GIBBS' CAMPAIGN SAYS IT IS REPULSED BY CONTRIBUTOR MARSHALL B. BELDEN JR'S CONDUCT

REDIRECTS 
MARSHALL B. BELDEN, JR'S
GIBBS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION

TO

CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH OF STARK COUNTY!

One never knows what one will discover when doing research for a political blog such as The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report).

As regular readers of the SCPR know, this blogger goes over campaign finance reports with a "fine-tooth-comb" in order to be able to report to the Stark County public whom is contributing to candidates for state and federal office.

On October 15th, the latest Federal Election Commision reports were published.

And here is what The Report found on the matter of Stark Countians listed as contributing to Republican incumbent Bob Gibbs' 7th Congressional District campaign since January 1, 2017.

This blogger thought nothing of the list including Marshall B. Belden's appearance on Gibbs' contributor list except that compared to challenging Democrat Ken Harbaugh's listing, Gibbs' CFR is a "Who's Who" listing of some of Stark County's richest and powerful.

Because most of the Stark County Gibbs' contributors have considerable wealth, Gibbs outraised Harbaugh in Stark County though Harbaugh has outraised Gibbs' over the range of  the entire 7th District.

With the publication of the forgoing list, the SCPR received this e-mail:

Accused Kiddie Porn Watcher Donated to Gibbs

... @aol.com  Oct 17 at 12:34 AM

To:  tramols@att.net

On you list of contributors to Congressman Gibbs is Marshall B. Belden, Jr. who was arrested and is awaiting trial on allegations of viewing child pornography.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/marshall-belden-canton-indicted-child-pornography-charges

For the SCPR, the e-mail was an "Aha!" moment.

Connection made.

One of the reasons the SCPR is so well read by Stark Countians who want to know "the inside story" of Stark County government and politics, is that The Report is fearless in bringing to the light of day the transgressions of Stark County connected political/governmental personages no matter how powerful and no matter that a given person may be a highly "successful" person in terms of winning elections, in government power status and in personal wealth.

Other Stark County media outlets to appear to be very much "respecters of persons" and accordingly much goes on within the bowels of Stark County politics and government.

The Report is always grateful to citizens who step forward with information that the public ought to know in deciding whether or not to support this candidate or that candidate.

Though appreciated, the SCPR works very hard to confirm and verify all "tips" sent to this blogger before one word is written.  If a given tip does not stand up to scrutiny, it is quickly jettisoned.

And the Belden, Jr. matter is no exception on the thoroughness score.

Of course, among candidates' worst fear is that someone with Marshall B. Belden Jr's history will show up on the candidates' campaign finance report.

One might sympathize with campaigns have to deal with such vulnerabilities.

However, political campaign staffs at the congressional level have persons on payroll to detect the Belden, Jr. situations and not have to be made aware of same by the likes of the SCPR.

In this case, Marshall B. Belden, Jr. was indicted on March 1, 2017.

The date of the Marshall Belden, Jr contribution to the Gibbs' campaign?

About, as the SCPR can determine, August 30, 2017.

Well after the March 1, 2017 indictment.

Apparently, those who staff the Gibbs' campaign do not read The Canton Repository and thereafter vigilantly comb campaign contributions to ascertain whether or not to keep the contributions.

Soon Stark County philanthropist Marshall B. Belden, Jr.  (philanthropist, according to one Stark County elected official as Belden, Jr was described to the SCPR by that official) will be sentenced by U.S. District Court (Northern District of Ohio) Judge Donald C. Nugent will (if he accepts a plea bargain recommended by his magistrate).

As the SCPR calculates Belden Jr's age, he must be 70 years of age, more or less.

The Stark County elected official cited by the SCPR above observed that given his age the official thinks Belden, Jr's sentence will be such that he will never make it out of prison.

We shall see soon.  No sentencing date has been set but it appears that Judge Nugent will be coming to a conclusion on the fate of Marshall B. Belden, Jr within the very near future.

In writing this blog, this blogger waited in publishing this blog until an opportunity was provided to the Gibbs' campaign and the Harbaugh campaign to weigh-in on the matter.

To date, the Harbaugh campaign has not responded to a SCPR request for a comment.

But it was quite a different story for the Gibbs' Campaign, to wit:

The SCPR e-mail to the Gibbs' campaign.

(NOTE:  HERETOFORE THE GIBBS' CAMPAIGN HAS IGNORED THE SCPR'S QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS TO COVER WITH VIDEO CAMERA GIBBS' CAMPAIGN EVENTS WHICH THE SCPR TAKES AS HIGH DISRESPECT FOR THE EVEN HANDEDNESS OF THE SCPR BLOG.  NEVERTHELESS, THIS BLOGGER DID NOT JUST GO OFF "WILLY-NILLY" AND WRITE A BLOG.  READERS CAN BE SURE THAT THE REPORT WOULD HAVE, IF PERMITTED, PUT THE GIBBS THROUGH THE SCPR ACID TEST THAT THIS BLOG PUTS ALL CANDIDATES THROUGH.  IT APPEARS THAT THE GIBBS FOLKS DO NOT THINK THEIR CANDIDATE CAN HANDLE 'UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL" SCRUTINY OF THIS BLOGGER)

Campaign Finance Report showing Marshall Belden Jr as donor to Gibbs campaign

Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>  Today at 8:31 AM

To:  info@bobgibbsforcongress.com

Attn:  Gibbs for Congress Campaign Manager, Campaign  Finance Director and Candidate Gibbs

Recently received this e-mail from a citizen.

