(YouTube Video) QUERY TO "THE REP" & "THE INDEPENDENT," IS STATE REP. STEPHEN SLESNICK STILL A STARK COUNTY LEGISLATOR?

Late last night Doug Staley of the Massillon Independent posted a story online:  Area legislators ready to get down to business.

The SCPR was interested to see what momentous plans the Stark County Ohio General Assembly delegation had in mind for the benefit of Stark Countians and, of course, derivatively for all of Ohio.

After perusing the article, an stunning realization came to mind:  no mention of Stark County state Rep. Stephen Slesnick (Democrat - Canton).

Hagan (R-50th), Schuring (R-51st) and Oelslager (R-29th [Ohio Senate], but no Slesnick.

Hmm?

The Rodney Dangerfield of Stark County politics?

Well, The Report went checking on Slesnick and did find what is consuming his legislative passion these days.

It is House Bill No. 338, to wit:

To amend sections 3313.60, 3313.6011, 3314.03, and 3326.11 of the Revised Code to establish statutory standards for comprehensive sexual health education and HIV/AIDS prevention education in public schools and to designate section 3313.6011 of the Revised Code as the "Act for Our Children's Future." (from the Ohio House website)

And after doing a little googling, found this video of Representative Slesnick being sort of a "keynote speaker" (if you can feature him being front and center about anything) at "Trust Women Lobby Day" at the Ohio Statehouse on May 11, 2011.

"Trust Women Lobby Day" is described by The Big Ohio Blog (Ohio's Blog for Sexual Politics) thusly:

The 2011 "Trust Women" Lobby Day was a smashing success! In total, over 585 women and men from across Ohio visited the Statehouse in person or via email to deliver a clear message to Ohio lawmakers: Stop wasting precious time and money on measures that would remove our rights.

And by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio thusly:

On Tuesday, May 10th Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio participated in the sixth annual Freedom of Choice Ohio Lobby Day.   Over 160 citizen-lobbyists gathered in Columbus with a shared message for Ohio’s legislators: Trust Women! 

The agenda for the day included a legislative update, lobby training, and breakout sessions hosted by experts in the fields of politics, reproductive justice, and health care.

Here is Representative Slesnick speaking to the issue on the follow YouTube video:



Apparently, this piece of legislation is his cause for celebrity as he had introduced in a prior Ohio General Assembly session to no avail.

It is interesting that The Independent (Massillon will be a part of Slesnick's new "redistricted" district, if he is re-elected) in yesterday's piece and The Repository (Slesnick's hometown newspaper) have chosen (The Rep - at least on his "crown jewel legislative effort") to ignore Slesnick.

Of course, there is not much to report.  Slesnick is a retiring type legislator in the first place and secondly he is a Democrat which puts him in a distinct minority in the Legislature and therefore unable to get anything passed unless the Republican majority allow it.

Here is a list of media outlets published by Planned Parenthood as covering Slesnick in his "star billing" moment.

Hmm?  The Repository nor The Independent is listed.

How interesting it is that The Independent and The Repository are ignoring state Representative Stephen Slesnick!

So that Slesnick is not shut out, the SCPR presents Slesnick's list of bills he has sponsored in the 129th Ohio General Assembly.

JACKSON'S ENTRY INTO PERRY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE SWEEPSTAKES CHANGES EVERYTHING?

UPDATE:  11:30 AM


See that part of the original blog that deals with the now Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.


ORIGINAL BLOG

“They just seemed to come out of the woodwork,” so said Perry Trustee Leebacher when asked by Massillon Independent reporter Matt Rink (Jackson among applicants for Perry trustee post, January 11, 2011).

But Gayle Jackson is not just any "they."  By the SCPR's estimate, she is part of a vast Stark County political machine with tentacles (officeholders and machine-connected appointees) headed by Massillon Clerk of Courts Johnnie A. Maier, Jr who was recently elected to a new term.  Of course, Johnnnie's chief clerk of courts deputy is Gayle's son Shane.

