SCPR OHIO GOVERNOR 2018 SERIES: REPUBLICAN MIKE DEWINE AT STOLLE MACHINERY 11/13/2017

PART 1

GOP GOVERNOR CANDIDATE 

MIKE DEWINE 

BRINGS TOUGHNESS & TENDERNESS TO STARK COUNTY

As we all too markedly know, political "coarseness" has come to be more and more "the order of the day" in national, state and local politics.

And make no mistake about it, Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine especially as Ohio attorney general (AG) is thought by many to have been "one tough cookie" as AG in dealing with the many problems that plague the Buckeye State in a era which has seen social media takes front and center stage in spreading much of what ails American society like wildfire thereby presenting seemingly insolvable difficulties for those who aspire to lead us.

In some instances elected leaders themselves, in the use/misuse of social media, seem to be part and parcel of the travails that are upon us.

Before about 100 or so enthusiastic Stark County Republicans yesterday at Stolle Machinery located in North Canton, AG Mike DeWine along with his wife Frances made his pitch to become the Republican nominee for governor come the Republican primary election on May 8, 2018.

First of all, DeWine campaign event organizers set up North Canton mayor David Held to be one of DeWine's introducers.

Held presented DeWine as a man of character who is personable, authentic (in the sense of "what you see, is what you get consistently," and easily accessible.  (see video of Held introduction below)

These are qualities that The Stark County Political Report thinks Stark Countians and, indeed, scores of Ohioans want in the next governor of Ohio.

Hopefully, the 2018 campaign will produce a Republican and a Democratic candidate that will inspire us and not despair us as so many politicians are wont to do.

Present with Mike DeWine yesterday was his wife Frances DeWine.  Mike and Frances have been married 50 years.  

Attendees at yesterday's political event had to be touched by tenderness that emanated between the two yesterday.   They have known each other since the first grade.  

"You know, I know and everybody knows" how, all too often, over our history as a nation, politics have brought the worst out of us as a people.

So it was refreshing to see and hear Frances and Mike take a few minutes yesterday (1:34) to share their personal love story and thereby injecting a "best of humanity" factor into politiking.

Backing  up just a bit on the order of yesterday's proceeding, here is Mayor Held (4:30) in his heart felt accolades of candidate DeWine.

DEWINE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

ON STOLLE MACHINERY (3:03)



ON WHY HE IS RUNNING (CREATING JOBS) 2:30



ON SOLVING  OHIO'S DRUG PROBLEM AND ITS IMPACT ON JOB CREATION (3:28)



What follows is AG DeWine's 12 point plan to deal with Ohio's opioid problem:

Attorney General DeWine Releases "Recovery Ohio" Plan to Combat Opioid Epidemic

10/30/2017

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today unveiled a set of 12 new initiatives to combat the opioid crisis.

“Ohio is in crisis,” said Attorney General DeWine. “At least 14 Ohioans are dying every single day in our state from drug overdoses.  More people will die in Ohio this week than died in the devastating shooting recently in Las Vegas."

DeWine unveiled a multi-pronged plan called "Recovery Ohio."  It includes increased treatment, new tools for law enforcement, and expanding prevention, and is described in detail below:

 "Recovery Ohio"

•    NUMBER 1:  Pass legislation to give the Governor the ability to declare a public health emergency statewide or in specific areas, which would allow for the distribution of money and other resources to local entities that are facing unexpected emergency conditions like overdose spikes, and creating an accelerated process for state licenses or approvals in critical professions such as the medical or social work fields as well as expedited licensing reciprocity with other states.  

•    NUMBER 2:  Create a 21st century law enforcement data infrastructure that allows real-time, statewide data sharing and brings state-of-the-art data analytics and crime prediction to every Ohio law enforcement agency.

•    NUMBER 3:  Expand proven drug task force models that specifically target and disrupt the flow of money
and drugs from Mexican drug cartels. 

•    NUMBER 4:  Create at least 60 more specialized drug courts.

•    NUMBER 5:  Double the substance use treatment capacity in Ohio. 

•    NUMBER 6:  Expand workforce of critical specialists. 

