SMUCKLER RUNNING FOR MAYOR. HEALY RUNNING FOR MAYOR? A THIRD POSSIBLE "DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE" FOR MAYOR?

If the Stark County Political Report take on Canton's next mayoralty race takes hold, neither Councilman-at-large William Smuckler or Mayor William J. Healy, II would be the Democratic nominee coming out of the May, 2011 Democratic primary.

The SCPR has been saying for some time now, that Smuckler is in the race (The Repository Editorial Board finally squared up with the reality today) and that odds are good that Cantonians are going to see a rerun of the 2003 race between the two in which Smuckler came out the victor only to lose to eventual winner Janet Weir Creighton by a 300 plus votes in November.

Both Healy and Smuckler are yesterday's political news neither of whom, in the opinion of The Report, have what it takes to lead Canton out of its economic morass.  So why would anyone line up for either of them?

Rather, voters (Democratic primary voters) should be looking for a third way so far as the Democrats are concerned.

If the SCPR was choosing, who is a possibility to represent the Democrats in November, 2011?

Of course, this would take Healy deciding not to run.  For there is no way on God's green earth that Price would run against Healy.  But Smuckler?  Maybe.

The SCPR has not talked to Price about the possibility because to do so would be futile.  What's he going to say?  Anything he would say "can and would be used against him" by Healy.  Remember Bernabei and Nesbitt?

Rather, The Report will rely on Price's political history as a source for clues as to whether or not he would be interested in running on the condition that Healy gets smart and realizes he cannot be re-elected mayor of Canton.

Here is a brief bio of Price from the City of Canton website from when he was appointed service director [he has sense been appointed the additional role of being chief of staff]:

Prior to joining Mayor Healy’s administration, Price was the managing attorney at The Price Law Offices, LLC, which are located in Canton and Cuyahoga Falls.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management from Malone University (formerly Malone College) in Canton and graduated cum laude with a law degree from the University of Akron Law School in 2004.

“I am honored to have been chosen to fill this important position in the Mayor’s administration,” Price said.  “There is much to be done, and I look forward to working with everyone as we accomplish our goals and objectives.”

Price served one term on Alliance City Council (2006-07) before running unsuccessfully for Alliance Mayor in 2007.  Currently a resident of Alliance, Price said he is moving within City limits at the request of the Mayor.

Notice from the bio "running unsuccessfully for Alliance Mayor in 2007" in a pretty close race against Mayor Toni Middleton of Alliance.   So we know he likely has a hankering to be mayor somewhere.

The SCPR believes that "somewhere" could be the City of Canton if Mayor William J. Healy, II was to do the noble thing and step aside.  As readers of The Report know, yours truly was the very first Stark County political observer to get on to the reality that Healy is not up to being an effective mayor of Canton and if Canton is going to get its act together it will have to be under new leadership.  And, long time Canton political fixture Bill Smuckler is not the cure for what ails Canton.

An additional benefit of Price being the Democratic nominee is that it would likely prompt Stark Republicans to go all out to put a formidable candidate in the Canton mayor's race because they think they may be smelling political blood.

Republicans may or may not inject political competition into the race, if Smuckler is the Dem's nominee.

The SCPR realizes that the proposed scenario is highly unlikely, but it is a scenario that might get Canton the new political/governmental leadership it so desperately needs!