Though not related by blood, the Maiers and Jacksons certainly are political first cousins.  Included in the extended political cousin relationship would be Stark County Democratic Party Chairman Randy Gonzalez, Stark County Recorder Rick Campbell (an actual relative - a son-in-law - married to Plain Township Administrator Lisa Jackson Campbell and who has Randy's son Kody on the payroll as his chief deputy), Plain Township Trustee Louis Giavasis (also Stark County Clerk of Courts Nancy Reinbold's [who the SCPR deems to be a Jackson/Maier political relative] car title czar), his brother Phil who is Canton Muny clerk of courts, newly elected Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, and, of course, a number of others. 

In 2001, likely before she mainstreamed into the Jackson/Maier Stark County political cabal, Catazaro-Perry ran for Perry trustee.  A source tells the SCPR that Trustees Chessler and Laubacher were so worried about her knocking one of them off that they went out and recruited a person with the same name in order to cause and split of the vote to the benefit of Chessler and Laubacher being re-elected.

Most importantly in terms of relevance to the trustee selection process, the SCPR believes that Trustee Craig Chessler qualifies to be part - at least in the sense of an "wannabe - of the Jackson/Maier political machine.

When Maier is asked to introduce Jackson at a Stark County Democratic Party political event, he waxes eloquently about how Jackson is the greatest Stark County commissioner ever.

On the surface it might appear that Jackson is one of eighteen applicants and she along with the others has about a 5% chance of being selected as the trustee to succeed Republican Anna Capaldi.

Not on your life!

It's more like 95% chance for Gayle with the remaining 5% being divided among the other 17 applicants.

Jackson was a Perry trustee from 1990 through 1992.  She defeated Democrat and former Stark County Commissioner Norm Sponseller (last served 1985) and incumber Republican Commissioner Tom 

 Rice.  

She remained as commissioner until 2007 when through Maier's close association with the Strickland administration, he apparently obtained a political appointment for Jackson to the Ohio Lottery Commission which, of course, she was bounced from when Republican John Kasich took over as governor.

Jackson's entry into Stark County politics runs parallel to that of Maier.  

If memory serves correctly from Maier accounts, Jackson was the only Stark County elected official who supported his effort to succeed Republican Charles "Red" Ash as state representative (the 49th district) in the reconstituted (because of decennial redistricting) in November, 1990.

So goes the Jackson/Maier connection that remains to this day an unbreakable political bond.

An interesting sidenote is a Jackson/Maier attempt to place son Shane into the slot she vacated when she left Perry Township government at the end of 1992.  While Shane is the political director of the Stark County Political Party, he is no politician himself.

Note that Chessler and Jim Miller were elected trustee for that term and that the other current selecting trustee (then defeated in his try) is none other than Lee Laubacher.  To thicken the plot, current applicant Jim Holmes was already a sitting trustee.

To add further to the political intrigue in Perry, catch this.  Jim Miller stepped down as trustee mid-term and current trustee applicant Vickie Motts was selected by then trustees Chessler and Holmes.

However, in the election of November, 1997 she was defeated by guess who? 

You've got it - Lee Laubacher (being as he had less votes than Chessler).  So in 1998 you have Chessler, Laubacher and Holmes as Perry Township trustees.

(Note:  see 2001 race result published above in which Motts lost once again).

Hmm?

To put icing on the Perry Political Cake, another applicant for the current trustee appointment (Vernon Bedell - see 2001 race results above), also has run before.

In prior blogs The Report has discussed the applications of former candidates for Perry trustee; namely, Crisiva Varner and Chuck Reigler.

Is there any wonder that everyday citizens get nauseated with local government and the political retreads who just won't go away?

A LARGER LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM PLAIN'S DISMISSAL OF CUGINI FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

UPDATE:  01/11/2011 - 4:20 PM

Trustee Haws has contacted the SCPR and informed that he did not make the fence sitting comment attributed to him by The Repository.   He says the comment was made by Brewster Councilman Steven Tharp, Jr.  Here is a copy of The Rep's correction confirming Haws.  The correction was made hours after this blog was published.

Haws also asserts that at the meeting he supported the Plain Board of Education dismissal of Cugini at the meeting.  Taking Haws at his word, there no reference in The Rep article as to his support of the Cugini dismissal.

