Hagan, by the narrowest of margins, lost his seeming secure toehold as a Marlboro Township trustee as a consequence of former trustee John Battershell deciding to run for one of two trustee slots up for election for which he and fellow Republican Ken Eddleman were incumbents.
Something had to give and it was John P. Hagan who was relegated to a giver.
(Unofficial Results)
In addition to his political history as a Marlboro Township trustee, John P. Hagan served as state representative in the 50th Ohio House District (which includes Marlboro Township) from 2001 through 2008. Like many bitten by the political bug, Hagan after being term limited out of the Ohio House after 2008 ran for Stark County commissioner in the 2008 general election but lost by a surprising margin to Democratic Party political neophyte Pete Ferguson. In 2009 Hagan ran to return to the Marlboro Township trustee board (from whence he came in 2000) and was elected in the context of two incumbent trustees (Wise, defeated; Wolf, did not run) providing a pathway for Hagan's return.
But, as shown above, he lost as Marlboro trustee in 2017.
All of this corresponded with his daughter Christina at father John's lobbying the Republican Ohio House Caucus getting appointed in March, 2011 to his former 50th District seat when incumbent and recently re-elected Republican Todd Snitchler resigned to become the director of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (a position which John P. Hagan himself applied for).
On the heels of John P. Hagan losing his trustee seat, daughter Christina got the crazy idea of running for the United States Congress for the 16th District in light of current representative Jim Renacci opting to drop out of Congress and run for governor which in the light of other political developments became his current run for the U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.
Christina Hagan started wackily thinking that she, John P. and a brother (Josh, who ran to replace her in the 50th Ohio House district on her abandoning the 50th with one term of eligibility remaining) were in the process of creating a Stark County-based Hagan political empire.
Christina (joined at the hip with Donald J. Trump) lost handily to more or less mainstream Republican Anthony Gonzalez of Westlake.
So it appeared that the Hagan aspirational political juggernaut was DOA.
Just a few days ago, this blogger was running through the list of candidates published by the Stark County Board of Elections.
Lo and behold! - this:
It appears (from the below included petitions filed with the Stark County Board of Elections) that somewhere around July 19, 2018, Hagan decided to run for the State Board of Education - 8th District.
So maybe there is a flicker of a flame left for Christina to focus on if the Hagans are one day to achieve her dream of being a Stark County Republican powerhouse.
Incumbent Republican and for governor of Ohio (for 11 days) Nancy Hollister has decided not to run for re-election.
Its not a pretty thought especially when it comes to primary and secondary education issues, policies, programs and practices, but which political party controls the state board of education is paramount to both the Republican and Democratic "organized" state parties.
At last count, Republicans control the 19 member board (8 members appointed by Republican governor John Kasich) numbered 12 to 7.
Elected members are limited to two successive terms.
Both Dahman and Purdy are Democrats.
It was imperative in the quest for majority control that Republicans find someone to try to preserve the eighth district (which includes Stark County, the largest of the 13 county district) as Republican seat with the Hollister decision not to run for re-election.
(Source: Stark BOE)
Though John P. Hagan has absolutely no education credentials to tout in running for the office, it could be that Republicans are playing a sort of name game inasmuch as the political opposite of John P. Hagan (namely, Robert F. Hagan, Link 1, Link 2)
John P. Hagan's two Democratic opponents do have credentials that seem to qualify them to be running for a state board of education seat.
Link for Kathleen Purdy.
Link 1, Link 2 for Melissa Dahman.
Dahman is particularly impressive to the SCPR.
As The Report understands her effectiveness as a player in solving some of Ohio's educational environment problems (i.e. school violence), she currently has state Senator Joe Schiavoni and state Representative John Boccieri (a former Democratic congressman of the "old" 16th Congressional District which included "all" of Stark County (elected in 2008 but denied re-election in 2010) working to gain passage of legislation (S.B. 314) to help solve some of Ohio school violence issues.
SOURCE: SCHIAVONI OHIO HOUSE WEBPAGE
So there could not be a greater contrast between the "politico" John P. Hagan and political neophyte Melissa Dahman who is running not primarily to be a place holder for a political party. But rather as an energized, seemingly effective 18 year old who undoubtedly will create some positive waves if elected in some 84 days.
Another loss for John P. Hagan certainly will be the political end for the Hagan clan, no?
Nearly all if not all political pundits tracking Ohio's 16th Congressional District primary election race were surprised at the outcome of the Democratic Party side of the May 8th election:
Winner Susan Moran Palmer had to have made a "she's a winner" impression on Stark Countian Connie Rubin in light of this statement by her during the Democratic primary:
To repeat, Democrat Grant Goodrich was expected to walk away from the other four candidates in the five person field. It appears to The Stark County Political Report that a Grant Goodrich must have developed a case of over confidence.