On you list of contributors to Congressman Gibbs is Marshall B. Belden, Jr. who was arrested and is awaiting trial on allegations of viewing child pornography.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/marshall-belden-canton-indicted-child-pornography-charges

See attachments  for verification of donation to Gibbs campaign on or about 08/30/2017 allegedly the same person as listed donor to Gibbs' FEC campaign finance report.

Question:  Has the Gibbs' campaign taken measures to identify whether or not the Marshall B. Belden, Jr. isted on the Gibbs' FEC campaign finance report is the same person as listed in the criminal indictment/recommended acceptance of guilty plea regarding Count 1 of the charges recited in United States Department of Justice communique of March 1, 2017 (LINK).

If the Gibbs' campaign has verified the allegation of Marshall B. Belden being one and the same person as contributed on or about 08/30/2017 to the Gibbs for Congress campaign, what if any steps has the campaign taken to return the donation or divert to a charitable cause to an organization dedicated to protecting children from persons indicted/pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

If verification has not been done, does the Gibbs' campaign plan to check into the aforementioned matter.?  If so, will the Gibbs campaign when will the checking take place? 

If verified, will the Gibbs' campaign be acting to return to Marshall B. Belden his donation to the campaign or redirecting to an organization as generally described above.

The SCPR will wait 24 hours for a Gibbs' campaign response.

If not forthcoming with said 24 hours, then the SCPR will take the silence as being a refusal to comment.

Of course, if the Gibbs' campaign neglects to respond prior to the 24 hour window, the SCPR nonetheless, plans to publish said response in full.

Thank you,

Martin Olson

Stark County Political Report

tramols@att.net

330 499 0465i

It was no time at all (a little over four hours) after the SCPR e-mail was sent for the heretofore pretty much inaccessible to the SCPR Gibbs' campaign to respond.

Jake Altman <jake@bobgibbsforcongress.com>  Today at 12:41 PM

To:  tramols@att.net

Mr. Olson,

Regarding your inquiry: obviously, the campaign was completely unaware of this individual’s disgusting criminal history. 
Thank you for bringing this abhorrent and inexcusable behavior to our attention. 

The campaign is making a donation to the Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health in Stark County. (emphasis added)

-Jake Altman

Gibbs for Congress

The relative quick Gibbs' campaign response is strong evidence that when campaigns think it is in the campaign's and the candidate's political interest in terms of continued viability, then, the likes of the SCPR can get a response.

Voters ought to note what it takes to get Bob Gibbs' and his campaign to respond.  He is not generally accessible to to the general public and even more so to the media especially the likes of the SCPR which is known for its incisive questioning.  Earlier this year, the SCPR was denied access to what was called a Town Hall meeting in Shelby, Ohio (some 80 miles from this blogger's home) though local media was allowed in and covered the event.

In contrast to Gibbs, his Democratic opponent Ken Harbaugh has been highly accessible.  However, to be fair, a couple of SCPR inquiries on sensitive topics have gone unresponded to.  One must never forget that a person running for office is a "politician"

The Report thinks well of Harbaugh's "Country Over Party" campaign theme but the "proof will be in the pudding" if he gets elected.  And, of course, the SCPR will be scrutinizing Ken Harbaugh in office to ascertain whether or not his work as a congressman matches the political rhetoric.

Last Friday, Harbaugh held an event outside the Stark County Office Building (the home of many if not most countywide agencies of government) but also the home of Gibbs' Canton office.

The video of the Harbaugh Friday event in front of Gibbs' office located at the Stark County Office Building:

It is interesting that it takes something like the "undetected" by the Gibbs campaign regarding Belden, Jr. to get the campaign to respond to SCRP'S inquiries over the course of the campaign. 

To repeat, the Belden, Jr matter changed that in a hurry!

If voters of the 7th Congressional District re-elect Bob Gibbs, then one would not want to hear:  "my congressman will not return my call, answer my letter, et cetera."

7th Congressional District voters now "are on notice" that Bob Gibbs seems contemptuous to all except to the well connected like those on his Stark County contributors' list as set forth above.

Only about 17%  of voters nationally approve of the way Congresspersons handle themselves.

And we in Stark County have a prime example in Bob Gibbs that he fits very neatly into 83% who merit a disapproval rating.

Bob Gibbs makes it abundantly clear to everyday folk and scrutinizing media that they can take a hike!

REPUBLICANS OUTVOTING DEMS & INDEPENDENTS IN EARLY VOTING!