•    NUMBER 7:  Empower employers to help employees with substance use disorder to seek treatment while remaining employed.  

•    NUMBER 8:   Help business owners hire employees in recovery by offering employers incentives and reducing risks. 

•    NUMBER 9:  Create a special position reporting directly to the Governor with Cabinet-level authority, who works every day with the single-minded focus of fighting the opioid epidemic. 

•    NUMBER 10:  Implement proven Kindergarten-12th grade drug prevention education in all Ohio schools. 

•    NUMBER 11:  Roll out a statewide drug prevention media campaign

•    NUMBER 12:  Expanded early intervention programs that target Ohio families and children in foster care. 

ON SOLVING  OHIO'S JOB SKILLS DEFICIENCY PROBLEM




DEWINE SUMMARIZATION ON WHY HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR



For tomorrow's blog (Part 2) the SCPR will present:

• A post-DeWine speech one-on-one interview,
• A Stolle employee interview,
• An interview with Alex Zumbar, Stark County chair for DeWine campaign,
• Frances DeWine speaking about personal aspects of DeWine family,
• An interview with Rev. Dave Lombardi of the Trinity Gospel Temple, and
• A Mike Raderchak of Stolle Machinery interview on the company's civic engagement

SCPR 2018 GOVERNOR CANDIDATE SERIES: DEMOCRAT PILLICH - PART 2

ACCORDS SCPR A "30 SECOND" INTERVIEW

WHAT IS SHE HIDING FROM?

16 VIDEO CLIPS

WITH

PILLICH ADDRESSING OHIO ISSUES

Before getting into today's blog be sure to take at least a glance at the first Stark County Political Report (SCPR) blog (done yesterday, LINK) on Democratic candidate for Ohio governor on Constance Mary ("Connie") Pillich.

To summarize, the SCPR did not come away from Pillich's event with the Stark County Northern Democrats impressed with her presentation.

First of all, it was obvious that little preparation in terms of getting known Stark County Democratic Party leaders to attend the event (a mere 25 or so Stark Countians attended) and, ideally, for one of them to stand up and endorse Connie Pillich.

There was one endorsement but it came from an audience member who is not a Democratic Stark County political subdivision official.

Although appreciated by Pillich, the endorsement is not the sort of thing for the Pillich campaign to issue a press release on.

While Pillich did field all questions by the Democratic Party loyalists who attended the event, she only allowed the only media present (the SCPR) two minutes (after having ridiculously asserted that The Report was allocated 30 seconds) to ask objective questions.



What was Pillich hiding from any way?  Why didn't her staff try to interest other Stark County media in covering the event?

Connie Pillich does have a long line of impressive credentials (unexamined) which suggests she has accomplishments to be a candidate for governor of Ohio.

Take a look at this self-provided list (LINK) of her biography compiled in her run for office in 2010.

In doing "online" background checks on Pillich, the SCPR did discover a story about her (LINK) which questioned her right to wear all the medals/ribbons she displays with regard to her military service as an U.S. Air Force officer for eight years.

As regular readers of the SCPR know, two of the three Olson daughters are Air Force officers:  one a colonel (USAFR) whereas a second currently is a lieutenant colonel on active duty with the Air Force in Hawaii.  The latter daughter has been in the USAF at eight years of Air Force service was a major.

So the SCPR is especially interested in that side of Pillich's professional career.

But Pillich allowed no time for asking questions on the military side of her career which she appears to make a really big deal about in presenting herself to the voting public.

There is another curiosity about Pillich's career as an Air Force officer.  One published report has apparently serving her entire eight years as a second lieutenant.  Another show she departed the service as a captain.

Hmmm?

Which one is correct?

There is a significance difference.

If one is in the military for eight years and departs at the same rank as one goes in, does that raise questions about the quality of her service?  She does say she received an honorable discharge.

Again, the SCPR if allowed time by candidate Pillich would have delved into questions about the medals/ribbons and her "actual" departing rank.

According to the above chart, Pillich (if she was a fast tracker) could have been a Brigadier General at the end of eight years.

Of course, it would be unreasonable for anyone to have expected that of her.

As indicated above, the youngest Olson daughter is a lieutenant colonel with eight years service.

