DISCUSSION: WHO'S BLUFFING, WHO'S NOT?

North Canton has just upped the ante on the Canton/Jackson Township Stark County internecine war that, in the end, will be highly damaging to Stark County's effort get its economic development cards in order.

The move by North Canton officials in filing a complaint (see North Canton files complaint on Canton Annexation bid - posted on line 2/13/2009 by The Rep) is a making good on a statement yesterday by a North Canton official to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) to wit: "We've got a legal card or two, We're not done yet."

This same official acknowledged that North Canton ia "behind the eight-ball" (The Report's phrase). Moreover, an ensuing discussion focused on the phenomenon that "its not over until its over." (a quote attributed to famous Yankee catcher Yogi Berra) So The Report expects this war to go on and on and on.

The Report's ending point is this.

While it may be a lot of fun to play poker where there is a jackpot winner, and in this game either the Canton/Jackson Township side or the North Canton side will be a winner in the narrow sense of the word; however, in the end - the broader economic interests and future of Stark Countians will be the loser.