OCTOBER 23, 2018/6:30 PM NORTH CANTON CIVIC CENTER

UPDATED:  2:45 PM

UPDATED:  10/24/2018

Copied to SCPR by interested citizen:

Wow. Have heard that there have been vehement denials from North Canton Officials regarding the meeting tonight regarding the Hoover Contamination,  protesting the assertions that it appeared to citizens and others that they
wanted to keep the public attendance down, "low key", whatever.

Talk is cheap, as they say.  We citizens only need to take stock in all their collective past actions over the many years this contamination has been known.  What have they done in proactive terms?

Case in point:  Instead of maintaining the City's SWAP aka, "Well Head Protection Program" to stay on top of water- related issues, very much against citizens' objections the N.C. officials chose to disband the committee!   Note:  There never was a clear answer as to why this 800 lb. gorilla in the room"  that is subject of tonight's meeting was not even merely listed in that SWAP report. 

We likewise can never forget how citizens were nastily told at a public forum by City officials to "go find the money themselves" if we wanted to see installed a "sentinel" monitoring well placed on the perimeter of the well fields .  ( Interestingly, soon after, they did have reportedly approx. $15,000 dollars for a different kind of well elsewhere that was not scientifically qualified to properly detect any ground water contaminants.)

Ok, so if they are now concerned, let's see what they say, and more importantly DO starting tonight .  Will they reinstate the SWAP? 


 Will they push for health-based standards for PCE/TCE to be adopted here, ones that are more stringent (as cited in the letter to US EPA's Mr. Kelly written by PCE/TCE expert, Lenny Seigel), concerning the levels reported at the Y Daycare and elsewhere?    

A MEETING FOR

NORTH CANTONIANS 

WHO WANT NORTH CANTON'S

UNDERGROUND WATER QUALITY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT

A "SHOULD NOT MISS!" MEETING

On July 10, 2018, The Stark County Political Report (SCPR/The Report) wrote a thoroughgoing blog (LINK) on a development in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified Maple Street Commerce LLC and North Canton city officials of potential environmental problems at the former Hoover (as a manufacturer of vacuum sweepers) Plant which sits in the heart of North Canton directly across from North Canton City Hall.

Now the so called "chickens may be coming to roost" in terms of North Canton citizens having some basis to think that their government is downplaying the importance of the meeting of the 24th.

Here is a full copy of Mayor David Held's press release issued on October 3rd:

Some North Cantonians allege to the SCPR an effort by North Canton elected officials  to "low-key" the meeting in hopes that the meeting will be sparsely attended.

How did these folks learn of the meeting, to wit:

From: "Kelly, Joseph" <kelly.joseph@epa.gov>
Date: October 18, 2018 at 9:28:33 AM EDT
To: Rita Palmer <rjpalmer@neo.rr.com>
Subject: Hoover site

Hello Ms. Palmer,

I wanted to let you know that EPA will be in North Canton on Wed., Oct 24 to provide a brief update on the RCRA work, including a summary of sampling results, followed by an availability session for specific questions about the work that is being done.  The session is scheduled for 6:30 at the Civic Center. I hope you are able to attend if you still have interests in the property.

Regards,

Knowing that there was a dearth of information about Wednesday's meeting in the mainstream media, why did it take North Canton civic activists three (3) days to clue in The Stark County Political Report?

They have to know, Stark Countians know, and, indeed North Cantonians know as well as everybody else consuming political/governmental news certainly know:  Only the SCPR among Stark County media can be relied upon to make sure Stark Countians get "the full story" on the important information that affects all of us in relation to Stark County government and its political subdivisions.

As The Report always does (when they will talk to this incisive-questioning blogger), made contact with a North Canton elected official who is in a position to answer questions on whether or not the lack of publicity on the upcoming Wednesday meeting has been purposely "low-keyed" by North Canton officials so as to minimize North Canton public attendance/participation at/in the meeting.

Undoubtedly, SCPR readers will, even before it is stated by this blogger, predict that the North Canton official The Report talked with on Sunday evening strongly denied that North Canton government was trying to low-key Wednesday's EPA meeting.

However, as the SCPR has written repeatedly over recent years, it appears that North Canton government (mostly as manifested by many of  the Council members and its law director) is in an overall sense hostile and antagonistic in its relationship with the "questioning" North Canton public.

So The Report is skeptical of the denial.

On the side of North Canton government transparency about the Wednesday meeting is the following: (from a press release generated by Mayor David Held)

Additional arguments supporting that North Canton government is not trying to hide the EPA pending meeting with North Cantonians include:

• The meeting is schedule for the North Canton Civic Center which has a much larger capacity to handle an "overflow" crowd for the meeting should it materialize,
• An assertion by the SCPR's "official" source that BUT FOR North Canton officials, months before the June 13, 2018 letter (see graphic above), initiated contact with the EPA in Chicago to inquire about the viability (from an environmental standpoint) of the entire form Hoover factory complex being converted into a commercial productive facility,
• The June 13th letter seems to indicate that the EPA sees resolving any environmental concerns at the facility as feasible but will only be given the go ahead by EPA after thorough testing which produce results that the resulting rehab renders quarters which are not harmful to human health,
• Wednesday's meeting is said by The Report's source to be an "status update" on the pathway to getting Maple Street Commerce LLC om full EPA compliance,