If Pillich had exceptional leadership qualities, shouldn't she have been at least a lieutenant colonel by the time she left the USAF?

Again, since she has made a "really bid deal" about being a Air Force officer, she should be quizzed about what her exit rank was and why it wasn't higher?

Not long ago, The Report did an extensive one-on-one interview with Democratic candidate for governor Joe Schiavoni of Youngstown with "no questions off-the-table"  (LINK).

The SCPR made a similar request of Pillich.  No response which, of course, is as if she had outright rejected the request.  Again, what is she afraid of in having her answers viewed by many Stark County Democrats?

For Pillich to have made the trip from her home base (just north and to the east of Cincinnati) to be seen/heard by 25 Stark Countians is a clearly inefficient campaign practice.

The SCPR thinks it is fair for prospective Democratic voters to question whether or not such a campaign presentation merits them considering Connie Pillich as a viable Democratic candidate for governor.

Even though the SCPR thinks that Pillich does not deserve the time and effort of putting up the videotape of her North Canton event, in the interest of Stark County voters having material assess to Pillich's substantive merits (notwithstanding her aides not having made the highest and best use of the event), The Report presents each and every question and answer between local party loyalists and candidate Pillich.

PILLICH INTRODUCES HERSELF
(Incl:  Endorsement by Citizen Walker)




PILLICH ON STUDENT DEBT & RENEWABLE ENERGY
(Questioner:  16th District congressional candidate Aaron Godfrey)



PILLICH ON DEALING WITH DISPLACED COAL MINERS



PILLICH ON STATE OF OHIO TAX POLICY
(Includes talking about her position on local gov't funding)




PILLICH ON REINTEGRATING VETERANS INTO OHIO ECONOMY





PILLICH ON JOBS OHIO



PILLICH ON EXPANDING CIVIL RIGHTS IN OHIO




PILLICH ON CHARTER SCHOOLS




PILLICH ON THE DECLINE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN OHIO



PILLICH ON K-12 SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA




PILLICH ON RE-ENERGIZING THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY



PILLICH ON WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS




PILLICH ON GERRYMANDERING OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS



PILLICH ON GUN CONTROL



PILLICH ON OPIOID EPIDEMIC



PILLICH WRAP UP

SCPR OHIO GOVERNOR SERIES: DEMOCRAT PILLICH, ADVANTAGED CANDIDATE? (PART 1 OF 2)

PART 1 OF 2

NOTE:  PART 2 OF PILLICH SERIES BLOG NOW PUBLISHED
WHICH FEATURES PILLICH ADDRESSING
IN SHORT VIDEO CLIPS
OHIO ISSUES

LINK

Democratic candidates for governor include Connie Pillich (who, some say, is a frontrunner in a group of five candidates based on her having run statewide before [2014 for state treasurer against Josh Mandel), and:

• William O'Neill, 
• currently a  Ohio Supreme Court justice from the Cleveland area,
•  Joe Schiavoni of the Youngstown area,
• currently a member of the Ohio Senate,
• Betty Sutton of the Akron area, and
• most recently, administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation,
• Nan Whaley of the Dayton area,
• Note:  Stark County Clerk of Courts Louis P. Giavasis has endorsed Whaley as well as Jackson Fiscal Officer Randy Gonzalez (who, of course, in the recent past served as chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party).

Ohio political pundits are waiting to see whether or not two others file to run for governor before the February 7, 2018 filing deadline.

Two others?

Indeed! 

At least one of them (Cordray) may come in at the last moment and take the nomination.

Written about frequently in Ohio media, they are:

Richard Cordray

• currently the head of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

and 

Jerry Springer

• former councilman and mayor of Cincinnati,
• a 1982 losing candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor,
• currently a talk show host

So much for the other candidates, this blog is FOCUS ON CONNIE PILLICH:

The Stark County Political Report's t(SCPR) take-away impression is that candidate Pillich is not all that impressive.

Fellow Democratic candidate for governor Joe Schiavoni of the Youngstown area LINK) who interviewed with the SCPR (in mid-September,  answered all The Report's questions and then some.