So it had to be particularly satisfying for Moran Palmer (and gracious on Rubin's part) to have Rubin in attendance last Thursday as they had this "on the issues" exchange:
In the "Year of the Woman Candidate," it is pretty obvious that Goodrich badly miscalculated that the only woman in the Democratic primary had a huge gender advantage which trumped his multiple other advantages.
It is looking more and more that Republican general election candidate Anthony Gonzalez may be on the same track as Goodrich if not in a more accentuated way. He and 7th Congressional District Republican incumbent Bob Gibbs appear to hiding from anyone (i.e. from the media) who might put them on the spot on the issues. Both seem bent of putting their personal political welfare about their district's voters right to know their positions on all the issues Congress in now facing and will be dealing with in the next session of Congress.
The more they (i.e. Gibbs, Gonzalez and the like) failure to mix it up with the total voting public in their respective districts goes on; the more justified the SCPR thinks it is that voters consider voting against both on the selective incommunicado factor alone.
The SCPR does not favor "single issue" voting. But being able to dialogue on accountability with candidates is an essential process if we are to have an informed voting public.
While both Congressional Democrats play partisan politics with the public interest, at least "for now" in light of Republican Devin Nunes's recent recorded fundraiser remarks that Congressional Republicans need to control the House in order to protect Donald J. Trump and some of his and the Republican side of the House Intelligence Committee demonstrate that only a Democratic takeover of the House will place that body in a Constitutionally provided for stance of a co-equal branch of government that operates as a check and balance with the executive and judicial branch of government.
For local voters, Anthony Gonzalez and Bob Gibbs should be put to the test on whether or not they see things Nunes's way.
Voters should require every Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives to state (as the equivalent of Democratic candidates are be asked about Nancy Pelosi) whether or not they would vote "yes" for "no" on the Nunes/Republican Freedom Caucus quest to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as the avenue to end the U.S. Justice Department (Robert Mueller) investigation currently underway.
And Democratic candidates should hammer away at Republican opponents who do not adhere to Ohio Republican governor John Kasich test for being an "authentic" Republican (as said to Meet The Press) on Sunday, August 12, to wit:
The
Republican Party has never been for protectionism,”
The
Republican Party doesn't support a notion that, that families
shouldn't be held together.
The
Republican Party never supported the notion that we should ring up
debt.”
The
Republican Party has never believed that we should walk away from our
allies who have helped us keep the peace since World War II,
Getting back to the Christmas Gift thing, of course we all know that Christmas does not arrive until December 25th.
For Susan Moran Palmer, Christmas Day in terms of her political fortunes her anticipation of Christmas has to be the morning of November 7, 2018.
Perhaps Anthony Gonzalez in how he handles his campaign will be the impetus of making her wish come true?
Here is a SCPR interview of Susan Moran Palmer in an "open to the public" Stark County sited campaign appearance (ignored by The Canton Repository) in which she addresses her obvious uphill struggle to come out a winner on November 6th. (5 min, 35 sec)
For one thing, Moran Palmer says she will not support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House should the Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The SCPR considers this line of attack on nearly every challenging Democrat to incumbent or first time running Republicans to be an out-and-out political "red herring" and not an authentic conversation of what is at stake on the substantive issues of governance depending on which political party controls Congress beginning in 2019.
NOTE: See the entire Moran Palmer Stark County campaign appearance as set up in the Appendix to this blog. The SCPR has asked the Gonzalez campaign for an opportunity which request has not been responded to as of the publication of this blog.
On March 18th of this election year, it was apparent that Goodrich had started "counting his chickens" before he won the primary as evidenced by an article his campaign published.
Gonzalez appears ears to have a commanding lead in the race, however. He’s raised a boatload of money and has the full backing of the Republican establishment – not to mention his celebrity as a football star.
Susan Moran Palmer simply hasn’t lived up to the task since winning her crowded primary. She’s raised only $21,000 in the reporting period from April to June, and her campaign shows a debt of $37,000 to Palmer.
Here is a graphic obtained by the SCPR from FEC online files on the disparity in campaign finances between Gonzalez and Moran Palmer.
Pretty intimidating for Moran Palmer, no?
But in light of her upset victory over Goodrich, she plows on.
In the 16th, according to the official records of the Ohio secretary of state (as of August 4, 2018) there are:
88,387 "registered" Democrats,
151,753 "registered" Republicans,
264,545 "registered" non-partisans, and
a smattering of Greens and Libertarians
So there is plenty of "registered voter" room for Palmer to win among those who do not care enough about political party ID to vote in primary elections going back three years thereby having themselves labeled "non-partisan" by the state election officials.
And, as pointed out elsewhere in this blog; there are enough "I normally vote Republican" dissatisfaction with President Trump and his incessant tweeting with personal attacks on any who disagree with him or who are opposed to the manner in which he comports himself as president that the November 6th general election is deemed by a number of them as an opportunity to vote Democratic as a mid-term election message to the president of disapproval.
