REPOSITORY GETS SCOOPED BY SCPR AGAIN. DID THE STARK BOARD OF ELECTIONS TIP OFF THE REP EDITORS THAT THE SCPR HAD ASKED THE BOE TO MAKE REPORTS AVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC?

They are throwing fits over at 500 Market Avenue, South these days.

Really?  How so?

As late as September 6th, the editors at The Rep realized they had been scooped by the Stark County Political Report (SCPR/The Report) yet again.

If you will look at the e-mail that yours truly sent Jeff Matthews (deputy director as well as chairman of the Stark County Republican Party) and Jeanette Mullane (director), on August 20, 2009 The Report requested that the Stark Board of Elections (BOE) put campaign finance reports online.

Did Mullane or Matthews call or mention to someone at The Rep The Report's e-mail?

Could be.

The Repository (its editorial board and reporter staff) have ingratiated themselves so much so with local government officials that a case can be made that the reading public has to read whatever appears in the pages of The Rep with great, great skepticism.

A case in point.

Consider the exchange of e-mails between "Karen" (the initiator) and the SCPR:

Is Karen correct?

Could be.

There is no doubt about it.  Whether its a reporter (with the management's approval) buying interviewee (Canton Safety Director "to be," at the time), Tom Ream a beer or Mayor William Healy inviting himself down to The Rep's editorial offices to explain away his blunders as mayor or The Repository being the paid publisher of Canton's glossy propaganda public relations piece,

The Repository is so hooked into special "we'll treat you with kid gloves" relationships (and its implied "please call us with inside information, first") that its reporting and editorializing is bereft of any value as far as Canton's/Stark County's public officials go - to the general public.

Do you ever get a disclaimer from The Rep on its special relationships?

Only the Stark County Political Report fearlessly reports on the doings of Stark County's political kingmakers without being a respecter of persons.

The Rep only works over the "unconnected" or they are good to "pile on" as a public figure is going down.

Back to the BOE aspect of this blog.

Mullane called The Report a day or two after the e-mail and danced all around the request.

Nevertheless, yours truly did pin her down as she was trying to be non-committal.

After a "its like pulling-teeth" exercise, Mullane did tell the SCPR that the BOE was in the process in bidding out for a new copier and as soon as it was on board, she anticipated that campaign finance reports (also validated petitions to run for an office) would be available without yours truly or any Stark County citizen needing to traipse down to the BOE.

The timeline?

October.  Some time in October before the next campaign finance reports are due.

Mullane requested that the SCPR sit on the story until the board members approved the purchase of the copy machine.  No follow up at all from Mullane.  In fact, right around the time The Rep did its editorial, the thought occurred that Mullane needed to be followed up with. 

So did Mullane do a number on the SCPR and transmit the information to The Rep?

Could be.

It also could be that The Rep got lucky.

However, Mullane is the political handmaiden of the Stark County Democratic Party and former chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.  and current chairman Randy Gonzalez.

No doubt about it, one has to wonder.   Undoubtedly, this duo would probably love the opportunity to "one-up" the SCPR,  given the incisive blogs The Report has done on both of them.

Did one or both instruct Mullane to make the "new access to public information" plans known to The Rep?

Could be.

The point of this blog is that the credit for getting the general public access to public records in this instance is not the newspaper industry (and it high profile "Sunshine Week" highlighted in  March of each year) and its local outlet - The Repository.

No, its a "little-ole-one-person-operation" called:  THE STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT!

IS CANTON'S & STARK COUNTY'S "INDUSTRIAL RECOVERY" NOW REDUCED TO COMING "ON THE WINGS OF A HOPE & A PRAYER?"

How "fitting and proper!"  (At the end of this blog, an explanation of why fitting and proper is given)

Sunday, September 13, 2009 in The Canton Repository:

Now here's a guy and a congregation who care about the future of Canton and, derivatively, all of Stark County.

Harris:  "We know the political leadership, national and local, are (sic) not moving us forward."

SCPR:  Amen, brother!