However, there are factors which suggest to the SCPR that suspicions that the meeting is being "low-keyed" to achieve minimal public attendance/participation, to wit:

• Though Mayor Held did issue a press release on October  3rd, it would be interesting where the release was sent to and why North Canton officialdom did not follow up the release with telephone contact when no publicity about the meeting (so it appears) has not been published in any Stark County media publication in the week leading up to Wednesday,
• NOTE:  As readers know, the SCPR over the years has done extensive coverage of North Canton government and this blogger can say with certainty that a copy of the Held press release was not forwarded to The Report,
• The Report does get notices of other meeting (including council meetings) via e-mail,
• It has been suggested to the SCPR by North Canton government official  that The Repository has not served the North Canton public effectively in not picking up on the press release and publicizing the meeting on the theory that The Rep gets many press releases and simply failed to pick up on the North Canton EPA meeting,
• The Report is told that "no" notice of the meeting has been posted on the North Canton government website which is supposedly kept up-to-date at taxpayer expense,
• North Canton government apparently has not produced any flyers heralding Wednesday's meeting for placement in public facilities (e.g. the North Canton Library, eateries throughout the city and the like),
• One North Canton citizen only learned about Wednesday's meeting after having very recently be notified of it by a US EPA official,

Here is a statement by Repository executive editor Rich Desrosiers indicating The Rep's reaction to not having heretofore published notice of the Wednesday meeting.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Desrosiers, Rich <rich.desrosiers@cantonrep.com>
To: crborello <crborello@aol.com>

Sent: Mon, Oct 22, 2018 10:25 am

Subject: Re: U.S. EPA UPDATE ON VAPOR INTRUSION INVESTIGATION AT FORMER HOOVER FACILITY TO BE PRESENTED WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018, AT NORTH CANTON CIVIC CENTER

Chris:

We’ll have a meeting notice published online momentarily and in the paper tomorrow. 

It is unclear whether or not The Rep received a copy of the October 3rd Held generated press release a copy of which has been included in this blog.

Here is an "unnamed" citizen's (a former North Canton schoolteacher) summary of the unfolding of events which indicate that there might well be an attempt by North Canton government to stifle information getting out to the North Canton public and thereby precipitating "a crowd surge" and the Wednesday meeting, to wit:

Just got this from a N. Canton resident, former teacher ...Wow...Like I said earlier, dirty , corrupt...

-----Original Message-----
From: eo.rr.com>
To: crborello <crborello@aol.com>
Sent: Sun, Oct 21, 2018 8:57 pm
Subject: RE: region 5

Chris,
      The Oct 3rd date is on the actual Press Release sent by Joe Kelly to Mayor Held.

      I posted the Wednesday  meeting info on North Neighbor News (2000+ NC members) and on my Facebook page. I have few connections on FB so that will probably not help much.

      Tonight I called Councilman Mark Cerretta to ask for details about  the meeting, and he said he heard about the meeting from the Rep and online. Then he thought about it a minute and said it was from North Neighbor News! [I told him no one had seen it in the Rep!] He then admitted that he did not know about it until he saw MY ONLINE POSTING! So he called Pat DeOrio  ( city administrator) for more info and called me back. 

Pat said this is just a routine distribution meeting of info that the EPA does every 2 years. He said that he (Pat) gave the Press Release to the Rep "a couple days ago." Mark and Pat I guess agreed that the Rep does not need to print the release. It is up to them [paper] to decide. [I think they were downplaying this meeting as ho-hum routine meeting...]

       If all the council attends, however, then it would be a public meeting and it would have to be in the paper in advance. Mark said that council was not told to attend but that on Monday at the regular meeting, something may be said.

       Last Friday night I emailed Rich Desrosiers to ask for the meeting info to be put out there in the paper. He did not respond. Melanie did the same thing and got a "thank you." So I just emailed Rich again and said I was worried that no one will know about the meeting if the printed Rep does not publish something.  [I recapped my conversation with Mark minus the name.] I asked him to let me know if he got the email. I am waiting....

       I told Rich that I got the notice of the meeting from EPA's Joe Kelly directly. I asked Rich how would citizens and council know of the meeting if I had not gotten the personal invite to attend??? I hope he obliges me and prints the notice. Rita

From: crborello@aol.com <crborello@aol.com> 
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 7:27 PM

The Report is told by a member of North Canton government that officials fully support the EPA's work on the former Hoover complex and that though officials are confident that the EPA through periodic inspections will ensure that EPA required compliance as been met in full before any further development of the complex is allowed to proceed and that remediation will ultimately occur.

Wednesday should tell the tale about the forthcomingness of North Canton government on the environmental concerns being scrutinized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency!

The key question is:  With the 300 employee plus Schrorer Group leaving the North Canton Maple Street Commerce LLC owned former Hoover complex, are North Canton officials scrambling to get more of the facility EPA approved in a quest to mitigate the Schroer loss and wants to deal with environmental concerns "out of the light of day?"

Make no mistake about it.