Given that Anthony Gonzalez has not "all-in" embraced Donald Trump as has his May 2006 Republican opponent Christina Hagan (lame duck state representative of the 50th Ohio House District [Stark County-based]), for voters to vote no on him as a referendum on President Trump is deemed by many to be unfair.
But such is the reality of politics and Susan Moran Palmer, Kenneth Harbaugh (Ohio's 7th which includes much of Stark County) and Danny O'Connor who is engaged in a "too close to call" special election in Ohio's 12th have an unique opportunity to cash in on what disaffection Ohio voters have for the president.
On Thursday evening, Moran Palmer acknowledged to the two dozen or so assembled at the Stark Democratic Headquarters that she fully understands she is the clear underdog.
What Richardson might not be be accounting for is that Gonzalez seemingly is playing political "hide and go seek" with Democrat Moran Palmer somewhat like the star athlete who plays not as a dominantly situated player but rather in a "not to screw things up" mode and by that very posture provides his competitor an opportunity the challenger might not otherwise have.
The SCPR figures that Ken Harbaugh has about a 50/50 shot to unseat incumbent Republican congressman Bob Gibbs in Ohio's 7th. A district which Donald Trump won by 30 percentage points in 2016.
Richardson points out that the political demographics in the 16th suggests an opportunity for a Democrat this time around. And the SCPR would add a "woman-Democrat."
Richardson could be correct in giving the weight he does
to Gonzalez's ex-football star status,
to his huge fundraising edge
to his connections to the Republican establishment which, of course, includes the Stark County-based Timken family
(which current Congressman Jim Renacci apparently had gerrymandered to have a 16th District spur down deep into Canton proper to pick up a Timken factory/office complex)
and therefore concluding that Gonzalez is going to win easily.
However, there are nearly three months left in this campaign.
Who knows what might happen on the national scene to turn seemingly safe candidates with the kind of association with Donald Trump that Gonzalez into candidates fighting for their political lives?
It appears that Cuyahoga County will be the main battleground of this race inasmuch as the Cuyahoga portion of the 16th is far away the largest registered voter base in the district and is the home of both candidates (Westlake).
Republican Anthony Gonzalez handily defeated Stark Countian Christina Hagan in the GOP May primary.
The Report suspects that Richardson's analysis is way off in that it does not account for his having in Moran Palmer a female who is likely to appeal to all women (especially moderate Republican women and the independent women vote) in the district who are offended by President Trump's misogynous ways and an apparent heartlessness in separating would-be immigrant families.
As the SCPR sees this race (Palmer v. Gonzalez), the Democrat's only chance is to tie Gonzalez to President Donald J. Trump in such a way that enough Republicans and independents opt to vote for Moran Palmer as a way of sending a message to the President that to them "character counts" and that he is president and not emperor and therefore accountable to the U.S. Constitution and the people as ratifiers of the Constitution.
In the 2018 Gonzalez/Moran Palmer faceoff, when will Christmas be?
An early Christmas morning of November 7th with Susan Moran Palmer celebrating a Anthony Gonzalez gift of her being elected 16th Congressional District congresswoman?
APPENDIX
The "entire" SCPR videotaped Susan Moran Palmer campaign appearance in Stark County on August 9, 2018.
AN "OVERWHELMING" VOTE OF "NO-CONFIDENCE" IN OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS INCLUDING STARK COUNTIANS HAGAN, OELSLAGER, SCHURING & WEST AS WELL AS AREA EDUCATION OFFICIALS?
UPDATE: ELECTION DAY 08.07.2018
IS THE PROPOSED ISSUE 1 FOR TUESDAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION
"FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED" AND NEEDS TO BE RE-WORKED?
DECISION DATE
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018 COST OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION: $300,400
UNDERLYING GRAPHIC FROM POPULAR MECHANICS SEPT/2018
Orange/Yellow text overlay added by SCPR
Also included are Brown, Dalton & Strasburg Local Schools.
The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report)has done an extensive study of:
the workup by the Ohio General Assembly of HB 24 which empowered educational service centers across Ohio to be the authorizing agent of government for the formulation of a taxpayer supported "security and mental health resources" plan of action,
the preparation in terms of the adequacy of amount of taxpayer funds to be raised,
some $9.5 million annually (with no expiration date of the levy) to cover some 44,000 students at a cost to most affected participating school district taxpayers (a SCPR opinion: of $50 to $150 per year), and, lastly,
accountability to taxpayers for the likely and actual effectiveness of the planned expenditures.
and concludes that the 1.49 mill levy is a too hastily prepared implementation plan that:
either needs to be rejected by voters for reformulation AFTER a more thorough consideration of Best Practices already implemented in school districts around the nation, or, if passed
reworked to ensure that our students end up after the expenditure of millions of dollars being much safer than the current set of proposals seemingly provide for.
