Tuesday, April 14, 2009

CANTON CITY COUNCIL SERIES: JIMMY BABCOCK - A FRONT RUNNER FOR CASAR'S CITY COUNCIL SEAT?



As the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) sees it, Jimmy Babcock (son of a past mayor of Canton - Charles Babcock [1958 to 1961] and long time Canton City Councilwoman Mary Babcock [1980 - 1989; 1992 - 2005]) should standout as the person most likely to succeed retiring Canton City Councilman Don Casar for an "at-large" seat on Council.

"Should" is not quite the same thing as "will" standout.

No one in Stark County has better political blood lines than Jimmy. Accordingly, on a surface consideration he deserves this election's SCPR Political Pedigree Award.

The Report has asked Candidate Babcock for an interview to determine what qualifications other than his political pedigree and his impeccable wardrobe that qualifies him to succeed Don Casar as Canton City Councilperson-at-Large. Babcock told The Report, he would think about it. But, in his exchange with yours truly, he made it clear that he was less than happy with The Report's handling of some of his political cronies in previous Report articles.

So The Report is highly skeptical that Babcock is going to call for a one-on-one interview.

So the Babcock candidacy evaluation goes forward.

In The Report's judgment, Babcock has "more splash than dash." If he were to be elected, he would likely amount to no more than a wallflower adorning city council chamber walls. More substantive councilpersons would carry on the business of the city. But Jimmy would be happy just to have a position.

Now Babcock works for Stark County Auditor Kim Perez. Some politically placed Stark Countians have told The Report that they view Jimmy as being primarily a Perez political operative. What's the saying: "perception is everything."

Perhaps if Cantonians see Babcock as "doing no harm," he stands a decent chance to be elected. He certainly has name recognition.

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