Harris:  "We need the best consultants in the world to guide this great city into a posture of economic strength. Therefore I am asking the 'captains of industry' of the Greater Canton area to step forward with a plan to regenerate industry in Canton. To step forward as true patriotic leaders and help us win the battle for economic growth. "

SCPR:   "great city?"  Leave it up to a preacher to be positive.  Canton used to be, but "no more."  Canton's slide did not begin with the Healy administration but Healy and his political battles with Canton City Council have co-joined with the overall poor economic climate and consequently have Canton headed in a free fall downward.

"captains of industry?"  Who are these folks?  One of yours truly's comments to a North Canton city official recently was:  "Folks don't realize it, but when a company like Hoover goes belly up, the community not only loses jobs; it loses its leadership (Harris' "captains of industry"

"regenerate industry?"  The best that anyone hopes for in terms of manufacturing jobs in America these days is 20%.  Perhaps, in other partS of the country, but not Canton and Stark County; no?

With all the political squabbling going on (e.g. Healy/Canton City Council; Cicchinelli/Massillon City Council and Held/North Canton City Council), these municipalities, in particular, and Stark County, in general, are highly unattractive to new industry.

From an AFL-CIO report on manufacturing in America:

As a share of total U.S. jobs, manufacturing has declined since its peak of 40 percent just after World War II to 27 percent in 1981 and now stands at about 12 percent. (The Future of Manufacturing and America's Middle Class, James Parks).

Back to the Harris "letter to the editor."

"the best consultants?"  That we have.  Ever heard of Jack DeSario, political science professor at Mount Union College who is in the consulting business?  Oh, the Reverend doesn't mean "political" consulting?  Business and economic development consulting? 

Well, Mayor Healy is a graduate of the NYU Stern School of Business and Canton has annexation director Sam "Darth Vader to the Townships" Sliman and his pal Bill Smuckler of Canton City Council. They think Canton can annex its way out of economic stress, don't they?

Harris:  "There is another group that needs to step forward and give positive and cooperative leadership to economic growth. The unions are desperately needed to give their insights and practical knowledge of industrial growth."

SCPR:  Are union members truly stakeholders anymore?  Union membership is about 12% in the U.S. and only about half of those are in manufacturing.  This group is almost non-existent.  With such small numbers, would they be listened to?

SCPR's CONCLUSION:

The pastor's poignant point is that Canton and Stark County have no leadership.  

Yours truly's "best bet for Stark County" has been Commissioner Todd Bosley.  But that's not because he is a great leader.

On a relative scale, he stands head and shoulders above his fellows (Harmon and Ferguson).  Saying that is like giving a "left-handed" compliment.  The last time yours truly talked to Bosley, he was reminded how much of a "stand-still" if not regression, Stark County finds itself in economic development after he has been office for nearly three years.

The only thing the SCPR can say for the pastor's largely non-existent "captains of industry" is that the only place for Stark Countians to turn is the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCOC) as a "sort-of-substitute."

As we all know substitutes are no replacement for the "real deal."  And the CRCOC proves the truism in spades.

The SCPR applauds Canton chamber's effort at creating a leadership class for Canton and Stark County ("A+ for effort," as the expression goes), but it is proving to be a lame effort. 

Its Government Leadership and Signature leadership groups are not, for the most part, made up of folks who - on graduating - roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of leadership and open their minds in a creative, energetic fashion to engage a new potential that could offer some promise to the future of our community.

Moreover, the Chamber provides the general public nothing in terms of accountability for the accomplishments of its grads. 

Apparently, getting a diploma from the CRCOC schools is akin to having one more plaque to hang on the wall.

With the lack of  actual "real" leadership or developing leadership, it may well be the time to turn to the pastor and his flock as a "fitting and proper" place to now be.

Why is that?

Because the leadership deficit of Canton and Stark County is likely to the point that its solution shall only come on "the wings of a hope and prayer!"

WHY DON'T ALL STARK CO SCHOOLS VALUE GOD? SCPR COMPARES STARK'S 16 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ' MISSION STATEMENTS TO LAKE: TODAY - LOUISVILLE

Here is a blub from Wikipedia about Johnny Appleseed:

Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman (September 26, 1774 – February 18, 1845), was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.   He became a legend while still alive, largely because of his kind and generous ways, his great leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance of apples.