But let the SCPR be abundantly clear. There is no doubt that local/Ohio student security is woefully inadequate and there needs to be an infusion of a combination of time-tested and "new" security/mental health strategies and, yes, techniques instituted in our schools. Unfortunately, it appears there are a bunch of pedestrian ways and means being implemented that likely will not significantly improve security though millions and millions of dollars (over the "continuous" life of a 1.49 mill tax levy) with no structure of effectiveness accountability in place, being "hurriedly" thrown at the problem at the "rush, rush, rush" initiative of Ohio General Assembly (which include locals Hagan, Oelslager, Schuring and West) in the wake of the tragedy of Parkland, FL (February 14, 2018) in which 17 students/faculty were killed.
It was shocking to the SCPR the hear Plain Local Schools president and president elect of the Ohio State School Boards Association to give what The Report considers to be a lame and highly irresponsible response to this blogger's "accountability" to the tax paying public questions for how effectively the millions of dollars to be spent over the perpetual life of the 1.49 mill levy proposal are, in fact, spent. The gist of Halkias' response was that citizens of the fourteen (not including Canton City, Canton Local and Perry Local) Stark County districts have the right to attend local school board meetings and question whether or not the 1.49 mill monies have been/are being spent in an effective manner. Halkias' "accountability" is not a practical response in the context of the 1.49 mill levy being spread over 17 school districts which he should understand more than most. What needs to happen, if the levy passes, is for Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC, note: this blogger's wife is vice president of the SCESC) superintendent Joe Chaddock to assemble all the participating school district superintendents at the SCESC office complex located at Stark State College within ninety days of the schools' fiscal year on an annual basis to lay out to the taxpaying public:
a detailed description of security/mental health resource measures implemented,
a credible assessment of the "enhancement of security" effectiveness of the implementations,
the cost effectiveness as compared to other available measures, and
plans for next year's and "over the longer haul" changes in the security/mental health
Recently, the SCPR sat down with retired Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Michael Howard to, among other topics, review the criticisms of the Issue 1 approach (LINK) including the accountability factor. Plain Township is probably Stark's foremost model of what Stark Countians can expect is and will continue to be done to deal with Stark Schools security/mental health inadequacies. Here is what Plain superintendent Brent May presented on July 16, 2018 to a collection of mostly Plain citizens:
Yesterday, the SCPR courtesy of the Stark County District Library (SCDL, supported by and combination of local [1.7 mill property tax levy] and rapidly state of Ohio monies came upon an online edition of Popular Mechanics which provides a model for parents of Stark's students to assess whether or not Plain's plan is the best that can be done for all of Stark's participating in the 1.49 mill levy schools. Members (free of cost) of the SCDL can access the article in the September, 2018 edition of the Popular Mechanics magazine. The SCPR encourages citizens and school officials alike to access the thoroughgoing Popular Mechanics treatment of school security/mental health measures to ensure greater safety in our schools. Here is a collage of the range of coverage the Popular Mechanics article covers. Parents/school officials and citizens ought to want to read this well organized and thoughtful presentation.
In addition to the Popular Mechanics article, readers of this blog should take the time to view an NBC video entitled: "Inside the safest school in America."
When tax dollars are spent, the should be spent in the most effective and efficient manner that the "state of the art" provides for, no?
COPIES OF UNDERLYING DOCUMENTS GENERATED BY SCDL & COMMISSIONERS
"ITEM #7" IN THE APPENDIX TO THIS BLOG
TO TEACH CIVICS 101 LESSON
ON
"HOW TO PASS A LEVY"
IN STARK COUNTY
STARK CO DISTRICT LIBRARY 2.2 MILL LEVY Everything the Voting Public Needs to Know SCPR Videos in Order to Cast an "Informed" Vote for the upcoming November 6, 2018 Election
Tax levies are difficult to pass on a vote of the people nearly everywhere in America.
But with skilled leadership at the helm of government, especially local government, levies can be passed.
The easiest ones to pass are those for a term of years. More difficult are those that are termed "continuing" levies whereby the word "continuing" means unending unless abandoned for a replacement levy.
On July 18, 2018, representatives of the Stark County District Library (SCDL) presented themselves at the regular weekly meeting of The Board of Stark County Commissioners which meet nearly every Wednesday beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the commissioners' board meeting room located on the second floor of the Stark County Office Building.
The mission?
To get the commissioners to place on the November 6, 2018 ballot a "continuing" property tax issue of 2.2 mills to replace the current 1.7 mills in order to get the heads up on future needs of the SCDL which includes 10 library facilities as well as it mobile services and media services.
What is not included in the levy request are funds to build a new Jackson branch of the SCDL.
Also, there have been rumors floating around town to the effect that library officials plan on replacing if not removing the Main branch from it present locale (715 Market Avenue, North, built in 1978).