North Canton officials are smarting over the loss of the Schroer Group.

But they only have themselves to blame and city officials' apparent inability to rein in Maple Street Commerce LLC majority owner Stu Lichter in his lessor/lessee relationship with Schroer.

The Schroer move has been rumored for some time and yet North Canton government officials obviously did not have the economic development skilled personnel in place to prevent what became official last Wednesday at the regular weekly meeting of the Stark County commissioners.

Moreover, here is a SCPR video of a post-resolution-press-conference of October 17th in which commissioners were questioned about the details of their approving the above resolution.



If North Canton does not get its act together soon, the future of North Canton looks bleak indeed!

Environmental concerns at the former Hoover complex only makes the picture look bleaker.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM: NO/FORCHIONE/YES/DIAZ CONTEND ON OHIO ISSUE 1

SHALL OHIO "LOOSEN UP" ON NON-VIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS?

(A STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT CHARACTERIZATION)

ALL THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DETERMINE 
HOW TO VOTE
ON ISSUE 1

It was clearly worthwhile for Stark Countians to attend the face-off at the Canton League of Women Voters (LWV) Plain Township Branch of the Stark County District Library on Tuesday evening on the merits/demerits of Issue 1 as an amendment to the Ohio Constitution via an Ohio statutory law provision authorizing "Initiative Petitions."

Former Repository reporter and most recently WKSU reporter M.L Schultze (recently retired) did a superlative job of drawing out Alliance for Safety and Justice official Shakyra Diaz (for passage) and Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Frank Forchione (against passage) on their arguments for/against the issue on the basis of questions generated by the 50 or so Stark County citizens who attended Tuesday's forum.

One of the weaknesses of prior LWV civic presentations has been, in the opinion of the SCPR, the lack of a highly skilled moderator such as M.L. Schultze.



Hopefully, the LWV will prevail on Schultze to continue serving the organization in future League civic events.

The SCPR does salute Canton LWV for organizing and putting on the Issue 1 Forum.

For quite a while after news broke that the initiative qualified (August 22, 20180 for the November 6th ballot, many if not most Ohioans did not know what to make of Issue 1.

Slowly but surely leading government and political figures have weighed in on whether or not the measure should pass.

So called "expert" input should be reviewed by every voter.

There are a number of terrific sources for voters to resource in coming to a determination, to wit:

• Ballotpedia
• The SCPR recommends the Ballotpedia treatment as the most objective and thorough source for citizens independently and sincerely making his/her decision based on a perception of which side makes the better argument
• Ohio Policy Matters,
• Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O'Connor
• Ohio Prosecuting Attorney Association

However, in the final analysis it is up to you and me (this blogger is still undecided on the issue) to inform ourselves and whichever way we vote, the vote should be an "informed" vote.

The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report) thinks readers owe it to themselves to read the proposed Constitutional amendment, to wit:

The "additional cost" to taxpayers for implementing Issue 1?

Nothing!  Really?

According to supporters of the measure, there is simply a reallocation across Ohio of the monies saved from not having Felony 4 and Felony 5 first and second time drug offenders in prison to approved treatment programs across the state.

Of course, voters have to evaluate whether or not such financing will be adequate to make the treatment programs "effective" over and above the monies for treatment/incarceration currently being spent by Ohio.

After having reviewed "so-called" 'expert' opinion and having read the proposed amendment, listen to/watch Canton League of Women Voters' Issue 1 Forum representatives Judge Frank Forchione and Shakyra Diaz (see SCPR video immediately below), watch/listen to folks just like you and me who attended Tuesday forum.

First, the open of the forum by Canton LWV president Amy Shriver Dreussi.



Next up, Diaz and Forchione highlights.

Their opening arguments:



The question of how legislation implemented in other states have worked out:



The question of whether the fact that Issue 1 is a Constitutional Amendment proposal rather than a result of a legislative deliberative process is a difference maker.

A SCPR Note:  Judge Forchione throughout the evening (in the assessment of the SCPR) made "a big deal that the promoters of Issue 1 (according to him) include Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg with an accompanying reflection on outside states with an emphasis on California want to dictate how Ohio deals with its illegal drug problem.

Moreover, Forchione cites that Stark County in 2018 compared to 2017 experienced a 40% drop in death rates.  However, in another segment of the forum he talks about Ohio overall has experienced a 46% increase at some 3,000 deaths)

Issue 1 is for "all" of Ohio, not just Stark County.

One final concern:  Judge Forchione throughout the presentation equates Issue 1 with being a measure mandating treating Felony 4 & 5 drug offense as the equivalency to issuing a traffic ticket.

Really?  Unless the SCPR has missed something in this blog, 41 years as an attorney; Ohio law does not turn a third traffic offense into a felony for which an offender likely will go to prison.

The video of the Diaz/Forchione exchange on the legislation/Constitutional Amendment approach.  Which would be better?



Aren't Drug Courts enough to deal with Opioid problem? 



