. When we got to our seats, lo and behold, people we knew. A hometown newspaper publisher was seated right next to us.

It registered instantly! Oh, I know what this is all about - influencing favorable area press. Who else, I asked myself, in the Stark County press corps had been gifted with "free" Ohio State football tickets?

The Olsons receiving gifted Ohio State football tickets did not last long. The following year I was asked if I wanted OSU tickets for the Houston game. Yes, I answered through our then page daughter Heidi. Somewhere in the process, though, it became apparent to me that I was expected to pay for the tickets (presumably at the price they were initially purchased at).

Stepping back into my role as being The Report. The clear point of Willard's series is how these tickets are used by THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (as the university want to be referred to) lobbyist and by legislators to advance their own interests.

Having had a personal experience with the process, The Report is interested in determining what area Ohio General Assembly members from Stark County (past and present) are doing (or have done) in terms of buying and parceling out these tickets. Get ready Boccieri, Hagan, Healy, Oelslager, Okey, Schuring, Slesnick and Stevens; The Report will be asking what use you have put to these tickets?

Of course, The Report invites these folks to comment on this blog with the answer without having been asked. Do The Report readers think there is much chance of our area representatives (past and present) being so forthcoming?

The Report's question: Will voters be interested in the knowing how their legislators have been affected (by their votes on OSU money measures) or how they have tried to affect (area media) through the buying, gifting and selling of Ohio State football tickets?

DISCUSSION: ELECTIONS DO MATTER - BOSLEY DEFEAT OF REGULA TURNS STARK COUNTY IN NEW DIRECTION?

Politicians come and politicians go. Stark County has had many, many politicians come and go over its history. But it has been short of leadership - especially of late.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) is beginning to believe that Commissioner Todd Bosley may be the authentic leader that Stark County so desperately needs if the county is going to be all that it can be.

He defeated Congressman Ralph Regula's son Richard in November, 2006 largely on the 9-1-1 issue and on a lot of hard and nonstop political campaign work.

In the process he antagonized the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., (the chairman) wing of the Stark County Democratic Party. And, especially, the Jacksons; that is Gayle Jackson (the former Stark County commissioner) and her son Shane (who is an appendage to the chairman).

Early on in Bosley's term Shane was sending Bosley directives on how the Maier/Jackson wing of the party thought he ought to vote on various issues. But now that Bosley has gotten settled as a commissioner and made it clear he is his own person, Jackson, Maier et al have backed off.

We Stark Countians are beginning to see the fruit of having elected this energetic and perhaps, visionary, young man. Bosley thinks big. He went after Volkswagen. He lost. But he's undaunted. He's out pursuing other auto manufacturers.

He hasn't forgotten his campaign promise to fix Stark County's broken 9-1-1 system. Though he differs in approach from Jackson Township trustee and SCOG (Stark County Council on Government) chairman Randy Gonzalez, Tim Swanson (Stark County sheriff) and Jackon fire chief Ted Heck (all one-central-dispatch-unit advocates) and a few others on solving system problems, The Report believes that he will hammer out an workable compromise.

Other matters on Bosley's plate include trying to bring a solar energy company to the county and making the county owned Molly Stark facility a state-of-the-art recycling facility.

The Report initially endorsed Tom Harmon as commissioner when the position came up for appointment when Gayle Jackson moved on to the Ohio Lottery. However, Harmon has given The Report pause for thought as to whether or not he has the political gumption to make the hard decisions he needs to make to move Stark County forward.

The Report has learned that Harmon feels he owes his party (or shall we say the Maier/Jackson wing of the party) for his appointment in the first place. If this assessment of Harmon is accurate, then Harmon will not turn out to be the kind of commissioner Stark County needs at this critical juncture in its economic development.

The question: How do you assess the Bosley performance after nearly half way into his first term?

UPDATE: ON HAGAN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER CAMPAIGN FINANCES

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has confirmation from an energy consultant that Hagan for Commissioner contributor Alliance for Real Energy Options is embarked on a strategy that could cost Stark Countians dramatic increases in residential and small business electricity costs.

Here is the quote from the consultant:

This group [Alliance for Real Energy Options] has been wanting to go to open market in Ohio since 2006.  Many of them sell electric generation throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, Ohio generation prices would have to rise significantly in many parts of the state for their prices to be competitive.

Stark County voters, when they meet Hagan on the campaign trail, should be questioning him on this relationship and making an assessment on whether or not John Hagan is for "everyday people and business" or for lining the pockets of the big boys of the corporate world.

DISCUSSION: LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES, NO?

Checking campaign finance reports can be, let's say, "unentertaining but very necessary work." But then it's not everyday that John P. Hagan is the candidate.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) is examining campaign finances of Stark Countians running for countywide office.