Here is a SCPR video clip (3 min, 49 sec) in which library officials:
making the point that the new Jackson branch is on schedule to be replaced in an about 18 month timeframe, and
dispelling rumors that the Main branch current location is in jeopardy
Board of Commissioners president Janet Creighton's reaction (1 min, 4 sec) to the SCDL entreaty of July 18th:
Indeed, Commissioner Creighton along with current fellow commissioners Richard Regula and Bill Smith voted on July 18th to place the SCDL measure on the November 6, 2018 citing that their approval was pro forma and that they had no authority to reject the request. Moreover, Jean Duncan McFarren until a new director was hired and started work in mid-July is seen in this video (2 min, 20 sec) making a vigorous argument why the SCDL Board of Trustees decided to ask that the issue being continuing.
After the commissioners' July 18, 2018 approval, an ad hoc press conference ensued outside the meeting room. The video of the conference can be seen in the Appendix to this blog which is located at the end of the blog.
The following week word came down that the SCDL board of trustees had heard Commissioner Creighton and that they would be back in yesterday to asking for a recission of the July 18th resolution to be replaced with new language making the tax for a term of 8 years.
And in they were.
Here is the entire exchange between SCDL Board of Trustees president Steven Pitman, board member and spokesperson for the board Edmond Mack and CEO/Executive Director Mary Ellen Icazo and Commissioners Creighton and Bill Smith. Commissioner Richard Regula was absent from the meeting.
After yesterday's meeting there was a back and forth between media present and Commissioner Creighton and Smith regarding the tortured history that countywide tax issues (sales and license plate fees) have had gaining Stark County voter approval.
While there has been some success with "continuing" tax issues (e.g. the recent City of Canton income tax increase), by and large there has been a lot of resistance to "any" tax increase, let alone continuing ones.
Here is a LINK to a SCPR blog of May 2, 2017 which is a thoroughgoing SCPR review of that history.
Readers who want to understand where Commissioner Creighton was coming from in doing her "bully pulpit" thing with the SCDL vis-a-vis a likely failure of a "continuing" 2.2 mill levy replacing the current 1.7, should take a few minutes to read the May 2nd blog.
On August 7th, there will be a test of Creighton's theory with the vote in participating school districts (14 of the 17 Stark County districts included but not CCS, Canton Local and Perry) of a 1.49 mill "continuing" levy (Issue #1) submitted under the authority of the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC, this blogger's wife is a member of that body). Links to Issue #1 blogs: LINK 1 and LINK 2.
Note: Voting yes on the 1.49 mill levy as a "continuing" levy: Olson, Holmes and Morgan. Fran Miller voted "no." Gene Feucht was absent.
In May of this year, former Stark County commissioner Thomas M. Bernabei (now the politically "independent" mayor of Canton [a post that Commissioner Creighton held from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2007] personally shepherded to a city of Canton income tax increase passage.
The SCDL heeding the commissioners' warning and acceding to a change of heart may have saved the Stark County 10 branch system from a financial disaster within a few years.
Here is SCDL president Steven Pitman (2 min, 22 sec) of the Board of Trustees introducing the library's presentation. His two main points:
the SCDL's loss of 20% of its State of Ohio funding over recent years, and
the SCDL's hearing of the commissioners on the "continuing" versus "for a term of years" issue on the duration of the 2.2 mill levy
Here is Edmond Mack on video (13 min, 04 sec). His main points were:
though the SCDL had done its due diligence research on the matter of "continuing" versus "for a term of years," the SCDL has heard the commissioners preference for "accountability" which is provided for in the SCDL opting for an 8 year term at the end of which any new/renewal thereof will require a vote of the people,
the SCDL does have a plan which he outlines in some detail in his presentation.
However, it was former Canton City councilman Edmond Mack who made the main body of yesterday's presentation. It is a touch ironic (i.e. the "continuing" - "for a term of years" debate) that Edmond Mack was still Canton's 8th Ward councilperson as of May 2nd, no?
In the following video: (7 min, 18 sec)
SCDL CEO/Executive Director Mary Ellen Icaza (hired June 25, 2018 with first work date being July 16, 2018) (LINK to biography),
the commissioners approve resolutions withdrawing the "continuing" levy and instituting an "eight year term" levy with comments by Commissioners Creighton and Smith (Commissioners Regula was not present at the meeting)
APPENDIX
1. In its entirety, the July 18, 2018 SCDL presentation, the commissioners' response and the passage of the resolution. (20 min, 24 sec)
2. In its entirety, the July 18th ad hoc press conference following the July 18th meeting in which questions were posed regarding specific plans for the use of increased monies if the 2.2 mills request were to pass. (20 min, 37 sec)
3. In its entirety, the August 1, 2018 exchange between SCDL officials and Commissioners Creighton and Smith. (23 min, 14 sec)
4. In its entirety, a SCPR interview with Spokesperson Edmond Mack, SCDL president Steven Pitman and CEO/Executive Director Mary Ellen Icaza. (8 min, 44 sec)
5. The members of the SCDL Board of Trustees (LINK to short biographies)
6. LINK to biography of Mary Ellen Icazo, the SCDL CEO/executive director.
7. PDF FILE of underlying documents supporting placement of 8 year 2.2 mill levy and rescission of "continuous" levy.
Many people of "power" cultivate mastery through the use of fear.