Obviously, in light of the misattributed Repository quote in the context of the Cugini removal, the SCPR's take that Haws' comments could be taken as an example of irresponsible partisanship as being mitigated.

But perhaps not.

The only part of the SCPR reference of Repository material not attributable to Haws is the "fence-sitting" language.

There was additional quotes of Haws which he does not say were not uttered by him, to wit:

“As an elected official, we are held to be an active official in our government,” he said. “It’s an honor and it comes at a high price ... “ Haws said.

But he chastised the board for taking action in public, and for coverage in The Repository. “This (session) should have been closed door,” he said.

These words in and of themselves connote (in the opinion of your's truly) a empathy/sympathy with Cugini and, by the SCRP's definition of responsible partisanship, do not measure up to the Harold example.

Moreover, The Report has been following Scott Haws from the time he was elected Plain trustee in 2009.  The Report's overall take (e.g. PLAs and fracking issues) on Haws is that he is unduly partisan.

Accordingly, the SCPR stands by the original blog admonition to Haws - going forward - that he would do well to mimic the Harold example which is in the vein of being responsibly partisan.

ORIGINAL BLOG

The drama a Monday night meeting of the Plain Local Schools Board of Education (Board) meeting was the removal by the Board of member Chris Cugini.

It seems to the SCPR that the board had plenty of justification for removing Cugini in that he has not participated in a formal school board meeting according to a newspaper report (Plain school board vacates seat, January 9th)  since August, 2011.

According to the Board, it acted pursuant to a provision in Ohio law empowering boards of education to remove a member who has missed 90 consecutive days of board proceedings.

What was, at least, equally significant to Plain Township and Stark County voters should be the reaction of certain public officials:   Plain Township Trustee Scott Haws (a Republican) and Stark County Auditor Alan Harold (who lives in Plain Township), also a Republican.

Cugini, according to Stark Board of Elections records, is a Republican.  He attracted attention of the media when as a graduated high schooler (2009) and embarking on a college trek at Mount Union he ran for and was elected to the Plain Local Board of Education.

 

Unfortunately, the SCPR believes, he was going to be elected because he was one of three candidates for three positions to be elected.

In hindsight, it seems apparent he did not have the maturity to be seeking public office.

Even as he knew that he was in jeopardy of being removed from the Board, he is reported to have asked for exceptional treatment and then, when his quest failed, dissed the remaining board members for never accepting him because he asked questions and he supported the teachers and students.

What anyone familiar with political partisanship would expect from officeholding partisans of either party is for such an official, again  Democrat or Republican, to make excuses for a fellow partisan when they experience troubles like Cugini did on Monday night.

In the case of  Scott Haws, the SCPR's expectations were met, to wit (from The Repository) :

Plain Township Trustee Scott Haws  Brewster Village Councilman Steven Tharp, Jr. (correction by The Rep - see above) said he was “on the fence” about the issue.

“As an elected official, we are held to be an active official in our government,” he said. “It’s an honor and it comes at a high price ... “ Haws said.

But he chastised the board for taking action in public, and for coverage in The Repository. “This (session) should have been closed door,” he said.

But Stark County Auditor Alan Harold did not follow suit.  Here is what he had to say in the comments section to The Rep's story:

As a Plain Twp. resident, I have followed this case closely since earlier this year.

This case is about choices and the opportunities and consequences that come as a result of these choices.

The facts are not in dispute, and Ohio law is very clear.

Contrary to many comments that have been made, I think the action of the Board sends a strong message to its students - if you make a commitment, you keep it and, further, serving in public office is a sacred duty. Cugini made a commitment to Plain Twp. when he ran, he made a choice to pursue other interests, and he now must deal with the consequence.

The Board made the right move.

The SCPR has no problem whatsoever with party partisanship so long has it is subservient to community interests.

It is refreshing and encouraging to see Auditor Harold exercising responsible partisanship.

Harold and Haws seem to be political if not personal friends.

Haws would do well for himself if he were to model after Harold.

RAMOS TO GET PERRY TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT?

