SCREWED? (GONZALEZ & GIAVASIS) CORDRAY IN, WHALEY ET AL OUT?

On September 17, 2017, former Stark County Democratic Party chairman Randy Gonzalez and Democratic Party political operative Louis Giavasis (brother of current Stark Dems' chairman Phil Giavasis) proved that they lacked the political astuteness of former Dems' (before Gonzalez) chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

In 2006, Maier demonstrated that his political senses were first-rate when he identified Ted Strickland as a shoe-in to win the Democratic nomination for governor and go onto getting elected governor in November, 2006.

Maier, Jr. angled the Stark County Democratic Executive Committee into endorsing Strickland over Flannery (usually, in contested races, party organizations do not endorse candidates) and thereby won an indebtedness of Strickland to him which The Stark County Political Report (SCPR) thinks Maier parlayed into getting Strickland administration jobs for his brother George, Jackson Township trustee Steven Meeks, Stark County commissioner Gayle Jackson and who knows whom else.

Mark the analysis of the SCPR:  yesterday entrant into the Democratic field of candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor; namely, Richard Cordray will runaway with the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Here is a LINK to a WOSU account of Cordray's gubernatorial announcement.

Back on September 17th, Louis Giavasis (who is suggesting that he may in 2019 run against "independent" mayor of Canton Thomas Bernabei) and Randy Gonzalez were heralded by the Nan Whaley campaign for endorsing her, to wit:

TWO STARK COUNTY LEADERS ENDORSE NAN WHALEY FOR GOVERNOR

Monday, September 11th, 2017

Two longtime Stark County elected leaders, Jackson Township Fiscal Officer Randy Gonzalez and Stark County Clerk of Courts Louis P. Giavasis, recently announced their endorsement of Nan Whaley for Governor.

“I’m endorsing Nan Whaley because Ohio needs a Governor who understands the challenges and opportunities of our local communities,” said Gonzalez. “We need a fresh face with bright, bold new ideas who will get things done for Stark County and Ohio. And that’s Nan.”

Gonzalez has served as Jackson Township Fiscal Officer for over 20 years and is the former Stark County Democratic Party Chair. Giavasis served as Plain Township Trustee for 23 years and is now Stark County Clerk of Courts, a post he’s held since 2015.

“As a Mayor, Nan Whaley understands our communities, and she understands boots-on-the-ground government,” said Giavasis. “Nan will be a Governor who helps local communities in Stark County and all across Ohio. We don’t need another politician from Columbus or Washington D.C., Ohio needs Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley as our next Governor.”

Nan Whaley issued the following statement in response:

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of these tremendous local leaders,” said Whaley. “Our communities have been left behind by politicians at the Statehouse, and Ohioans want change. Momentum is growing for our campaign and, with support from leaders across this state, we’ll work together to ensure Ohio’s best days are ahead of us.”

Hmm!

Although the SCPR doesn't think either Giavasis or Gonzalez are the brightest political figures in Stark County, it was highly surprising to see them come out for Whaley when it was the not-so-best-kept-secret that it was only a matter of time before Cordray announced.

Duh?

The SCPR watched on live streaming (Monday evening) as before-Cordray-announced Democratic candidates Whaley, Sutton, Schiavoni and Pillach debated in Cleveland.

The winner?

In the SCPR's view:  Betty Sutton.

Experienced in government-wise and articulating with some specificity her views, Sutton stood out.

The least impressive?

You've got it:  Nan Whaley.

In Dayton where she is mayor in a governance system in which the mayor is more or less a figure head, Whaley spoke on Monday night as if as mayor she was prepared to step into being governor.

Starting in 1914, Dayton's government was changed to the "weak mayor" manager-council form. In this system, the five-member commission selects the city manager, who holds administrative authority over the municipal government. The mayor is simply one of the five members of the city commission. The mayor's only power over the other commissioners is as chairperson of the commission. 

Source (Extract) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Dayton,_Ohio

Only the political naive would believe that line.

Apparently, Stark County clerk of courts Louis Giavasis and Jackson Township fiscal officer Randy Gonzalez have taken that line in "hook, line and sinker!"

The only remaining question should Cordray become governor:  Will he remember that they endorsed Whaley and did not give him a chance to earn their endorsement.?

Pretty dumb politics on Giavasis'/Gonzalez's part, no?

In the final analysis, it may turned out that they will have to muse to themselves should Cordray win the governorship:  "we are screwed!"