Between this report and November 4th, The Report will be keeping voters informed on where the candidates' money is coming from and, therefore, who they are likely to favor once they are in office.

Back to Hagan. At first The Report thought it was a joke. County commissioner candidate John Hagan's election committee's name is "Hagan's Heroes." What a hoot! But the name is for real.

An obvious play on the TV series Hogan's Heros of 1965-1971 vintage, it doesn't fit the John P. Hagan The Report knows. Wikipedia describes Hogan's Heroes thusly:

Hogan’s Heroes is a satirical American television situation comedy that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to July 4, 1971, on the CBS network. Starring Bob Crane as Colonel Robert E. Hogan, the show was set in a German prisoner of war (POW) camp during the Second World War. The program featured Werner Klemperer as the Commandant of the camp, Colonel Klink, and John Banner as the portly inept sergeant-of-the-guard, Schultz, as well as a crew of Allied prisoners who assisted Hogan in running a Resistance group from the camp.

If he resembles anybody in the cast of characters, John P. Hagan would fit the description of Schultz - "the portly inept sergeant-of-the-guard.

Having had fun at Hagan's expense, now let's move on to his finance report.

No doubt Schultz err Hagan is trading on his position as public utilities chairman in the Ohio House where he represents Stark County's 50th District.

Hogan's err Hagan's April, 2008 report shows he received the following contributions:

• $500 from General Electric Company Political Action Commitee Multicandidate Committee
• $500 from AT&T Inc. Employee Political Action Committee
• $250 from Lynn Olman of Maumee, Ohio who is a lobbyist for the Alliance for Real Energy Options

Hagan's association with the Alliance lobbyist tells Stark Countians everything they want to know about Hagan's attempt to shaft Stark Countians with higher residential electric costs. Only Governor Ted Strickland stood in the way of Hagan and his patron Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted.

The Report visited the Alliance's website and found the following little ditty that expresses Hagan's philosophy of letting private enterprise have its way (even though it is a monopoly) with everyday Stark County and Ohio consumers.

Question: Doesn’t deregulation and competition lead to higher retail prices?

Answer: No, competition helps create downward pressure on prices that can reduce customer costs. Numerous independent studies have shown that wholesale competition has already reduced costs for millions of retail energy consumers. Plus, America ’s heritage is rooted in competitive market principles – it has unleashed American ingenuity and led to our economic prosperity. Providing choice has led to lower prices for industries like cellular telephones, gas, cable and internet

So it is "fitting and proper" that Hagan should be rewarded with campaign contributions from the moguls of electric generation, distribution and transmission.

Question: Do Stark County residential and small company electricity consumers want a county commissioner who is owned by the captains of electricity production?

DISCUSSION: AREA DEMOCRAT LAWYERS SUPPORT JUDGE DIXIE PARK (REPUBLICAN) WHILE REPUBLICAN DAVID STUCKI RAN AGAINST HER - ISN'T THIS INTERESTING?

A Stark County lawyer who has been a leading Democrat in local politics, has complained to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) of Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr's inability to hold party ranks in local political races.

As an example, The Report's source faxed a copy of Judge Dixie Park's fundraiser letter promoting her November 28, 2007 "2008 Campaign Kick-Off" at Skyland Pines. Sure enough, in plain view, The Report spotted an number of high-profile Democrats attesting their support for this Republican Candidate.

We all remember, although The Report does not buy his given reason - "to inject competition into the race" - Republican David Stucki (Republican Domestic Relations judge) ran against Judge Park in the March 4th Republican primary.

But getting back to the disaffected Democrat. The Report's source was astonished at the appearance of two especially prominent Democrat names on the Park list: Canton City Council President Allen Schulman and Board of Elections member Samuel Ferruccio, Jr.

Remember, this is the same Sam Ferruccio that Chairman Maier insisted on appointing to prevent Republican chicanery at the polls. And, Allen Schulman? The Report has observed him many times whipping up everyday Democrats to support Democrat candidates just because they were Democrats. Apparently, he has a different standard for himself. It must be embarrassing to Mayor Healy (Canton Democrat mayor) when Schulman "oohed and ahed" over former Republican Janet Creighton when she returned to Canton recently on break from her Bush administration job.

The Report believes the the party chairman himself is suspect as to exactly how deep his partisanship runs. He has a solid track record of getting former Republicans to run as Democrats and he has a rocky relationship with the most solidly Democrat group around - organized labor. Besides that he bills himself as a conservative Democrat which The Report thinks translates into support for a Republican perspective on some issues.

But this may all be for the political good of Stark County. Perhaps leading Republicans will emboldened to reciprocate by letting their names be used in support of Democrats running this fall.

The question: With leading partisans supporting their counter partisans as in the Park situation, are we that far away from choosing candidates on their merit?

Or, is this a matter of what's good for the goose - is not - good for the gander?