The Stark County Political Report hears from an interesting source that David Ramos, Secretary of the Perry Township Zoning Commission is likely to be the selection of remaining Perry Township Democrat trustees Craig Chessler and Lee Laubacher when they choose a successor to resigned Republican Trustee Anna Capaldi.

There appears to be a lot of "cat and mouse" politicking going on in Perry these days.

As pointed out in the SCPR's previous blog on this topic, there is a history in Perry in which trustee infighting resulted in the defeat of long time trustee Jim Holmes and relative newcomer (at the time) Lee Laubacher.

The Report's source says (which seems credible) that it unlikely that Holmes (the logical choice) will get the nod because residual political bad blood taints the relationships among Holmes, Chessler and Laubacher.

Moreover, yours truly hears that Chuck Riegler is a remote likelihood because he has incurred the ire of Chessler and Laubacher in being a chronic complainer as a regular at township meetinga about various township policies and practices and by being a thorn in the side of Capaldi in pushing for her resignation on the suspicion that she has not been living in Perry for the past year.

It could be that Reigler's pressure was the factor more than any other resulted in Capaldi's resignation at the Perry trustees' first meeting of this new year.

Another reason that neither Homes nor Riegler nor Varner (for that matter, in addition to being a Republican) have much a a chance to get selected is thought to be that Chessler wants them in the race when he has to be up for re-election is that they all will be motivated to run against him and the appointed trustee and thereby dilute the vote so that he is highly likely to be re-elected.

Sounds plausible to the SCPR.

The Report's source indicates that Trustee Chessler's (who works for Canton Law Director Joe Martuccio) consuming passion is to become a Canton Municipal Court or Stark Common Pleas Court judge.  It appears he missed his opportunity via the appointment process when Democrat Ted Strickland was governor of Ohio.

The word from the source is that Stark County Democratic Party Chairman Randy Gonzalez (a Chessler political friend and confidant) let him down in failing to help him land a judicial appointment.

To the Report, this was never, ever going to happen given the context of the only appointment that came up during Strickland's time as governor which went to Taryn Heath.  Heath had run two very competitive campaigns for a Stark County judgeship prior to getting the Strickland appointment.

There continues to be a number of Stark County Democrats well ahead (e.g. Chessler's boss Martuccio and Stark Prosecutor John Ferrero, for just a couple) of Chessler in the quest to secure a judicial appointment, even if a Democrat was governor, which, of course, with Republican John Kasich in place is not the case.

So if he wants a judgeship, he will have to roll up his sleeves and run for one.

The SCPR's source says that Chessler and Laubacher have already reached an understanding that current Perry Township Zoning Commission secretary David Ramos will be their appointee.

Could be.

There is little doubt with the SCPR that political machinations galore are underway in pantherland!

STARK COUNTY PROSECUTOR RACE - VOLUME 1 - POLITICAL NEOPHYTE THINKS HE CAN UNSEAT PROSECUTOR FERRERO. HMM?

Recently retired as chief legal counsel for the Babcock & Wilcox Company headquartered in Charlotte, NC but with key facilities just up the road for Canton and Stark County in Barberton, Lake resident Micheal J. Grady thinks he is a realistic hope for Stark County Republicans to wrestle the Stark County prosecutor's office from the Democrats come this fall.

The SCPR thinks that it should have been a slam dunk for the Stark GOP to have done so given what many view in a less that stellar performance by Prosecutor John Ferrero's office in the handling of the civil side of the Vince Frustaci (former chief deputy of the Stark County treasurer who sits in federal prison for having stolen what some think was nearly $3 million in Stark County taxpayer money) engendered "confidence in Stark County government" which lingers to this very day.

Despite a voluminous report by the state of Ohio Auditor's office (OA) expressing opinion to the contrary, the then Stark County treasurer - Gary D. Zeigler denied he had done anything wrong in the management of the treasury in terms of practices, policies and infrastructure structure so as to prevent thefts like that pulled off by Frustaci.

Ferrero's office had the responsibility to provide legal advice and representation to the Stark County commissioners as they endeavor to remove Zeigler from office (by virtue of ORC 321.38) and to recover bond and insurance monies as well as Ohio statutory imposed personal liability (ORC 321.37)  on Zeigler himself in order to make Stark County taxpayers whole on the loss.