In this video segment, Diaz makes a powerful argument about $1.8 billion for being spent on Ohio's prisons, one half of which are people with non-violent drug convictions (implying without effective results on how Ohio copes with the Opioid crisis) compared  which she says is about eight (8) times what Ohio puts into education:



The question of non-violents getting up-to-25% reduction in sentence.

(Note:  It was distressing to the SCPR that Judge Forchione (who as a judge is obligated by virtue of the office he holds to be fair in dialogue) failed to credit Diaz and other Ohioans as being part of the Issue 1 formation.  As noted above, it seems that Forchione is being somewhat demagogic in focusing on Facebook's Zuckerberg and California as meddlers in Ohio's drug policy)

Later on in the discussion Forchione suggests that Issue 1 creates a conflict with other Ohio legislation (e.g. TCAP Link) re: Ohio's ten largest counties which includes Stark County.)



According to Shakyra Diaz, Ohio is #2 in the nation for Opioid overdoses, treatment "outside" the prison system is Ohio's best opportunity to deal with the Opioid problem.



Stark Countian Dixie Wadsworth is a responsible citizen way challenged Diaz "non-answer" to Wadworth's question re:  If Issue 1 passes, where, in an institutional context funded by Ohio tax dollars, will beneficiaries of Issue 1's formula "actually" get treatment?

Moreover, Forchione weighs-in on the question of the specifics (program and money) lacking in the Amendment proposal.


The video of this segment of the Canton LWV discussion forum:



If the Amendment proposal passes and does not work, how does it get fixed?



The Forchione/Diaz "closing" arguments:



Finally, see/hear three SCPR video interviews of citizen-attendees of the LWV event.

Citizen Interview #1:



Citizen Interview #2



Citizen Interview #3



On Thursday night, The Stark County Political Report was in Alliance for a candidates forum sponsored by Mount Union's Regula Center for Applied Politics.

The question of Issue 1 came up for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray's representative Joe Schiavoni [a Mahoning County based state senator who ran against Cordray in the May, 2018 governor's primary election].

Readers should thorough enjoy this video segment wherein Schiavoni speaking for Cordray tells the audience he is a "no" on Issue 1 whereas Cordray is a "yes."

Watch this "political 'high wire'" act.



NOTE:  Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine did not have a representative at the Alliance event.  

Here is a Cleveland.com (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) editorial video featuring Cordray and DeWine and the positions on Issue 1.




Having followed the steps recommended by the SCPR you are now an informed voter and qualified to vote either way on the issue based on your personal evaluation of the pro/con arguments.

Thanks for being a "responsible" citizen!

NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM: HAAVISTO & WEST - THE 49TH OHIO HOUSE DISTRICT

UPDATE:  FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19TH - 2:48 PM

Video of Haavisto response to "A bit harsh, no?" commentary and The Report's rejoinder
&
Canton League of Women Voters  bio, question and answer for both Haavisto and West

STARTS OFF LET'S SAY "NEIGHBORLY"

THEN

TURNS HEATED

One of Canton's greatest strengths is its "neighborhood associates."

And last night the Aultman/Raff Road Neighborhood Associates did themselves proud in sponsoring a candidates forum feature 49th Ohio House District candidates Thomas West (LINK, incumbent Democrat) and James Haavisto (LINK, Republican challenger).

While others (much of the Stark County commercial/governmental/political establishment) say that Canton's resurgence as a viable Ohio urban center is dependent on the success of the $1 billion plus Professional Football Hall of Fame village expansion project (HOF-VP; begun in 2014), The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report) says that an accurate gauge of the overall health of the Hall of Fame City has always been and will continue the be "the quality of the city's neighborhoods."

While 2121 George Halas Drive is within city limits, the core and heart and soul of the city is in associations like Aultman and Raff Road.

If properly put together, the HOF-VP will put millions of dollars into Canton's neighborhoods so that visitors have an opportunity to marvel when "all hands are on deck" for the well being of the entire community and not just a part of it.

It appears that the Market Square project which is likely to cost $11/12 million if ever completed through three phases will be a gaudy-esque entertainment piece out of character with the 3rd Street NW and Market Avenue North area of Canton.

Mayor Thomas M. Bernabei and his "right hand man" J.R. Rinaldi are doing the hard, drawn out work of restoring Canton's neighborhoods to a look where folks seek out to live in.  (see Bernabei comment on the vital role of the SCF Neighborhood Project in the appendix to this blog)

And that is where the likes of the president of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the publisher of the Canton Repository and their ilk hang out.

The Repository was out in "full-force" at Tuesday night's League of Women Voters Issue 1 forum on Tuesday evening; but nowhere to be seen last night in a core location of Canton's neighborhoods.

A SCPR "Hats Off!" to the

Aultman Area Neighborhood Association 

& 

 Raff Road Neighborhood Association 

for hosting at the Babe Stern Community Center located on 13th St SW an opportunity for citizens of the 49th Ohio House District to see/hear/question the candidates for the office the two year term of which begins on January 1, 2019.

The Report also does a "shout out" to Councilman Jason Scaglione (Democrat - Ward 3) one of Canton's most hands-on and therefore "effective" councilpersons who not only "talks the talk" but "walks the walk" through Canton Ward 3.   He is a refreshing change from his predecessor who liked to say "I just love being a councilman" but did not nearly approach the level of Ward involvement that Jason Scaglione expends.