Pillich on Thursday past, said the SCPR could have 30 seconds.  This after she spent the better part of an hour answering the questions of largely uncritical questioning by Northern Stark County Democrats.  But through persistence, The report actually stretched out the interview to 2 minutes.

The Report to ask Pillich two questions.

One: what makes her a better choice come the May 8, 2018 Democratic primary election over O'Neill, Schiavoni, Sutton and Whaley?

The other:  Should she win the Democratic nomination, will the Democratic gubernatorial victory over the Republican candidate affect her approach to running in the 2018 gubernatorial general election?

Here is the video with her answers:



In the video, Pillich talks of being interviewed by the SCPR in her 2014 race against Republican Josh Mandel.

Never happened!

Obviously, candidate Pillich is getting the SCPR confused with other media.

Her faulty memory could explain her obviously "cut and run" modality vis-a-vis the SCPR.

Another factor that the SCPR thinks was poor preparation for Pillich making the trip from the Cincinnati area to Canton is that absolutely NO Stark County Democratic elected officials were present at Thursday night's event.

What are her campaign aides doing in preparing for such an opportunity.

Only about 25 Stark Countians showed up at the Pillich event.

As pointed out earlier in this blog, Nan Whaley has already picked up two endorsements from Stark County elected officials in Stark County Clerk of Courts Louis P. Giavasis and former Stark Dems' chairman (now Jackson Township fiscal officer) Randy Gonzalez.

One would think that Pillich campaign aides would have leaned on Stark County elected Democratic officeholders to come and give their candidate a look, no?

And maybe they did and nobody was interested.

Either way, the absence of such officials does not look good for the Pillich campaign in Stark County come May 8, 2018.

The Pillich campaign as it manifested itself in Stark County on Thursday, November 9th might indicate that candidate Connie Pillich is going to be "left in the dust" behind more savvy campaigns.

Next up (likely November 12) see Part II of the SCPR's analysis of the Pillich campaign as presented on the 9th including links to background material which are easily accessible on the Internet.

Video of Pillich/audience members Q&A with SCPR commentary on some of the candidate's responses.

SCPR POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS: BIG "PROCESS" CHANGES COMING TO NORTH CANTON GOV'T?

Earlier year (before he decided to run for a North Canton Council seat) former mayor, council president and councilman Daryl Revoldt appeared before council to give his two cents worth on an issue before council.

Council has a "5 minute" rule for any citizen who wants to participate in the "public speaks' time part of any given "regular" (not work sessions) meeting of council.

Over the years that The Stark County Political Report has covered North Canton's council meeting, there have occasions in which it has allowed certain citizens to take whatever time they want in making this or that presentation to council.

Procedurally, North Canton government (i.e. council, the mayor seems to be fine with citizen critiquing) has shown that it is both a respecter of persons and a disrespecter of persons.

If one addresses council "to praise Caesar" then the chances of getting "extra" time to present are greatly enhanced.

However, if one addresses council "to tell Caesar that they [council members] 'have no clothes on,'" then one can be sure to be gonged off the lectern and told to sit down.

The latter is what happened to Revoldt and it prompted him to say to himself:  "you know what, I am going to run for council to correct this among other process issues currently afflicting North Canton government."

Had Councilman-at- large Dan Griffith moved for council (and persuaded them) to extend Revoldt's "public speaks" time, he likely would have won a third term on council.

Revoldt tells the SCPR that he would never have run had he and other North Canton citizens been treated disrespectfully by certain North Canton council members.

The "mistreater-in-chief" as far as the SCPR is concerned is council president Daniel "Jeff" Peters who often, when prompted by Law Director Tim Fox, cuts off citizens who are critiquing council in the comments portion of regular council meetings.

As Mayor David Held repeatedly tells the SCPR, periodic North Canton citizen surveys taken by North Canton government come back with a affirmation that North Cantonians are highly satisfied that the mayor, council as a whole, and, its unelected officials "do make the trains run on time."

But process is another matter and North Canton's poor performance on creating a citizen-friendly processes of government is likely one unseen by the general North Canton voting public who are happy:

• that the garbage gets picked up on schedule,
• that the roads and streets are generally in good repair, and
• that EMS services are first rate, and
• that North Cantonians feel safe in their respective neighborhoods

Just let one of them with a "beef" with North Canton government come before council and ask them what they think of the reception.