The Report has been discussing for some time with various Republicans as to who the Republicans were going to put up against Democrat John Ferrero (who was appointed prosecutor by Stark Democrats in 2003 when then prosecutor and Democrat Bob Horowitz became Stark County Probate Court judge).

The Democrats have held the prosecutor's office since 1985 when, in November, 1984, Horowitz defeated Republican Rick Ketler (who had served in the administration of the last Republican - Jim Unger - to hold the office) in a very close race.  Prior to 1985, the Republicans had held the office for many years witness the names Jim Unger, David Dowd and Norm Putman.

It became apparent early on to the SCPR from the tone of the conversations that the Republicans were probably going to blow this opportunity.

With the selection of Grady, The Report thinks that it is likely that Ferrero is going to survive his office's lackluster performance in handling the civil aspects of what local attorney and civic activist Craig T. Conley (also a Republican candidate for county commissioner against Democrat Commissioner Tom Bernabei) has termed as being "Zeiglergate."

Although Grady has impressive credentials as having been a lawyer for the Babcox & Wilcox Company which had its origin in Barberton, he lacks experience in holding public office and, more importantly in terms of gaining office in the first place, in how to run an effective political campaign.

This blog is the first in a series that the SCPR will be running between now and November of several key races that are likely to be competitive.

SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION, STARK COUNTY TREASURER ALEX ZUMBAR SUGGESTED TO THE PRESS THAT LAKE'S UNIONTOWN POLICE LEVY EXPANSION MIGHT HAVE HAD A FATAL FLAW IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. ALSO, DID TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE ELECTION?

UPDATE:  10:30 AM

The Report has just obtained information to the effect that the Stark County auditor's office is effectuating the voted in millage on Lake Issue #6 (Uniontown Police District expansion) by direction of state of Ohio taxing authorities unless, of course, a court order to the contrary is issued out of the pending Stark County litigation.

ORIGINAL POST

Today, Stark County Common Pleas Judge John Haas will be holding a hearing on a lawsuit filed by a group of Lake Township citizens to invalidate the November 8, 2011 vote approving expansion of the Uniontown Police Department.  (Yours truly lives in the Uniontown Police District (UPD) and voted for the levy which, if passes court review, will result in a property tax reduction for UPD residents)

The SCPR recalls that once the story broke that the ballot language had faulty language yours truly and another person from Stark County media engaged in some banter with Stark County Treasurer Alex Zumbar.

Zumbar is charged with mailing out property tax bills to with either the $4.50 or $0.45 per thousand assessment as determined by others to Lake Township residents beginning with tax year 2012.

Yours truly was surprised to hear Zumbar suggest (being careful to disclaim that he was not a lawyer) that, despite Lake Township attorney Charles Hall's (in the media) assurance to the contrary, he thought there may well be a problem in collecting at the rate of $4.50 "for each one thousand dollars of valuation ... ." on Lake Township's Issue 6 given that the clear language on the ballot was $0.45 "for each one thousand dollars of valuation ... ."

The Report asked Stark County Auditor Alan Harold what he thought of Zumbar's musings.

Harold (who has a role in adding the assessment to tax bills) declined any comment which The Report thought was a little bit strange in light of the fact that Harold (to his credit) was not shy in offering that he would not permit former Stark County Treasurer Gary Zeigler to use county equipment (e.g. telephones, computer et cetera) until he posted a bond on resuming the office of treasurer after being reinstated by the Ohio Supreme Court on June 25, 2011.

Strange?

Yes, the SCPR's take on Harold is that every "i" had better better be dotted and every "t" had better be crossed before he would act to allow/implement anything that had questionable legality to it.

Apparently, the fact that the Stark County Board of Elections certification was enough for Harold, to wit:

The interesting thing about the Issue 6 controversy (other than on the merits of the issue itself in terms of being for or against it) to the SCPR is the unbelievable number of government employee reviewers who missed the errant language, to wit:

• Lake Township attorney Charles Hall,
• Lake Township trustees,
• Stark County prosecutor's office,
• Stark County Board of Elections personnel, and the
• Ohio Secretary of State.