Scaglione seemingly is in every Ward 3 sited event that the SCPR covers and, he was, last night.

Although only in office since January 1, 2017, he is proving to be a "model" councilman.

A question.

Why was nobody from:

• Canton government administration,  
• Canton councilpersons
• Massillon councilpersons, and 
• Bethlehem, Canton, Pike Township trustees (core parts of the 49th) (Note:  A small portion in the south of Plain Township is also in the 49th)

not in attendance last night?

Many elected officials talk neighborhood health but seemingly only show up in their respective neighborhoods when their personal election/re-election are at stake.

Readers of The Stark County Political Report know that Cantonians/Stark Countians can depend on The Report covering these very important base-level local events which provide their citizens with an "up close and personal look" at significant happenings going on in their neighborhoods.

A popular refrain at Canton neighborhood association events is "Howdy Neighbor!"

It was refreshing to see former Canton mayor and current Stark County commissioner Janet Creighton greet the 150 or so Cantonians/Stark Countians who showed up

• at the Stark Community Foundation's 14th Annual Neighborhood Candidate Forum  on October 8th at The McKinley Grand

with a hearty "Howdy Neighbor!"

One of the major disappointments of last night's event is that neither candidate (in this blogger's recollection) made mention of what either had done or would do from a state government standpoint to support Ohio local neighborhood resurgence.

There was talk and back and forth discussion about guns and incumbent 49th District representative Tom West House Bill 479.  (LINK)

There was talk about the ripping away of massive amounts of local government funding by state of Ohio government at the hand of the Republican supermajority controlled Ohio General Assembly (which 48th and 50th Ohio House Republicans Kirk Schuring and Christina Hagan and 29th Ohio Senate Republican Scott Oelslager all supported) and Republican governor John Kasich.

There was talk about the huge amount ($2.5 billion or so) in Ohio's "Rainy Day Fund."

West wants to shake some of the money free to help local communities.

Haavisto suggested the fund needed to be larger and never did describe a specific situation in which he would support spending from the fund.

To the SCPR, "Republican" candidate Haavisto appeared as a matter of political perspective to more of a Libertarian than a Republican.

He seemingly harped on  the notion that folks just need "to pull themselves up by the bootstraps" and not rely on government" and his mission, if elected state representative, would be to downsize government so as to force citizens to fend for themselves in nearly any situation that comes along in life.

Kind of harsh, no?

TIME OUT!  A DIGRESSION FROM THE ORIGINAL BLOG

Last night at the Mount Union University Regula Center for Politics Candidates' Forum without specifically naming the SCPR, Haavisto responded to the SCPR's "Kind of harsh, no" comment with this:



Notwithstanding his emotionally charged response, The Report stands by this blooger's assessment that Candidate Haavisto needs to get a grip on the reality that many of us need help whether it be at the hands of family, people of faith, friends OR the government.

Apparently, the purpose of Haavisto emotional outpouring was to highlight "the tough experiences of life" as a qualifying factor to be an elected official.

Haavisto has nothing on this blogger who was one of eight children in a poverty ridden family.

This blogger could also posture that notwithstanding the disadvantages that being poverty stricken, I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and made my own way in life to the point of working full time while getting a undergraduate and law degree and having a successful law practice for 41 years.

But the fact of the matter is that I had enormous help from the people of the United States of America in the form of the GI Bill (LINK:  How the GI Bill Changed America) which enabled me to have the extra financial resource so that I could attain a professional level education.

Sure I took four years out of my life and served my country (USAF-1960 to 1964).  But many Americans before the end of WWII and the Congressional passage of the GI Bill had done so without any "atta boy" thank you.

I will forever be grateful to the taxpaying people of America for providing me with a financial resource to achieve what I would likely have never achieved.

"Life is hard," as Haavisto says but we collectively do not have to make it harder.  That's where this blogger departs from the likes of Haavisto.

Haavisto should be focusing much more on his success as having created, running a number of what he says have been "successful" businesses.  

He should be detailing by chapter and verse what his business experiences will add to the "collective" (there are 99 members of the Ohio House) wisdom of Ohio's legislature.

No doubt about it, having a college/professional degree in and of itself qualifies DOES NOT qualify one for public office.  

But neither does having experienced a "tough life."

Some people buy into Haavisto's seeming "let me administer some 'tough love' to you."  

Haavisto has shared in public how he has done this in his immediate family.  So there is no doubt he practices what he preaches in a highly personal setting.

The SCPR prefers a model suggested by the childhood song sang frequently by this blogger of "When we all work together."

Sure!  Family, the faith community and friends should be major players.

But so should we collectively as a people as taxpaying citizens who have built up a terrific nation in pooling our resources under the guidance of a few in number, even over the span of well over 200 years. wise, gracious and prescient leaders.

For this blogger's part, I will be forever grateful to the nation for helping me achieve professional stattus.

