Yesterday, the SCPR had discussions with two of North Canton's leading political figures as whom among the five candidates for North Canton City Council (NCCC - Council) is likely to win on November 8th.
The first two winners seemed to be easy to come by: unanimous Marcia Kiesling, who has been on Council since 2002, and newbie Mark Cerreta, who was appointed earlier this year when Daryl Revoldt left to join the Kasich administration in the economic development department.
One would think that Kiesling is likely to come in first. However, Cerreta who has been tabbed by some as being "Mister North Canton" might surprise us in that regard. If Cerreta pulls off a surprise he will have bested a person who in her own right might qualify to be "Missus North Canton."
The real question seems to be: who will come in third?
If name ID were going to be the deciding criterion, former Councilman Chuck Osborne would appear to be the obvious choice.
However, rightly or wrongly, Osborne is beleaguered by having to wear - in the minds of many influential North Cantonians - the label of being a political curmudgeon who is picky, picky, picky to a fault and thereby would be a disruptive factor if elected to Council.
Moreover, he is the only Democrat running in a solidly Republican town.
He may still win given his very high name ID, but if he were viewed more positively by North Canton's kingmakers he seemingly would be a slam-dunk for one of the top three spots (if not the top spot) for one of the three positions in the North Canton council-at-large race at stake in this election.
The prognosticator panel of three all agree that Osborne has shot himself in the political foot over the nearly ten years since he was last in Council and therefore would be a surprise winner if he were to overcome what appears to be a self-inflicted political disability.
If not Osborne, then whom?
Answer (from the "informal" panel: Dan Griffith.
A political newcomer, this lawyer - formerly for Black McCuskey of Canton and now employed by Premier Bank and Trust in its trust department - impresses the panel members as coming across as more polished and command of the issues facing North Canton than Alan Wells.
Here is a video of all three candidates speaking to the matter of Issue 2 (the anti-collective bargaining initiative) which will affect North Canton's relationship with union employees and is on the November 8th ballot.
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