Of course, there are those with benign complaints that get treated respectively, BUT just let a citizen get a little heated in presenting to council.

One can see President Peters face redden and disturbed "hey, Mr. President when are you going to stop this tirade" looks grace the faces of many of the council members and focused expectantly on Peters.

Examples:

• A thumbing of the nose at "public speaks" complainers, at first, when North Canton citizens voted overwhelmingly that part-time employees (including council members) who have access to other health insurance not get health care coverage at city expense,
• A thumbing of the nose at "public speaks" complainers, at first, when council and the mayor not exercising internal "oversight" functions properly, allowed an un-elected official to grant a 100% abatement over 12 years which cost North Canton schools dearly to upwards of $1 million,
• Note:  Because of citizen/schools pressure; council ultimately implemented a plan to cut the loss to about half of the $1 million
• A thumbing of the nose to citizen objections to empower another North Canton government structure (i.e. Water Board) whereby an un-elected officials will be making decisions on who gets North Canton water and the rate recipients will be paying for it and whether or not they will have to annex to North Canton in order to qualify for North Canton water, and 
• A thumbing of the nose to inquiring citizens who want professional planners to be hired as North Canton considers a zoning change for an area of the city known as Fieldcrest Estates,

For these presenters, "the 5 minute rule" is enforced with gusto if not cut short.

It is obvious that the bulk of North Canton council members are not small letter "d" democrats except when they are being praised.

The really big expectation based on his personal experience that Daryl Revoldt as a councilperson will, if it is apparent that a citizen has more to say, move for his fellows to extend a given citizen's time.

The MAJOR failing of North Canton City Council is its inability to abide sharp criticism which is the basis on which "democracy in action" being cut off.

Griffith made a major, major, major person political blunder in not interceding on behalf of citizen Revoldt.

Revoldt made Griffith pay a high price indeed for not stepping out in favor of hearing him out on an issue (i.e. the North Ridge Place LLC abatement referred to above) that he as a former mayor, council member and council president had some expert-esque information on.

To repeat, having been treated disrespectfully by North Canton Council, Revoldt should lead and the SCPR believes he will lead a "revolt" against council's anti-democratic attitude towards North Cantonians seeking "redresses of grievances" vis-a-vis North Canton government.

SCPR POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS: THE "POLITICAL" DEATH OF JOHN P. HAGAN?

There are some highly partisan politicians who are "leaders" and then there are those who are "followers."

The main difference is that quality "leaders" generate ideas to advance the cause(s) of constituents and secondarily his/her political party.

"Followers" are political party hangers-on who are into politics to get whatever they can for themselves and are so appreciative of the morsels they get that they put political party interest ahead of constituent interest.

In Stark County, the SCPR thinks that the two (one from each political party) quintessential "followers" are John P. Hagan (Republican) of Marlboro Township and Stephen Slesnick (Democrat) of Canton.

There is a parallel between the two.  Both served eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives from a gerrymandered therefore politically safe district making it nearly impossible for challengers from outside their respective parties to mount "a chance of a snowball in Hell" challenge.

Another parallel is that both were totally ineffective during their eight years in terms of having their names indelibly stamped on legislation which benefited millions of Ohioans or in their respective districts.

A third parallel is that neither would answer the questions of The Stark County Political Report.

Only "suck-up" media need ask questions with any hope of getting an answer from either Slesnick or Hagan.

Likely because both of them appear to be just "marking time" as elected public officials and cannot stand the scrutiny of their respective records.

Slesnick even went so far as to try to get the SCPR camera banned from a public debate event.

Slesnick's "political" death occurred on November 8, 2016, to wit:

Hagan's "political" obit was likely published late Tuesday night with this Stark County BOE publication:

John Hagan got started in Stark County politics/governance with his becoming Marlboro Township trustee-elect on November 3, 1999.

Note:  The SCPR thanks Travis Secrest of the Stark County BOE for digging the above-record out of BOE not-published online files.