One of the reasons this blog exists is so Stark Countians have fearless journalism to turn to in the way of holding candidates (challengers and incumbents) accountable for their positions on issues and policy matters.

The Stark County Political Report is a "non-commercial, for "public accountability," jounalistic enterprise which, in part, "paying back" to taxpayers the GI Bill investment in Martin Olson.

The SCPR lis not "the official newspaper" of any cause, candidate or public funds seeking enterpise (e.g., the Professional Football Hall of Fame Village Project).  

Leaders of the aforementioned qualities is what we Stark Countians, Ohioans and Americans should be looking to place in positions of public leadership.

The more the SCPR hears from Haavisto, the more the The Report returns to the questions posed by the "A bit harsh, no?" question which he chose to respond to last night.

Apparently, Haavisto's sole purpose in government is to dismantle government.

He seemingly thinks that "being out front about his antagonism to goverment is a virtue that voters in the 49th ought to reward with their votes.

If, "let's dismantle government so that more Ohioans/Stark Countian can experience fullblown "harshness of life is the case with him,  voters of the 49th Ohio House should soundly reject his candidacy for the 49th.

END OF DIGRESSION

West, on the other hand, probably would be tabbed by many as a government interventionist candidate.  His focus last night was on "reasonable" gun control legislation.

The SCPR thinks West could be thought to be a "cradle to grave" advocate.

The Report wants to know:  Where is the middling point?

Neither of the candidates seem anywhere near that point.

While for the most part, last night the candidates were respectful of one another and the audience members, there are spots to be seen in the following video that are a bit "testy."

Here is the video of last night event taken by the SCPR. (46 min)



More information about James Haavisto and Thomas West (Source:  LWV Flyer)

LWV question:

Haavisto answer:

West answer:

APPENDIX (Bernabei on importance of Canton neighborhoods)

Mayor Thomas M. Bernabei on the Stark Community Foundation support for Canton neighborhoods (October 8, 2018).

WILBURN (OELSLAGER, 48TH), FRIEDMAN (SCHURING, 29TH) MAKE NATIONAL POLITICAL NEWS

ARE THEY PART OF A DEMOCRATIC "BLUE WAVE" OR "LEFT WING ANGRY MOB?"

The Stark County Political Report spoke briefly with Democratic Ohio House (District 48) candidate Lorraine Wilburn (Republican Scott Oelslager, her opponent) at the Stark Democratic Party 1st Annual Chairman's Event last week which featured Michael "Fight Harder" Avenatti who is a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2020 against Republican incumbent Donald J. Trump.

Wilburn was enthusiastic about the reception she is getting from voters in the highly gerrymandered "Republican" 48th (Jackson Township and North Canton are the  core of the district) as she does door-to-door in the district.

One of Wilburn's motivation in running against Oelslager was that, she says, he totally blew off her request to meet with him in his capacity as state Senator for the 29th Ohio Senate District.

Oelslager (35 years in the Ohio General Assembly; OGA) and his fellow Stark County Republican Kirk Schuring (25 years in the OGA) have swapped back and forth between the 48th and the 29th (in prior configurations having different numbers but essentially the same as their current configuration) as a way to defeat the intention of Ohio's voters who approved term limits.

"Organized" Democrats are fostering the "Blue Wave" notion whereas their Republican counterparts are characterizing the likes of Wilburn and Friedman as being part of an "Angry Mob.

Monday's Washington Post (WP) does an outstanding journalistic job of framing in juxtaposing the "Blue Wave" and "Angry Mob" framework for the upcoming November election.

Here are some quotes from the Wilburn/Friedman perspective:

“He’s (Republican contacted door-to-door) with me on the cost of health care and preexisting conditions,” Lorraine Wilburn, a first-time Democratic candidate for the Ohio statehouse, told her 11-year-old son, Finn. “He said he would take a look at me.”

“We are fighting for the mortal soul of our country,” 

“Coming together is the antidote. It’s the antithesis of the divisiveness,” said Lauren Friedman, an Ohio state Senate candidate and mother of three, who started organizing with Wilburn in Canton days after Trump’s election. “Even us just going and canvassing — that is making a change.”

Wilburn still remembers her disbelief on election night in 2016. A liberal activist for years, she did not volunteer that year. “I used the excuse of being a busy mom for checking out of the process for a moment,” she said. “Even those of us who are involved had gotten too complacent.”After Wilburn decided to run for a local seat, she persuaded Friedman, who had served as a Navy intelligence specialist in the Persian Gulf, to run as well. Both women quit their jobs to run full time.

“I tell her, ‘You save the world, and I’ll make the tacos,’ ” said Wilburn’s husband, Jake, who wears his wife’s campaign shirt, which includes an image of Wonder Woman.

Is there a "Blue Wave" in the making in the country and in Stark County?

Or, as Republicans are asserting they are just a sampling of a continuing American political phenomenon of being an "Angry Mob?"

If it is the former rather than the latter, we could wake up on November 7th to hearing about state Representative-elect Lorraine Wilburn, state Senator-elect Lauren Friedman and, of course, Congressman-elect Ken Harbaugh!