Canton Mayor Healy's denial and linkage is heard on the embedded audio (above) which is an excerpt from the Friday, February 6, 2009 "Points to Ponder" (Ron Ponder host on WHBC-AM 1480).
The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) hopes that the mayor's denial are substantiated by investigation authorities. However, The Report is less than impressed with the Healy suggested linkage.
The Report believes Canton and Stark County needs to change. Obviously, what has been done in preparing for the future of both Canton and Stark has not been visionary. Rather both entities have been led by "caretaker" type administrations.
Change for the sake of change is not productive either. As The Report has written about Healy before, he is not one to take counsel easily. He does talk "come and let us reason together." But The Report suspects he doesn't really mean it as evidenced by in conduct in office (i.e. - not getting along with council, firing Bernabei and general "imperial" bearing).
If The Report is correct about the arrogance factor, Healy will be a one-term-mayor and Canton and derivatively Stark County will be four years further behind other communities in getting our financial/economic act together.
The Report's take on the Ponder part of the interview (not included in the recording), is that Ponder seemed to agree with the mayor that the allegation(s) are baseless. It is not clear what the basis is on which the seeming agreement rests. It would be a service to his listeners for Ponder to elucidate. The Report's take is that the Ponder position is basically: (paraphrase) "This is what happens to public officials trying to get change."
Really? Someone makes up stuff and starts sending it to law enforcement, media outlets, the accused and family members.
Oh yes, The Report remembers the Tawana Brawley matter. As described in a Slate magazine piece (9/8/2003) about the presidential campaign of Brawley advocate Al Sharpton:
Charge: In 1987, a 15-year-old black girl named Tawana Brawley went missing and was found four days later covered in dog feces and with racial slurs written on her body. She claimed that at least two and possibly six white men, one of them carrying a badge, had repeatedly raped her in the woods in upstate New York.Most Americans accept the results of official investigations that conclude that the story was made up. From Wikipedia:
After hearing evidence, a grand jury concluded in October 1988 that Brawley had not been the victim of a forcible sexual assault and that she herself may have created the appearance of an attack. The New York prosecutor whom Brawley accused as one of her alleged assailants successfully sued Brawley and her three advisers for defamation.While contrivances do happen, The Report does not accept that they are commonplace as The Report believes Ponder suggested.
In any event, The Report compliments WHBC and Ponder for the public service they render in bringing Canton and Stark County news makers on the air so that citizens can ask questions and evaluate.
Besides the 1800comp, what change has this Mayor try to do in Canton to warrant such an attack?
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, the only changes this guy makes are the ones that benefit him!
Officials need to look into campaign reports to see if the mayor/council received any money from the red light camera company or their employees.
Following closely on the heels of Friday's Mayoral interview and his personal editorializing, Ron Ponder did not host his (own) show on WHBC today, Monday, February 9th. A substitute host filled in.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm... a point to ponder?
Tune in tomorrow.
That show makes me ill. I'm sure the only calls they let through were the ones that were pro-healy.
ReplyDeleteUGH!
"your sure the only commenters they let through were pro Healy." Did you not listen to the show? Not everyone that called in were friendlt-a few went at the Mayor with questions . Healy handled the calls with grace and answered those questions as well. I listened to the entire show and it reinforced mt belief that Healy is a great Mayor.
ReplyDeleteYour suggestion that Healy could be a one-term-mayor doesn't even need the qualifying "If" clause. At the moment, the incumbent would be seriously challenged to win his own party's primary nomination. Granted, he has 2 years to turn that around, but it would be an interesting poll question (which you occasionally run): "If the Democratic primary were held tomorrow, would you vote for Healy or _______ (??) (fill in the blank)
ReplyDeleteMy family members and I will certainly vote for Healy again. I will even work on his campaign again.
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you who I will not vote for again and that is Councilmen Hawk. He is toast in this neighborhood.
As a democrat I did not vote for Casar, Cirelli and Smuckler last election. I voted for the republican opponent.
Cirelli, Smuckler and Casar have served on Council way too long. Council legislates and I must look at Canton's condition and hold these oldtimers responsible. What is your opinion on that, Martin.