The 2017 Marlboro trustee race, which may be John Hagan's last) is the second of a Eddleman versus Hagan face off.

As "political" luck will have it, it so happened that the 2009 Marlboro Township trustee election came in the wake of a political firestorm in which then sitting trustees Tim Wise and Dave Wolf took on the Marlboro police chief Ron Devies and son in a controversy over the Marlboro Township computer operations.  Trustee Wayne Schillig was not part of what some citizens thought was a political witch hunt on the part of Wise and Wolf.

Then-citizen Eddleman stepped forward in full support of Chief Devies and his son.

Hagan had been term limited out of the Ohio House (end of 2008), had lost a county commissioner race to Democrat Pete Ferguson (November, 2008) and was looking for a "political" place to land.

One would think that a guy who had served years as a Marlboro Township trustee and as a state representative in a gerrymandered Republican district would have capitalized on the newspaper ink that goes to an office holder to have won easily against a well known Stark County chiropractor but political neophyte, no?

The surprising result.

The question for Hagan.

What to do next?

Lo and behold!—a "perfect" political "storm"—with only incumbent Wise running in 2009, it looked like a shoe-in for Hagan.

In January, 2009, the SCPR predicted Hagan's return.

2017 was a different story for Hagan.

And it was!

Eddleman by November, 2017 was firmly ensconced as a Marlboro Township trustee and with the entrance of former long time trustee John Battershell into the race, Hagan found himself in jeopardy of being "the-odd-person-out."

Although Battershell insisted with the SCPR in a telephone (11/04/2017) interview that he considered himself as being friends with Hagan (with whom he had served in the past), he admitted to the SCPR that he was telling his Marlboro voter contacts to vote for Ken Eddleman second after voting for John Battershell.

It became apparent to The Report from the tone of the interview that Battershell did not take it kindly that he (as current township zoning inspector) viewed himself as being picked on by Hagan with nitpicky observations about Battershell's performance as zoning inspector.

Moreover, as zoning inspector, Battershell says he told trustee Wayne Schillig that he could not continue to serve as zoning inspector because of a retirement snag respecting his eligibility to continue to receive health care coverage while working as zoning inspector.

Accordingly, he would have to step down as inspector.

Trustees Schillig and Eddleman, as Battershell's account of discussions suggest, thought so well of Battershell's service as zoning inspector that they agreed to support having Marlboro Township government provide him with the financial ability to obtain health care coverage to the tune of aboutr $3,000.

Thereafter, Hagan, according to Battershell began to  in effect "taunt" (the SCPR word, not Battershell's) him about the extra $3,000 he was costing Marlboro taxpayers.

It is unclear as to the significance of what, if any, effect that Battershell's promoting Ken Eddleman's candidacy had on the "apparent" outcome of Tuesday's "unofficial" election results.

But if you are John Hagan knowing John Battershell's clout in all things Marlboro Township, don't you have to think that Battershell's advocacy for Eddleman was a difference maker?

Notice that the SCPR has not headlined this blog:  "Eddleman Defeats Hagan!"

Such will likely be the outcome, but the official results do not come out until November 28th.

And, there are 1528 (780 absentee, 658 provisionals) ballots yet to be counted.

However, very few, if any, of the 1528 outstanding ballots will play into the "official" count number come the BOE published official number on or before November 28th.  Readers should also note that in the end some of the provisionals will not make it into the final "official" vote count.

If the numbers hold, it appears to the SCPR that Hagan will be entitled to an paid for by the taxpayers recount, to wit:

There were about 76,000 votes cast countywide in Stark County with the election voting period ended at 7:30 p.m. on November 7th.  Of that number 2,230 were cast in Marlboro Township or about 3%.  Taking the 3% times 1,528, perhaps 46 additional votes might figure into the ultimate outcome of the Marlboro trustee's race.

Whatever that number turns out to be, as they figure into the "official" final result, will we know whether not an "automatic" taxpayer paid for recount occur.

According to Ohio Revised Code section 3515.011, there will have to be .5% or fewer votes separating Eddleman and Hagan (the SCPR's interpretation) for there to be an invoking of 3515.011, to wit:

3515.011 Recounts ordered by board.

...