Of Watergate writing fame, Bob Woodward then of the Washington Post is reportedly on the cusp of releasing a new tome entitled: "Fear: Trump in the White House" on September 11th (an interesting date in and of itself, no?)
Politicians are particularly prone to "to put the fear of God" at work against those who criticize, oppose, question or resist them.
Newspaper editors/publishers?
Not so much!
Most leaders in the industry are for "let[ting] the sunshine in" coupled with "let the chips fall where they may" in celebration of industry-wide Sunshine Week in March of each year.
Except, apparently, in the context of thinking of The Canton Repository leadership.
Yesterday, Cleveland.com published an article with describes the critical role that quality newspaper discharge in terms of being a community watchdog. Readers should step aside, click on this LINK and read the article, to wit:
Especially culpable on the delelection of "watchdogging", the SCPR thinks is Repository publisher James Porter. The SCPR believes Porter more than anyone else at The Rep orchestrated local paper becoming "the official newspaper of the Professional Football Hall of Fame and thereby put readers on notice to be highly skeptical of information or more likely, lack thereof, on accountability of public monies spent on the HOF-VP and whether or not those monies will have a sufficient "return on investment" to justify the risk of "opportunity cost" be lost on more worthy projects. Of course, we all hope the HOF-VP succeeds at a "realistic" level, but not at the price of the lack of transparency for the public side investment in the project. If private sector financiers want to take on a undue risk, more power to them and the HOF managers!
Probably about ten years ago, more or less, the Repository executive editor David Kaminski (since retired) wrote a line (equating The Rep to an 800 lb. gorilla) that struck The Stark County Political Report as uncharacteristic of "come let us reason together" types that staff the editorial/publisher positions of America's leading newspapers.
It appears that current publisher James Porter fully embraces Kaminski's characterization.
On what the SCPR considers to be highly reliable sources, The Report believes that Porter had Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero "quaking in his boots" recently when word got out that a member of his staff as his legal counsel had advised Stark County treasurer Alex Zumbar not to sign a tax lien agreement that the Hall of Fame Village proponents were insisting upon.
On July 8, 2018 Publisher Porter wrote, in part:
This happened this past week. County Commissioner Bill Smith, County Prosecutor John Ferraro (sic - actually "Ferrero") and Visit Canton Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications Tonja Marshall all mentioned to me in recent days they want to make a difference.
A county prosecutorwho is willing to meet with individuals and groups to cut through the “red tape” when necessary is a powerful asset to our community.
Bringing the current county treasurer to the table might be a tough task for anyone, though.
Note: capitalization/text color change added for emphasis sake
Apparently, Ferrero contacted Porter with a: "Are you mad at me?" inquiry.
So it seems that Porter has left a significant part of his conversation out of his July 8th column.
Hmmm!
Hence a ensuing conversation likely occurred (reported in "bits and pieces) in which Ferrero must have pledged his undying loyalty to The Repository's (the self-described "official newspaper of the Pro Football Hall of Fame") quest to jam the HOF-VP down everybody's throat in terms of:
not abiding questioning the missing accountability of how public money is being spent,
not abiding questioning the missing accountability of how a $424 million project has turned into a $1 billion plus (including Fawcett Stadium [now Tom Benson] rehab from $22 million to at least $139 million) project "right under the noses" of public bodies (e.g. the Stark County Port Authority), public officials (e.g. members of the Canton City Board of Education)
not examining the overall viability of the HOF-VP given the very, very, very public discussion of INADEQUATE private sector financing which has led to Stark County based (and others, of course) contractors not being timely paid with some $11 million in debt still lingering
Hence through the medium of one James Porter The Repository playing the role of Kaminski's 800 pound gorilla which buy ink by the barrel.
Apparently, Prosecutor Ferrero has been intimidated.
Accordingly, Ferrero bears watching on how he exercises his authority as county prosecutor vis-a-vis his staff members when it comes to dealing with "the red tape" (which, likely, is in place to protect taxpayer interests) touching on the HOF-VP.
What Porter ought to be pressed on is how does he defines "red tape?" Does it include an attorney having the professional independence to provide advice and legal support for the likes of Alex Zumbar when such is at odds with the interests of the HOF-VP? The SCPR has learned that Porter has threatened to use the editorial power of The Rep to unseat Zumbar the next time he comes up for election which of course is consistent with Porter donning the "800 lb. gorilla" mantle.
The SCPR thinks Plain Local School District superintendent has also been strong armed by Porter (May denies such) by virtue of Plain having filed a complaint (later withdrawn) on Stark County auditor Alan Harold "unrealistic" (in the view of the SCPR) appraisal of Tom Benson Stadium for purposes of establishing the baseline for Canton City Schools and Plain Schools collecting property taxes for education purposes on HOF property going forward.