Moreover, the SCPR has heard of suspicion and speculation that local officials (at the township level) may have known about the mistaken ballot language and elected not to stop it from going to the ballot notwithstanding such alleged knowledge, apparently, on the assumption that there would not be a court challenge to the validity of the vote and, if there was, Ohio Supreme Court case law would save the day on its ultimate validation.

As far as the SCPR is concerned, Lake Township residents for sure, and Stark Countians to boot ought to be awfully upset.

The Report's opinion is that no matter what the case was, that is to say:

• all those taxpayer paid for government eyes failed to find this fundamental flaw and thus demonstrating that they are not taking their work seriously enough in the sense of concentrating and focusing on legal matters they scrutinize, or
• someone in the chain (as speculated) knew of the flaw and thereby had time to fix it or have it withdrawn for another election cycle.

The SCPR thinks it does not speak well of the the quality (in the sense of "due diligence" examination) or, perhaps, rectitude of government officials (if the speculation of prior knowledge is well-founded) that the flawed language got voted upon.

The Stark County Political Report believes that there will be political consequences for Lake Township Trustees Ellis Erb and Galen Stoll - no matter what the cause for the errant language making it to the ballot - come their next election cycle, should they decide to run for re-election.

Although yours truly has supported township wide (except 1998, which was merely a proposed incremental expansion into the Greentown area) police levies which have been on the ballot two times before Issue 6 and failed by huge numbers in 1988 or thereabouts, in 1998 (limited expansion to Greentown area) and in 2005, The Report is for spotless elections and, accordingly, admonishes township officials and any other local and/or state officials who were in a position to catch the error and stop the erroneous version of Issue 6 from appearing on the ballot.

Even if Judge Haas (and/or a higher court) ultimately determine that the flawed language is not fatal, the remiss public officials have cost township and county taxpayers a significant number of dollars in getting to a final determination.

Should the decision be that the language is fatally flawed, then the costs to taxpayers will be magnified and Lake Township voters who wanted township wide police protection over and beyond what the Stark County sheriff currently provides will likely have been undermined - for who knows how long - in their endeavor. 

A SCPR "hats off!" to the over twenty-five Lake citizens (minimum of 25 required) who at their own expense and effort and in the interest of being good citizens have taken this matter to court.

They names verifying the petition (292 by the SCPR's count) include:

Janet L. Bishop

William N. Doty

James E. Miller

Cynthia V. Shaffer

William L. McClelland

Michael R. Johnson

Anthony Graham

Elizabeth M. Graham

Daniel L. Mihalik

Patrick Mihalik

Catherine M. Mihalik

James M. Dickerson

Bliss L. Dickerson

Paul Venditti

Robert P. Ramsey

Nancy L. Ramsey

James S. Biddle

Pamela Pelini

Susan Wright

Darrell Wright

Steven M. Landy

Craig Pelini

Jason A. Richardson

Patricia A. Richardson

Shelley L. Landy

Karen B. Plaster

Tina M. Bell

Steven M. Bell

Thomas J. Firestone

Joellen Bergert

Julia Appleby

Michael Zaluski

Jean M. Zaluzki

Kara R. Firestone

Patrick P. Fladung

Chris Kellamis

Mark K. Plaster

Julie A. Sincere

Mary Jane Stryker

Christine Fladung

Michael S. Gruber

Leslie C. Gruber

Charles Sincere

Anne Montgomery

Bryan Schuster

Jennifer Schuster

Becky Taylor

Randy Montgomery

Rebecca Montgomery

Frank Magisano

Deanna Magisano

Janice Thompson

W.H. Thompson

Michael D. Babics

Lynn Hruschak

Lance Runion

Richard Maggorie

Kathi Maggorie

James A. Vega

Lisa Vega

Lillian P. Morrison

Mark A. Esposito

Michael J. Frear

Debra M. Frear

Julie L. Johnson

Robert M. Swope

Susan J. Swope

J. Geoffrey Bishop

Robert Obermiller

Michael Kapas

Albert S. Kilmer

James L. Shaffer

David J. Barrett

Deanna Barrett

Tom F. Cassetty

Chad Baucum

Susan I. Kerr

Gary B. Kerr

Lucille J. Ruble

Glen C. Mori

Gloria Z. Mori

Earl G. McClung

Jo I. McClung

Ronald Fether

Virginia Haas

Arley Kay Deering

Thomas E. Deering

Joseph Deering

Matthew M. McClung

Benard D. Haas, Jr.