If the number of votes cast in any district election for the declared winning nominee, candidate, question, or issue does not exceed the number of votes cast for the declared defeated nominee, candidate, question, or issue by a margin of one-half of one per cent or more of the total vote, the secretary of state shall order a recount which shall be conducted as provided in sections 3515.04 and 3515.05 of the Revised Code.

...

Correction of original text which indicated that the "unofficial results" indicated an automatic recount.

A SCPR recalculation of "unofficial" results shows a 0.669% separation which above the 0.500% threshold provided for by Ohio law.

Here is a concrete specific to Marlboro Township example of how a recount might play out in the Eddleman/Hagan scenario:

It could turn out that John P. Hagan did not suffer a "fatal" political defeat on Tuesday night.

But the odds are against it.

POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS: NCCS VOTERS' STUNNING REBUKE OF NC BOE!!!

UPDATED:  8:18 AM

You talk about a massive rebuke of previously elected members of the North Canton Board of Education, last's night's election was a HUGE repudiation of member Hunt, Greenwald, VanVranken and Cross.

Member Cross apparently saw "the handwriting on the wall" and decided not to run for a new term.

Member Marion, the only board member to demonstrate that she understood and was in touch with the North Canton City School District (NCCS/NCCSD) voters in twice voting "no" on putting Issue 44 on the ballot.

Unfortunately for the constituents of the school system, Nancy Marion decided not to run for re-election.

One can imagine the guff she had to put up with in being the "only" board member to have gauged the sentiment of the school district community, which, by-the-way, includes a large part of Lake Township.  Lake has no income tax and chances are that, when precinct numbers are published by the Stark Board of Elections, the Lake precincts in the NCCD will be shown to have voted overwhelmingly "no" on having a local income tax placed on them.

Another person to be singled out for special commendation is Jessica Stroia (out fundraised $13,455 to $2,308) who ran against what had to appear to be the political juggernaut of Hunt, Rhoden (a former NCCS superintendent) and Ziarko and, to boot, her openly and avowedly being against Issue 44.

•  (see graphic below showing Stroia coming in third in three to be selected in the 2017 NCCS BOE race)

A SCPR "tip of the hat" to Stroia.  Despite her youth and political inexperience, she has shown tremendous political courage in taking on the North Canton education establishment and thereby is a model for younger generations to get involved in local government.

She shows that a determined, focused citizen can make a difference.

Holdover board members Jordan Greenwald and Suzie VanVranken ought to consider resigning in light of the gigantic rejection of their work product which they, combined, were 50% of.  Last night's election is clear indication that they have lost the confidence of the district's voters.

A specific really big political casualty of the "no" on Issue 44 outpouring last night was board president Bruce Hunt.  (see CFR summaries below)

Hunt lost last night despite being hugely advantage in campaign finance resources.

Moreover, he and his sidekick at the Ball Corporation, George Smart, kicked $5,000 to both the "yes on Issue 44" and the Hunt, Rhoden and Ziarko (ran as a trio) campaign.

In a way, the failed steamroller effort by Hunt et al is a testament to voters ability, here and there, to be unaffected by big political money being thrown out in support of candidates or issues, to wit:

A negative on the Vote "no" group is that a SCPR effort to ask questions of Gregory was not responded to.

But the Vote "no" SCPR contact person was quite willing to respond to SCPR questions as to why the "no" position was the correct one for voters to adopt.

Mr. Gregory needs to step forward and answer questions about how he came to be involved in the Vote "no" effort and why he was willing to contribute $6,000 to the cause.

Through the pre-general CFR the "yeses" outspent the "noes" $5 to $1 dollars.

The post-general CFRs might show even a greater disparity.

It is refreshing to know that in a few instances abundant campaign financial resources is reduced to being like throwing money into a bottomless pit in the mistaken notion that more money will "always" solve being on the wrong side of an candidate or issue.

Finally, a SCPR word of admonition to North Canton elected city officials (i.e. North Canton City Council and Mayor David Held).