In any event, perhaps a pertinent question in light of GateHouse Media LLC having purchased The Columbus Dispatch and The Akron Beacon Journal, that Porter might ought to be asking himself is: How long will The Repository continue to exist in his current, stand-alone, form? It has to be tempting on the part of GateHouse to consolidate the Canton/Akron news demographic and save tons of money without any appreciable change in the quality/quantity of coverage by Porter's operation, no?
Who knows? Perhaps one day GateHouse's coverage of all of its current major holdings in Ohio might be known as "Ohio Today" with The Columbus Dispatch being the cornerstone of the flagship-esque publication?
Kudos to Commissioners Creighton, Regula (who, the SCPR has good reason to believe, has been told by HOF-VP C. David Baker he needs to resign for comments he made on the HOF-VP to the NY Times), Treasurer Zumbar for standing their ground as "protecting the public interest" on HOF-VP issues as they intersect with the private sector interests of HOF Village LLC (a partnership of the National Football Museum, Inc. [dba the Professional Football Hall of Fame] and master developer Stu Lichter's IRG).
Little did he know that a rough, rough, rough political campaign ride was in his future on Thursday (last night) when one of the more than 80 people who showed up at his Edward L. "Peel" Coleman Southeast Community Center on Sherrick Road, SE in Canton challenged him on his distancing himself from former Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi when the Democrats last controlled the House.
Harbaugh reiterated last night his position that if elected in November, he will not support Pelosi for speaker if Democrats win control of the U.S. House.
And, the SCPR figures that if Harbaugh defeats incumbent (since 2013) Republican Bob Gibbs in November, it is highly likely that Democrats will have won enough seats to take control.
Organized Republicans have used Pelosi as a political whipping girl for years now.
Why Pelosi? The focus on Pelosi comes in part because she's the only figure in Democratic politics who is universally known and detested on the right. In 2010, it was Pelosi and then-President Barack Obama. Years later, it was Pelosi, Obama and then-top Senate Democrat Harry Reid. Now, with Obama and Reid gone, Republicans have occasionally tried latching Democratic senators to Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, with mixed results. But the Pelosi attacks on the House side have been consistent for years.
And the Pelosi matter was not all the "the rough 'political' ride" Harbaugh experienced last night.
The challenger walked out of the Town Hall meeting uttering the F*** word and signaling other attendees with "the middle finger" as she left the room.
The video: (6 min, 43 sec)
As can be seen, Harbaugh kept his composure and moved on.
While not nearly as caustic as the pro-Pelosi challenger was, there were a number of acerbic observations/questions directed at Harbaugh by the SCPR thinks were political progressives who apparently think that Harbaugh is too much of a centrist.
As The Stark County Political Report sees it, Harbaugh's approach is exactly what is needed if he is to be elected as part of the larger effort of Democrats taking control of the House in this year's election.
Kudos to Harbaugh for taking the risk of an outburst like he experienced last night. Such, unfortunately, is all to common in the political environment especially since the 2016 presidential campaign.
His opponent Bob Gibbs wouldn't let the SCPR into his Shelby, Ohio Town Hall of several months ago and the primary plan of The Report was to videotape the meeting and, hopefully, ask Gibbs a few follow up questions after his exchange with audience members was concluded.
But Gibbs is so utterly insecure that he was unwilling to abide the SCPR's presence.
Seventh (7th) Congressional District voters should note Gibbs avoidance of uncertain interactions with the public and the media as a sign that he does not have the "mettle" to handle what Ken Harbaugh did last night.
Here is the entire video of last night's Town Hall (1 hour, 31 sec).
As countywide issues go, the campaign financing report (CFR; pre-election) showing $111,000* in campaign contributions for Issue 1 - the Stark County Education Service Center formulated 1.49 mill property tax levy that 14 of 17 (not Canton City, Canton Local and Perry) Stark County school district voters will be voting on in a little over a week (early voting, absentee voting in progress) in a August 7th special election costing $300,400 is somewhat surprising to The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report).
* NOTE: See entire CFR in Appendix.
As a comparison, the May, 2017 Stark County commissioners' promoted Justice System Sales Tax (JSST, replacing a 1/2 cent tax voted in by Stark Countians in November, 2011) show the following:
Indeed!
The "Keep Kids Safe" (KKS) Issue 1 folks have out-fund-raised the Yes! For Stark (YFS) advocates by more that $2 to every $1 raised by YFS.
With that kind of advantage, one might think that Issue #1 will pass with ease. Maybe even by a higher plurality that for the JSST.
Could it be that the JSST (also a public safety issue) was assigned Issue 1 in the May 2, 2017 election cycle be a "good" omen for Issue 1 on August 7th?
Perhaps.