He was also a missionary for the  ... Swedenborgian Church, so named because it teaches the theological doctrines contained in the writings of Emanuel Swendenborg.  

Why would the SCPR open with a short bio of Johnny Appleseed in doing a blog about a local controversy involving the Lake having put reference to God in its Mission/Beliefs/Values statement?

Because, maybe just maybe, Stark County may have come on the identity of a educator who might view himself as a sort of missionary to plant a reference to God into the mission statements of Stark County school districts.

Really?  Who might that be?

Okay, you have twisted my arm and I can't bear the pain anymore.  I will tell you Mr. Blog Reader who I think "might" be Stark educator/missionary out to plant a reference to God in the mission statement of Stark County schools.

Here is a brief bio (education - only) of the SCPR's candidate for being God's missionary in the Stark County schools:

Executive Liaison, Ohio Department of Education (2007-08); Superintendent, Lake Local Schools (1996-2007); Curriculum Consultant, Educational Service Center, Stark County (1995-96); Principal, Louisville High School (1986-95); Unit Principal, Stow High School (1979-85) (The Massillon Independent,  NORTHWEST ENDS SEARCH FOR SUPER:  District hires Wiliam Stetler 5 days after Lambes' resignation, Michael Freeze, June 22, 2008)

 Okay, the "cat is out of the bag."

Yes, the SCPR believes that William Stetler (formerly of Lake, then Louisville and now of the Northwest schools) and who the SCPR knows to be a very devout and religious person, could be out busily playing Johnny Appleseed doing the Stark County schools the wonderful service of giving God his due honor in Stark County education.

Like Appleseed, Stetler could be well on his way "to becoming a legend in his own time."  Did he have anything to do with the "church" in Louisville's mission statement?  Did he have anything to do with the "God" reference in Lake mission statement?  If so, is Northwest next?

In the way of a DISCLAIMER (something you will never see in The Repository), The Report knows Stetler from the days yours truly's spouse served on the Lake Board.  Moreover, she is currently an elected member of the Stark County Educational Service Center board.

The SCPR can see the possibility that Stetler could be a candidate to succeed Larry Morgan as superintendent at the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC - formerly the Stark County Board of Education), if and when Morgan decides to retire.  A new opportunity for Stetler?

If the SCPR right about Stetler, he could, like Appleseed, be well on his way to becoming a "legend in his own time.

So far in the SCPR survey of Stark County school districts, only Lake and Louisville have a direct/indirect reference to God.

While this blog is published on both the Stark County Political Report and the Stark Education Report, the best place to keep track of which school districts do or do not have any kind of reference to God in their mission statements is at the Stark Education Report.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: JUST HOW "REPUBLICAN" IS TODD SNITCHLER, ANYWAY?

Back on August 13th, the SCPR did a piece what accomplishments Representative Todd Snitchler (R-50th) has had in his nearly one year in the Ohio Legislature.

The answer:  none, in terms of legislative achievements.  But the SCPR does know of at least one instance where a 50th district constituent is pleased with Snitchler for his efforts to solve a family SERB (State Employment Relations Board) problem.  And undoubtedly, there are others within the 50th who will say that Snitchler has helped with problems they have/are experiencing with state government.

He is likely a vast improvement over his predecessor in office on this count.

Over the eight years that Hagan (R-Marlboro) held the office, the SCPR heard seemingly countless stories how Hagan blew off 50th District constituents.  Maybe that is why he lost countywide in his commissioner race to neophyte Democrat Pete Ferguson in 2008?

But on legislation, Hagan - a limited as he was, beats Snitchler hands down.

How's that?

Big difference.

Hagan was part of a "majority" and sometimes "supermajority" Republican caucus in the Ohio House. 

Whereas Snitchler is in the minority.

Ordinarily, the SCPR would be emphathetic with the Snitchler situation.

However, it is difficult to be so with Snitchler because The Report believes that he is just a kinder, gentler and more personally responsive John Hagan.

In terms of partisanship and "toeing the party line."  It's hard to see any difference.

So, his expressed frustration (CLICK sentence to read the details) on the Ohio House Dems shutting him out on getting any legislation through (even, apparently non-partisan bills) seems to be more than a tad hypocritical.  

