IS SNITCHLER OR BOSLEY BEHIND IN FUNDRAISING? ALSO, IS SNITCHLER DEVISING A PLAN TO USE "VOTE NO FOR INCREASED TAXES" MEMBER TOM MARCELLI AS A SURROGATE TO POLITICALLY ATTACK BOSLEY ON THE "IMPOSED" SALES TAX?

Todd Snitchler's opponent Todd Bosley says he hopes to raise $100,000.  The question is this.  Can Republican incumbent Snitchler exceed Bosley's goal?

This is a critical question for Snitchler.  Because if he wants to remain as the representative for the 50th House District (Lake, Marlboro, Nimishillen Osnaburg, Sandy, Sugarcreek, Tuscarwas, Lawrence and Perry [partial] Townships, including the villages and cities in each township), he will have to.

The 50th is a Republican indexed district and Snitchler being the incumbent clearly has the advantage.  But if he runs short of money come September and October, then the advantage is lost.

The SCPR hears that the Ohio House Republican Caucus has about $2 million to spend on House races whereas the Dems have about $6 million .

What the disparity means is that the Democrats will be able to put much more money from Columbus.

The Democrats won control of the Ohio House in 2008 after being on the outside looking in for many years.  The question now is whether or not they can maintain control.  With the larger campaign bankroll, the Dems will pour tons of money into the 50th.  The Report hears that the Snitchler/Bosley contest is the Democrats #1 priority in terms of being a targeted race.

The SCPR believes that this race could decide who controls the Ohio House come November 3, 2010.

Snitchler is ahead of Bosley in funds on hand as of June 4, 2010 by a margin $34,877.03 to $32,496.60.  However, Bosley out raised Snitchler for the period of late February through June 4th by a hefty $39,725 to $8,225.00.

It appears from the June 11th numbers that Bosley is on a roll whereas Snitchler is tailing off dramatically.

All but $1,100 or 86% of Snitchler's money came for political action committees (PACs) which included utilities, financial interest, insurance, cable television and the like.  None of Snitchler's contributions were $100.

The SCPR believes that the face off between Snitchler and Bosley will be a cliffhanger.  Bosley narrowly defeated Republican Commissioner Richard Regula in 2006 in a stunning upset.

Were Bosley to defeat Snitchler, it would be a huge win for the Democrats.  And there are factors which could turn mattes Bosley's way:  the money, his campaign energy (which Regula miscalculated) and the fact that his family has been in the septic business within what is now known as the 50th (formerly the 56th) for about 50 years.

However, The Report believes Bosley is vulnerable to losing votes (perhaps the election, if it is close) on account of his having voted to impose a 0.50 of one percent sales/use tax in December, 2008 in his capacity as county commissioner.

The SCPR is told that the Snitchler camp is preparing to use Tom Marcelli (Bethlehem Township which is in the 50th) of the "Vote No Increased Taxes Committee" (in opposition to the imposed tax) to lead the political attack against Bosley on the tax issue. Apparently, Snitchler wants to avoid direct involvement on this issue.

Earlier this year (March 4, 2010) Marcelli was in attendance at a Snitchler "campaign?" event at the Lake Branch of the Stark County District Library at which Snitchler sponsored a presentation on the mechanics and desired outcome of performance audits of government operations.

Another "person of interest" who supports Snitchler is Michael Cunnington of the Strategic Public Partners Group (formerly, executive director of the Stark County Republican Party).

Cunnington made the local news recently as the organizer of an initiative to get 10% of Canton voters to sign a petition to place a charter initiative on November's ballot.  Cunnington bills himself as a "policy wonk."  Hmm?

Recently, a SCPR check of his political contributions and receipts from campaigns (an expense to the campaign) shows the following:

Right now the SCPR rates this political fight as a toss up.  It could go either way.  The outcome likely will depend on who has the most money, who knocks on more doors and who becomes the better known candidate.  Positions on various issues could also play into the result. 

This Snitchler/Bosley match up will be a classic political confrontation between a man (Snitchler) who apparently thinks that a free and open marketplace and privatization of government functions is a panacea of what ails government and a man (Bosley) who believes that government (e.g. 9-1-1) in many areas of life is the only effective means to protect citizens from private sector abuses.