Sherry J. Mendoza

Antonio M. Mendoza

Maria A. Brown

Michael L. Brown, Jr.

David M. Morgan

Norma J. Morgan

Joshua David Kerr

Edwin G. Lytle

Brenda L. Coblentz

Joseph G. Corbi

Beth E. Penaflor

Patricia A.  Nesbitt

June A. Higgins

Shelby L. Estep

Mark A. Estep

Gail M. Estep

Paul M. Bozman

Lynne M. Bozman

Sidney E. Beardshaw

Donald R. Tuck

Brandon Tuck

Carolyn D. Tuck

Charles F. Myers

Micheal D. Neely

Elizabeth M. Neely

Matthew J. Muriol

James C. Goulet

Michael J. Stackpole

Charles Groves

Gabriola A. Simon

Jon L. Nicholson

Joan M. Rodemeyer

Larry V. Beisel

David S. Simon

Robert W. Freeland

Toni L. Freeland

Evan C. Miller

Larry D. Alltop

Kimberly D. Alltop

Sarah Alltop

John  Rybkoski

Daniel C. Atkinson

Timothy S. Nehlen

Roy P. Yoder

Susan E. Yoder

Beth A. Stover

David L. Stover

Phyllis L. Beisel

Mike Kartler

Donald R. Oscai

Enos C. Kurtz

Donna L. Kilmer

Kirk McCauley

Annelise Waterfall McCauley

Keith E. Rawling

Michael J. Paschke

Patricia Paschke

Jeannette Paschke

Rodney P. Bowsky

Robert L. Kisha

Michelle L. Kisha

Richard L. Sherer

Chad Longfellow

Lawrence J. Hays

Sheree L. Estes

David A. Estes

Gregg L. Pavlides

Bonnie Pavlides

Paul D. DeGarmo

John Ruch

Mark D. Regener

Kyle Bonsley

Alex H. Pavlides

Cheryl E. McKee

Richard L. Whitmyer

Terrance M. Nesbitt

Tonee L. Moreland

Keith A. Sherer

Donna M. Knotts

Denver Bishop

Tony Gingerich

Richard E. Moles

Dawn Thoenen

Jacqueline Moles

Daniel D. Beachy

Celia F. Chandler

Sherri Landis

Randall Spargo

Robert D. Eaver

Alfred H. Raber

William Gingerich

Joseph Gingerich

Harley E. Evans

R. Laverne Wittmer

Eugene Miller

Laverne Raber

Mary Sue Kerata

Ken Kerata

Micheal Kamerer

David L. Claytor

Susan C. Claytor

Ruth A. Miller

David A. Barnes

Valerie Barnes

Randolph Robert Wadley

Michelle R. Lippe

William P. Motler

Julie Fallick

Michelle Michel

Guy K. Michel

J. F. Davis

Sandra R. Langley

Keith M. Fallick

Anita L. Severtis

Ronald E. Servertis

Lena C. Stankus

Craig S. Boyle

Robin Boyle

Valerie Waldorff

Brian T. Nutt

Alison R. Nutt

Franklin D. Leopold II

Carol L. Leopold

Ann Williams

Mark F. Deering

Pamela S. Deering

Michael S. Lucius

Mary Ann Grady

Kathy L. Motter

Michael B. Neville

Kenneth D. Swallen

Pamela H. Grady

Dennis J. Grady

Carol L. Mallamaci

Albert J. Wagner

Jane W. Wagner

Peggy Haney Ingalls

John D. Ingalls

Judy K. Zeiger

Marilyn L. Bennell

Sandra G. Myers

Ron Myers

Daniel J. Hoskins

Ginevra Hoskins

Linda Karlo

Cheryl Andrews

Christopher Andrews

David A. Stanek

Margaret L. Stanek

Joan E. Kress

Roberta A. Vine

Larry K. Mundorf

Margaret J. McClusky

Tirza Huetter

Richard W. Huetter

Marilyn K. Mundorf

James B. McClusky

Leonard P. Bossart, Jr

Charlotte A. Bossart

Shelley A. Johnson

Craig E. Johnson

B. Vincent Dollive

Melinda E. Dollive

Donald Sponseller

Vera M. Sponseller

June D. Wall

Robert D. Wall

Myron D. Draper

Sandra L. Draper

Leo E. Doyle

Rebecca M. Pitea

Victor S. Pitea

Kelley Kinnett

Devora J. Doyle

Margaret A. Batista Bazzoli

Steven R. Wagner

Robert Hiram Bazzoli

James A. Fuller

Janet M. Fuller

Larry K. Graham

Robert Testa

Kathleen M. Gross

George S. Gross, Jr

Lanco Bezek

Kimberly J. Bezek

Janet C. Graham

Susan M. Hunt

Jon S. Hunt

Clarence M. Chandler