Snitchler could change the SCPR thinking on this, if he were to take the "pledge" set out in the referenced blog and e-mail it to yours truly.  But he hasn't to date.  Nor did he communicate it in an encounter at the Stark County Fair just a week ago.

To show readers just how partisan Sntichler is, look at the pdf based graphic (presented below) which shows his top 20 contributors for the period he announced in the Republican primary (2007) through to the latest campaign finance report.

Of the $662,085 he has raised to date, of the top 20 contributors - a whopping 86% came from Ohio Republican Party sources.  Contributions viewed overall show that 90% of political donations came from both the party and individual/Polltical Action Committee contributors who gave ONLY to Republicans. 

Moreover, of the "less that 100%" contributions to Republicans group, the average contribution rate to Republicans has been 80%.

Hardly, sounds like a guy who is trying to be bi-partisan, non-partisan, does it?

A note:  companies cannot contribute to candidates by law and therefore attribution to "Timken Company" means that individual contributors worked for a Timken company or political action group.

Here is the pdf graphic on the top 20 Snitchler contributors redacted by the SCPR from material as published by National Institute of Money in State Politics.Gop to Snitchler    

IS JEFF MATTHEWS TURNING THE STARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY INTO A "FAR RIGHT FRINGE" PARTY?

On September 6th, Dennis Williard of the Akron Beacon Journal wrote a piece (Republicans should reject the radical right).  His caution has a direct and immediate applicability to the Stark County Republican Party.

Yours truly could scarcely believe his ears on hearing Matthews on WHLO Matt Patrick's show which was on location at Tea Day, Tax Day - April 15, 2009 in Central Plaza in Canton.  Rather than doing an effective job of making the Stark County Republicans competitive, he's blazing bullets of bombast that cheered the ears of the right-fringers who dominated.

Not only was Matthews there, but so was, obviously, event organizer and Stark County Republican Party operative Jason Wise, Ohio Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - 50th).

Wise was, on April 15, and continues to particularly insulting to rational people.  To top it off, Wise has the temerity to tell a Repository reporter:  “I’m just a normal guy here to educate the voters.”  (Citizens at tea party sound off on the issues, Ed Balint)

Wise has been pushing hard the propagandistic (Wise's version of  "educate) notion that these tea party events are not a Stark County Republican Party promotion.  But rather a spontaneous grassroots movement springing from the bowels of a frustrated public.

There may be elements of  non-Republican connected personages in Wise's portrayal.  But not in the main.  Wise is being disingenuous - at the very least.

Mostly,  the teabagger movement is a creature of the Republican Party; federal, state and local.  However, there are some "wise ones" (just not Jason Wise) in the Republican Party at all these levels who see the danger lurking in identifying with this group which seems to be, in essence,  made up of "radical right types."

Astonishing was the appearance of state Representative Todd Snitchler at the April 15th event.

Why astonishing?

Snitchler, a lawyer, in one-to-one conversation seems fully collected and rational. 

But he has to know that one is known in politics by one's associates.  Snitchler is new to politics and has lessons to learn.  And, if he has aspirations to move on from the Republican gerrymandered 50th, he is not going very far with a history of connecting with tea-baggers.

By and large, the SCPR has not taken the tea-bagger movement seriously.

Why's that?

Because as Williard says in his piece:

The far-right fringe should be embarrassed ... [and] its repeated actions clearly indicate it has no shame and no true understanding of the importance of civilized, thoughtful discourse.

The Alliance Review did a nice piece yesterday which summed up the anti-using-one's-mind sentiment that ravaged the Tea Party Express crowd assembled in Canton on Wednesday, to wit (Signs of Tea Party times):

Real thoughtful stuff, huh?  Why don't we all communicate with bumper sticker mentality?

Notice that the SCPR has pictured Stark Citizens for the Right to Vote leader Tom Marcelli.  Stark County voting records show that he is a registered Republican.  He may not be a party official or an elected Republican who supports the tea-baggers (a la Snitchler), but he too, in the opinion of the SCPR, is operating at the direction of the Stark County Republican Party leadership.