But the SCPR thinks it is unlikely, if it wins at all, that Issue 1 in the August 7th election cycle, will be a lot closer that 70% plus in favor.
The Report hears that an area informal, unscientific poll involving only several hundred persons (who may or may not being in a voting district or who are unlikely to vote in this election) shows the issue losing about 67% to 33%.
If the issue wins, it is unlikely to be by a 70% to 30% margin. By the same token, if it loses it is not likely it will be by a 67% to 33% margin.
The Report thinks either way, the margin will be much tighter.
For their part, the Keep Kids Safe Committee headed by retired (2016) Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Michael Hower would likely settle for any margin of victory.
Today, the SCPR sat down with Judge Howard and conducted an exhaustive interview that focused on arguments being made in opposition to passage to the levy.
However, as readers will see, the SCPR provided Judge Howard with ample opportunity to "make the case" for the safety of Stark County school kids. Also a part of levy effort is Brown Local (Carroll), Strasburg Local (Tuscarawas) and Dalton Local (Wayne).
At the end of this blog in the appendix is the "entire" video recording of the SCPR's interview with Judge Howard. Also, in the appendix is a copy of the "entire"Keep Kids SafeCFR and Judge Howard's resume.
Moreover, here are links to previous SCPR blogs on Issue 1 which readers should read to give context to today's blog.
Recognizing that many readers do not have the time to sit and watch the "entire" (in the Appendix) Howard interview, the SCPR will over the next several days be adding "segmented" video of hopefully five minutes or less clips of the questions that The Report posed to Judge Howard.
Here is a list of "opposition to Issue 1" arguments posed to Judge Howard:
Opposition
#1 -Cannot support a "continuing" levy and concomitant "lack of structural accountability"
Opposition
#2- Public has had its fill with levy efforts
(Perry)
Opposition
#3 - We have our own plan in implementation (CCS)
Opposition
#4 - Do not want to be a donor district (Canton Local)
Opposition
#5 - No "real" opportunity for public to have
input (Fonte)
Opposition
#6 - Taxation without representation (e.g. city districts
do not participate in SCESC elections nor can a city district
resident run for the SCESC board)
Opposition
#7- $300,400 expense of the "special"
election
Opposition
#8 - Rumors:
1.
School districts who are part of the participating district make up
(14 of 17 Stark County Districts) voting "no" still will
pay the tax although receiving benefits.
2.
School districts opting not to particpate (e.g. CCS, Canton Local,
Perry Local) in the 1.49 mill levy effort will still, if it passes in
an overall vote count, will in the event of overall "yes"
vote covering all the participating districts in the vote be drafted
into participation.
3.
All of Carroll (Brown, Carroll Exempted Village), Summit(Green),
Tuscarawas (Strasburg) and Wayne (Dalton)will be voting Issue #1
APPENDIX
The entire Judge Mike Howard interview on Issue 1 (School Security/Mental Health Resources levy).
Judge Howard's resume:
Judge Michael L. Howard, RetiredStark County Court of Common PleasFamily Court DivisionJudge Michael Howard served for thirty years at Stark County Family Court in Stark County, Ohio, before retiring on December 31, 2016. Judge Howard worked as an intake officer, Magistrate and Chief Magistrate before being electedJudge in 2004. As Judge, he presided over both the juvenile and domestic relations cases. Judge Howard is a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Advisory Board, its Justice Consortium, and he servered as a lecturer for the NCTSN Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice. He has contributed to NCTSN trauma reference guides and bench cards designed for judges and juvenile justice professionals. Judge Howard is co-author of three journal articles: "Children Who Have Been Traumatized: One Court's Response", published in the Autumn 2008 edition of the Juvenile and Family Court Journal, “Complex Trauma and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents Placed in Foster Care: Findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network” which appeared in the 2011 special issue of the Child Welfare Journal, and “Trauma Exposure, Psychiatric Disorders, and Resiliency in Juvenile-Justice-Involved Youth” published in the July 2013 edition of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.In retirement, Judge Howard continues to act as a community convener, focusing on programs that help children achieve success and avoid delinquent behavior. Judge Howard serves as co-chair of the Stark County Trauma and Resiliency Committee, working to make all child-serving systems trauma-responsive. Judge Howard is an active community volunteer serving on multiple boards and committees, including the Stark Education Partnership, the United Way of Greater Stark County, the Early Childhood Resource Center, the Care Team Executive Committee, and the Stark County Bar Association Family Law and Citizenship Committee
B.A. - Political Science
J.D.
AN INDEPENDENT MINDED POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
Until 1976 I was a Republican. Since then I have considered myself a Democrat. So after long term stints of being a Republican, then a Democrat, I have come to the political position I feel most comfortable with - being an INDEPENDENT MINDED ANALYST who demands effectiveness of our politicians - Republican, Democrat or whatever.
I have changed my political affiliation to "non-partisan" by not voting in either political party primary election.