Phineas Miller, Jr

Laverne Slabaugh

Patricia A. Testa

Ronald J. Keagy

Donald E. Higgins

Sara L. Chambers

Neal Snodgrass

Barbara N. Snodgrass

Daniel H. LaHaie

Timothy S. Eberly

Carol E. Eberly

Jennifer C. LaHaie

Ann M. Smith

EITHER FORMER TRUSTEE JIM HOLMES OR 2011 NEW ENTRY CHARLES RIEGLER SHOULD BE CAPALDI'S REPLACEMENT. BUT WILL POLITICS ALLOW THAT?

The word went out yesterday that Perry trustee aspirants to replace Republican Trustee Anna Capaldi, who surprised all at Tuesday night's trustee meeting in announcing her resignation, is 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2011.

Two of the applicants will be former trustee Jim Holmes and newbie wannabe Charles Riegler.   Both confirmed to the SCPR that they will be submitting their applications.

But do either have "a snowball's chance in Hell" of getting appointed?

If you look at their credentials, they should be at the top of the list.

Both are Democrats as are sitting and appointing trustees Lee Laubacher and Craig Chessler.

For this reason alone, it would seem that consummate Republican Crisiva Varner (political sidekick of former Stark GOP executive director Travis Secrest) can forget applying although she came in ahead of Reigler but behind Holmes in the Holmes, Reigler and Varner effort to unseat Laubacher this past November.

It is hard to believe that office holding Democrats anywhere in Stark County would abide appointing a Republican after the Stark County Democratic Central Committee was pretty much forced by the underlying circumstances to appoint Republican Alex Zumbar Stark County treasurer and thereby likely lose the office for years if not decades.

Holmes (currently an elected member of the Stark County Educational Service Center, a body which yours truly's spouse is president of) by virtue of having been trustee for 28 years until his defeat by Laubacher in 2007 appears to be the logical choice to succeed Capaldi.

However, this is where the political/electoral history between Holmes and Laubacher gets dicey.

Laubacher was originally elected as trustee in 2001 along with Chessler was bounced in 2005 by Capaldi, necessitating his run against Holmes in 2007 if he were to get back in office.

If Holmes was to be selected to replace Capaldi, he would then be in an election cycle (if he wins in November, 2012) alongside Craig Chessler (two seats elected) and thereby avoid future face offs with Laubacher.

Of course, the same situation would attain, if Chessler and Laubacher appoint Riegler.

While he does not have experience as an elected official, he has been a lifelong educator and a member/official of some of the most powerful unions in Ohio and the nation in the guise of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).

Should Trustees Chessler and Laubacher decide not to appoint either Holmes or Reigler or, alternately, neither; then the SCPR believes that either or both, as the case may be, will be candidates once again in November, 2012.

It is possible that Chessler and Laubacher cannot agree on whom to appoint.

In that case, there would possibly be a way back into the hunt for Republican Crisiva Varner.

For as The Report understands the process, the choice would then fall to a Stark County Probate Court Judge Dixie Park.

Judge Park's political ID?

Republican.

Hmm!