To sum it all up, the SCPR believes Stark County Republican Party chairman Jeff Matthews is intent on making the local GOP irrelevant to "we have a better idea" discursive politics.

If Stark County Republlcan Party Executive Committee does not intervene, then the Party becomes even less competitive than it is now. The political shrillness and insubstantiality of Wise et al is not going to play with most Stark County voters.

Is the Wise-led tea-bagger direction where sensible/moderate Stark County Republicans want their party to be heading in?

BOSLEY: BIG-SPLASH ARTIST, AT IT AGAIN?

You can bet that Stark County's other elected officials are not amused with Commissioner Todd Bosley's "big-splash" announcement at yesterday's county commissioners' meeting.

With Bosley, it is one upstaging after another, after another, after another - on ad infinitum.

Bosley is fast turning into the most publicity hawking politician Stark County has seen in many of a year.

In reading The Rep's account of the meeting Stark commissioners consider furlough, other cuts in face of budget shortfall (Kelli Young, September 9), you can see that Auditor Kim Perez and Recorder Rick Campbell are not amused in the slightest by Bosley's latest attention getting maneuver.

What's more, this Bosley gambit is likely to make it more difficult for the sales/use tax repeals (Stark Citizens for the Right to Vote Committee) to convince Stark Countians that rolling back the December, 2008 "imposed" 0.5 percent tax increase is a good idea.

Bosley does worry about how his fellow county office holders view his bold move.  But the SCPR believes that Bosley is irrepressible when it comes to his need to be in the limelight.  However, that does not mean that his daring moves are not good for Stark Countians.

Fixing 9-1-1; good idea?  The SCPR thinks so.

Having adequate resources for essential local services, good idea?  The SCPR thinks so.

Having county employees and elected officials share in economic bad times; good idea?  The SCPR thinks so.

Bosley tells The Report that Stark County faces a potential $6 million shortfall next year.

If he is accurate, taking preventative actions now; a good idea?  The SCPR thinks so.

There is no doubt that Bosley is a "political showman."  And there is a method to his political madness.  It is all about Bosley getting voter attention and parlaying the spot light on other public officials as impediments to getting Stark County as a whole fixed as a way to whip these folks into line.

The SCPR believes that fellow commissioners Harmon and Ferguson are dead weights on Stark County.  If Stark County keeps electing these types to Stark County leadership positions, it will be in someone else's lifetime that Stark rebounds from the economic abyss she now rests in.  Neither has a clue on how to dig Stark out of its current mess.

So Bosley has put the spotlight on his fellows in county government.  How will they respond?  Do they have any choice?

They could hide behind the Ohio Constitution provision which precludes any change - up or down - in their remuneration during their elected term in office.

But they won't.

Bosley is a step ahead of them.  He has worked out a plan where there is no change but that each elected county official will write a personal check to the county treasurer as a "voluntary" give-back that meets constitutional standards.

Bosley has politically check-mated Perez, Ferrero, Reinbold, Swanson, Campbell, Rehfus, Murthy and Zeigler and they really have no choice but to fall in with Bosley's 10 day give back proposal.

One even has to wonder whether or not the Stark County's judges (Common Pleas/Court of Appeals) will want to be included and will join in?

The SCPR has learned that "give-backs" will be a campaign issue in at least one Stark municipality this fall.

Will it surface in township races, board of educations races?

After all, shouldn't everyone have to share in economic hard times?

Ever wonder how much your county elected official are paid?

Here is a list pushlished by Auditor Perez:

NORTH CANTON CITY OFFICIALS "SAVING FACE" ON ARROWHEAD DEAL?

UPDATE:  09/15/2009

Settlement amount $35,000 rather than the origianlly reported $30,000.

 CORRECTION: 09/10/09

Blog has been updated to reflect a correction in the time period that Held was not part of the North Canton city administration.  However, the point made by the SCPR remains unchanged

The Stark County Political Report (SCPR/The Report) has learned that North Canton City Council will consider giving its sanction to a proposed negotiated settlement with Larizza Management Group where by Larizza will pay North Canton $30,000 of $104,000 owing to the city in satisfaction of North Canton's legal claims.