As The Report has written before:

As The Stark County Political Report sees it, North Canton government in being "asleep at the switch" on the administration of its Community [Rei]nvestment Area [CRA] ordinance gave birth to what The Report thinks is a full blown rift between that government and North Canton City Schools (NCCS). 

Ohio law and the failure of North Canton government to limit the use of a Community Reinvestment Area tax credits (i.e. limiting to four units or less) resulted in the planting of a seed in 2012 that has matured into a horrific (in terms of community cohesion) rupture in schools/community relations that threatens the ability of the North Canton's overall ability to work together in the best interests of its citizens. 

In 2012, an unelected Housing Officer (as provided for by Ohio law supposedly as a way to keep "politics" out of tax abatement decisions) decided on his own, and, if you believe it—unbeknownst to any elected city official—to award a 100% tax abatement to North Ridge Place, LLC for the building of an apartment complex near the intersection of North Main Street and Applegrove. 

When the decision came to light (March, 2016), city officials scrambled to mitigate its effect on all property tax recipients (including to a small degree North Canton government itself) but mainly North Canton's schools.

The SCPR stands by this blogger's condemnation of  North Canton government's irresponsible administration/oversight of the CRA and also on state Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican, 48th Ohio House District which includes North Canton) and his legislative colleagues for not thoroughly considering the ramifications of supposedly economic development enhancing legislation.

One of loudest opponents of Issue 44 was Mayor David Held.

Ok, Mr. Mayor, you and your fellows have prevailed.

It is now up to you and former NCCS superintendent and newly elected NCCS BOE member Robert Rhoden to form a joint effort to heal the rift that now separates North Cantonians and school district constituents from one another.

You, Mr. Mayor, (re-elected to a seventh term last night) needs to sit down NOW with Rhoden and discuss coming up with ways and means to heal the North Canton School District/North Canton government divide.

Are you up to the task:  Mayor David Held?

VOTE!!! NOVEMBER, 7, 2017 VOTE!!!

COUNCIL RACES

ALLIANCE AT LARGE

JULIE JAKMIDES

ROGER RHOME

CANTON WARD 3

JASON SCAGLIONE

CANTON WARD 4

CHRIS SMITH

CANTON AT-LARGE

BILL SMUCKLER

COREY MINOR SMITH

JAMES BABCOCK

MASSILLON WARD 3

SARITA CUNNINGHAM 

MASSILLON WARD 4

MEGAN STARRETT

MASSILLON AT LARGE

MILAN CHOVAN, JR

ED LEWIS, IV

PAUL MANSON

NORTH CANTON AT LARGE

DARYL REVOLDT

MARK CERRETA 

NORTH CANTON WARD 3

STEPHANIE WERREN

NORTH CANTON WARD 4

DOMINIC FONTE

MAYOR RACES

LOUISVILLE 

PAT FALLOT

NORTH CANTON 

DAVID HELD

TRUSTEE RACES

CANTON TOWNSHIP

MARK SHAFFER

CHRIS NICHOLS

LAKE

JEREMY YODER

STEVEN MILLER

LAWRENCE

LESTER KAMPH

SHAWN LOCKHART

MARLBORO

JOHN BATTERSHELL

NIMISHILLEN

GEORGE KIKO

OSNABURG

RANDALL  PERO

BRENDA GRIFFITH

PLAIN

SCOTT HAWS

JOHN SABO

SANDY

ROBERT FALLOT

SCOT WELKER

TUSCARAWAS 

BLAKE BRENNER

JERRY HOLLINGER

ISSUES

North Canton Schools #44 - going down to defeat

Stark 911 - to win handily

State Issue #2 - going down to defeat

State Issue #1 - a winner

BOARDS OF EDUCATION

CANTON CITY SCHOOLS

RICHARD MILLIGAN

JACKSON

THOMAS WINKHART

KENNETH DOUGLAS

KATRINA BARTON

LAKE

JENNIFER ANDERSON

DERRICK BAILEY

DAVID POLING

LOUISVILLE

RICHARD CRISLIP

MARLINGTON

CAROLYN GABRIC

NORTH CANTON

ROBERT RHODEN

PLAIN

KRISTEN GUARDADO

JOHN HALKIAS

AMBROSE PERDUK JR