SCPR OFFERS CANTON CHARTER COMMISSION CANDIDATES 5 MINUTES OF VIDEO TIME TO ANSWER "A KEY QUESTION" AS TO THEIR CANDIDACY

CORRECTION

The videotaping will take place at the Stark County Law Library on the 4th floor of the Stark County Office Building, 110 Central Plaza, Canton, Ohio.

ORIGINAL BLOG

It was last in 1962 when Cantonians were asked to consider whether or not to make Canton "a charter government" city.

The issue failed likely because the proposal by those serving on the charter commission proposed making voluminous changes in the way Cantonians were to be governed going forward.




And make no mistake about it, there likely are those who hope to be elected to the 2015 version of a Canton Charter Commission should voters authorize the preparation of a "new" proposal.

Of course, there are those who, if Canton is to go charter and move off being a statutory city in which the State of Ohio determines a city's authority to govern, want things to stay "exactly as they now are" and only allow changes going forward which have been thorough vetted with citizen participation in the vetting process.

This blog is designed to introduce to Cantonians the SCPR's public service effort for them to be able to identify who the pro-change candidates are as contrasted to the stand-patters are as Cantonians prepare to vote on the issue and the commission make up on November 3rd.
 
Below is a copy of an e-mail that the SCPR sent out to the 54 or so candidates  for the 15 member commission:



Candidate for Canton Charter Commission,

The Stark County Political Report is offering each Charter Commission aspirant 5 minutes of video time to answer the following question, provide additional comments, and have it posted on blogs containing only the video and no commentary by the SCPR or anybody else on the responses.

The question is as follows: 

If Canton voters approve the formation of a Charter Commission and you are selected by them to staff one of the 15 positions what is your point of view on the following:

Do you favor presenting a Canton charter government structure to Canton voters in November, 2016 that mirrors Canton's current statutory government or do you favor the development of a proposal to voters that changes some aspect of the existing statutory structure of Canton government?

If you favor a change, describe the change you would promote in the discussions among the 15 elected commission members and the reasons [why you favor said changes.

The SCPR has reserved space at the Akron [Stark County Law Library, 4th Floor, Stark County Office Building, 110 Central Plaza, Canton, Ohio] for consecutive Wednesdays in two time slots: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.  

Slots are available beginning at the top of the hour (e.g. 12:00/2:30 p.m.) and continuing thereafter at 10 minute intervals.  It is critically important that participants be on time for the appointment time.

Available dates for recording candidate interviews are 09/16, 09/23 and 09/30.

Please e-mail the SCPR at tramols@att.net with your preferred time and two alternatives.  Appointments will be allocated on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Canton Councilman Edmond Mack has participated with the SCPR in the development of this project.  Both SCPR and Councilman Mack feel that it is very important for voters to understand each candidate’s positions pre-election so that Canton voters can make an informed choice at the polls on November 3rd.  The SCPR is committed to furthering this objective.

Thank you for your willingness to participate.

Martin Olson
Stark County Political Report
tramols@att.net
330 499 0465
330 838 2341 (fax)

Within 35 minutes of sending out the e-mail, the SCPR received this acceptance:

Martin Olson  Today at 12:57 PM
To:  Nicholas Mussulin

Your time:  09/16/2015 at 12:00 p.m.

Thank you for participating!

From: Nicholas Mussulin 
.... 

To: "tramols@att.net" <tramols@att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 12:35 PM
Subject: Canton charter video

Thanks for the opportunity to video my input regarding Canton charter commission. I prefer 9/16/15 at any time. Thanks and please confirm time I am scheduled. Nick Mussulin. Cell: ... .

Kudos! to Mr. Mussulin for being the very first responder.

Soon after, this acceptance:

Martin Olson  Today at 1:52 PM

To:  Roland, Robert E.

Your scheduled time:  09/16 at 12:10 p.m.

Thank you for participating.

From: "Roland, Robert E." ... .
To: "tramols@att.net" <tramols@att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 1:34 PM
Subject: Canton Charter

Martin:

Thank you for organizing this effort for the benefit of our City.  I am open any of the days that you have set aside.  Please schedule a 5 minute spot and confirm the date and time with me.  Thanks again.

Robert E. Roland

Another SCPR Kudos! to Mr. Roland.

The Report has not been able to obtain the e-mail addresses for the following candidates.

Jimmy E. Ball Sr.

Katherine L. Baylock

Rosemary Diamond

Peter D. Ferguson

Robert Fisher Jr.

Lemuel R. Green

Nathan Hand

Robert Harper

Patrick M. Harper

Timothy J. Leahy

Raymond Strain

Ryan E. Utterback

Eric Waldrop

Scott N. Warner

Accordingly, this blog will be their first notice of the availability of the opportunity to share their answers to the SCPR posed question(s).

Yours truly asks these folks to e-mail me at tramols@att.net in order to accept the offer which e-mail The Report will respond with a date and time for his/her video session.

A public service of The Stark County Political Report.