Because a citizen started digging and asking questions, it appears to The Report that North Canton city officials are scrambling by considering this deal to help David Held and derivatively North Canton city government save face.

Why would the SCPR say this?

Well, maybe because city officials are going to great pains to give as many reasons they can think of  (after the fact) to justify the purchase Arrowhead Country Club for $4.2 million as it was on the brink of going belly up back in 2003.  Moreover, the justification process carries over to the negotiation of and enforcement of the terms of a lease agreement with a new club operator.

It is kind of like the shifting sand of the ever blowing grains of sand (i.e. one reason after another on ad nauseum) that the Bush administration floated before the American public in desperate hope that the public would buy one of them as a justification for going into Iraq. 

Remember Maxwell Smart of "Get Smart?"  He would make an outlandish statement only to be met with obvious skepticism.  Then he went to "Plan B."  Smart's question would segue into:  "Would you believe?"

It is this sort of thing that is highly insulting to folks.  As soon as yours truly started hearing all of these "developing" reasons why Arrowhead was "a must do in a  hurry" purchase and the lease to Larizza was "a must do in a hurry letting," the "red flags" were up all over the place. 

Just look at this list.

At the top of the list appears to be that it gives North Canton "green space."  Last week the SCPR spoke with Mayor Held and he kept coming back to the emotionally favored environmental positive of "green space."  Who can be against having "green space?"

Second, it seems as if a driving reason, in hindsight, that the capital real estate asset would deteriorate "in a hurry" if someone did not jump in and prevent any break whatsoever between the former ownership and new ownership.

Third, that although developers were interested in buying the property, this would not be a good idea because creating a new residential area would burden North Canton city government and the North Canton schools with overwhelming financial burdens with new streets, sewers, water lines and the like (the city) and, of course, students for the schools.

Fourth, Arrowhead needed to be  purchased for its "water" resources.

And there undoubtedly are other justifications flying around North Canton City Council and the Held adminstration.

Telling counterpoints exist to all the reasons advanced.

Most important is the SCPR's belief  that North Canton has been taking a financial bath on this property for nearly six years now.
The compelling reason for the financial negative is that North Canton was woefully unprepared to become a golf course owner.  City officials readily admit this.

You think you are not up to something, but you take it on anyway?  Does that make any sense?

Even though Mayor Held says it was the best money he ever spent as a North Canton administrator, the SCPR's take on the city hiring a Texas based law firm to advise for $4,200, is that even with the assistance, the city did an horrible job in negotiating the terms of the contract with Larizza Management.

A city councilperson recently told The Report that Held is no negotiator.  If he is the person who primarily negotiated the Arrowhead/Larizza agreement (and not former mayor Tom Rice), then such is substantial evidence supporting the councilperson's assessment.

One thing yours truly can't quite figure out is why one would think it is an exoneration of David Held (the city administrator under former mayor Tom Rice) vis-a-vis the Arrowhead/Larizza lease agreement to point out that he got fired on January, 2004 and was out of city government until November 8, 2005.  Another notion floated by yours truly.

Excuse me.  Held was back as the leader of the administration in late 2005/early 2006 almost 4 years ago.  What has he been up to all this time?

Held was into the Larizza deal up to his eyeballs (no performance bond, no personal guaranty, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera) and his hiatus in North government service is virutally irrelevant to the current situation.   So Held was gone for five months? What is the point?

One has to wonder whether or not the security deposit was ever a "real" part of the lease agreement.  Did Held and North Canton city officials have a genuine expectation that the money would be paid in to cover unpaid obligations of the lessee, if any materialized?

And, indeed, they have materialized and now the taxpayers of North Canton are on the hook for 71 cents on each and every dollar!

People are taking pay cuts and are out of  jobs at the rate of 12 percent plus in Stark County (which, obviously, includes North Canton. and North Canton can forgive 71% plus of a significant amount of what should be taxpayer revenue?

Situations like these are what cause increasing numbers of citizens to take a cynical view of government.

What is even worse about this whole situation?

David Held - the nice guy everyone agrees he is, is set to be mayor of North Canton another four years because he is running unopposed.

Running unopposed?

Unbelievable!