IS ANOTHER STARK CO TREASURY-ESQUE "CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE IN GOV'T"(2009) LOOMING ON CYBER SECURITY ISSUES?

REVISED BLOG ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV 15

REGARDING STARK COUNTY'S CYBER SECURITY PLAN

We Stark Countians all remember hearing the revelation on April 1, 2009 that Stark County taxpayer money had been stolen from the county treasurer's office.

The fallout on elected Stark County officials was enormous.

A county treasurer ends up resigning, a county auditor is defeated for re-election and Stark County sinks into a deep, deep fiscal crisis that took the election of two new Stark County commissioners (Creighton and Bernabei) to institute the values of accountability, openness, official/citizen communication and transparency and thereby redeem the 2009-2011 loss of public confidence in county government.

One of the reasons we humans pay attention to history, is to decipher from history the error of our ways and to institute measure to ensure that similar matters do not go awry again.

The hot issue these days is cyber security of all of U.S. government (federal, state and local [and, yes, even Stark County, its cities, townships, boards of education, et al] included.

On October 8, 2019 the Stark County commissioners held an executive session with Stark County auditor Alan Harold regarding the security of Stark's cyber system(s).

On November 15th, the SCPR sent an inquiry to the Stark County commissioners, to wit:

Having read today a couple of articles on state and county cyber security (LINK 1) (LINK 2) (LINK 3), I am curious as to how on top of the issues presented in the articles are the Stark County commissioners and Auditor Harold's IT department. 

I realize threat the auditor's office is specifically responsible for Stark County IT security.  But I want to know from "the buck stops here" unit of overall county government the state of the commissioners' understanding of the potential for cyber problems in Stark County, whether or not preventative measures are in place and the degree to which the commissioners and Auditor Harold can assure the Stark County public that the county is as secure as "the state of the art" allows. Has there been within the last year a work session on the topic(s) raised in this e-mail. If so, when? If not, why not? If not, whether or not the commissioners think such a session is warranted?

Chief County Administrator Brant Luther's response:

The SCPR appreciates Administrator Luther's "assurances," but we all know that "the best laid plan of mice and men" often go awry.

The antidote?  Fundamental democratic-republican values of government accountability, openness, two way communication and, above all, transparency.

On October 8, 2019, Luther says, the commissioners did have an "executive session" on Stark County's cyber security preparedness.

But that is all we know and that is still all we know after the SCPR raised the issue of transparency in yesterday's meeting.

In the video, note that Administrator Luther asks for "specifics."

Apparently, he had forgotten that the SCPR had provided a specific line of inquiry.  In a follow up SCPR email to Auditor Harold (copied to Luther):

The SCPR cites you to a National Law Review article (LINK) which outlines 11 areas which local governments need to be addressing, to wit: 

Nonetheless, the commissioners "stood their ground" and would not discuss even non-sensitive information on Stark County's plan of preparedness to prevent cyber attack.

Anyone who knows the SCPR knows that this blog will be unrelenting in ferreting out those specifics of the plan that cyber experts agree on is appropriate for public dissemination.

The SCPR is of the opinion that the commissioners are being overly cautious in sharing information on Stark County's apparently, "in the works" cyber security plan.

REGARDING FEDERAL/OHIO/STARK COUNTY'S PLAN FOR ELECTION SECURITY

Cong. Anthony Gonzalez says he is for US/Ohio/Stark Co election security. (https://tinyurl.com/yjltp6po ) But what is doing to encourage support of the Paris Call (https://tinyurl.com/yep2r953 ) by US, Ohio and Stark County government entities?

Ransomware attacks on local governments can and have cost local governments huge payouts to ransomware attackers

Meanwhile, you and I are denied electronic access to our governments.

Recently, the Canton Auditor's Office was duped into paying an employee's paycheck to a spammer.

So for any local government official who thinks that the rest of Stark County government will not fall prey to hackers, spammers, phishers etc, out to think again.

Several months ago Ohio secretary of state Frank LaRose put out a press release (LINK) on his office's effort to provide Ohio with secure elections.

However, when the SCPR asked the Stark Co Board of Elections (Travis Secrest/Dir Jeff Matthews) for information what the LaRose directive would be implemented in Stark County, the BOE replied that the SCPR would have to ask LaRose, whom, of course, failed to answer the SCPR inquiry.

The public needs know at least an outline with as much specificity as is prudent to reveal in order to have a measure upon which to hold public officials accountable if their planning proves inadequate if not non-existence which seemed to be the case with the Stark County treasurer's office under then-treasurer Gary Zeigler.

The public having a ready accountability standard appears to be something that many elected/appointed public officials are deathly afraid of.

But they do not mind taking in their annual salaries.

ALL VOTING IS LOCAL. EVENT SPONSORED BY CANTON AREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

UPDATE:  8:55 a.m. Video of Stark County Citizens Who Experienced a Rough Voting Experience

UPDATE:  9:02 a.m.  One on One Post-Event Interviews with Mike Brickner of All Voting is Local & Co-president of the Canton Area LWV



ALL VOTING IS LOCAL in Canton yesterday. Sponsored by the Canton Area League of Women Voters. SCPR videotaped 1.34 min of Canton presentation.

Event is designed to equip "everyday" citizens to get active in ensuring that Stark County elections are smooth.

Here is a 2012 incident that reveals that for several Alliance area residents that demonstrates that only with citizen involvement monitoring year in, year out county, city, township, boards of education and other political subdivision entities (e.g. libraries), can we feel confident that each of our votes will count.



Here is a one-on-one interviews with presenter Mike Brickner (All Voting is Local) and LWV co-present Carol Canavan.

STARK COUNTY'S GOP "RIGHT WING" INTERNAL FIGHT?

When the SCPR took a look at Brook Harless' (Plain Township trustee candidate) campaign finance report (pre-general election), all this blogger could see was 'red flags' which prompted a "deep dig" into the question:  "What is going on here?"

It is truly amazing what one finds when one examines things like campaign finance reports and makes "simple" Google (R) searches.

Take a look at Harless' pre-general 2019 campaign finance report:



Note all those "heavy hitter"  Stark Co (and connected) Republicans:

• Jane Timken, Ohio GOP chair
• Sarah Brown of Alliance, a Ohio GOP committeeperson,
• Reggie Stoltzfus, (R, Stark's 50th OHse [Christina Hagan's former office),
• Anthony Gonzalez (R, US Congress 16th [opposed by Hagan in 2018]),
• Bob Gibbs (R, US Congress 7th [a out&out Trump supporter as was Hagan])

And take a look at Harless' 2017 pre-general CFR:



No "heavy hitter Republican official" except for:

• Christina Hagan, then a member of the Ohio House as Stoltzfus' predecessor

• (six years, having been appointed by the Ohio House Republican caucus in 2011 when Todd Snitcher resigned to take a Gov. Kasich PUCO appointment as chair) 

Note:  NO 2019 campaign contribution Hagan to Harless!

Lay on top of all this the fact that Christina's brother Josh ran (as political ally of now OH Hse speaker Larry Householder) against Stoltzfus (a supporter of then OHse speaker Ryan Smith) for the GOP 50th District nomination in May, 2018 while Christina was running against Gonzalez.

Byzantine politics, no?

What to make of all this?

The SCPR thinks that a battle between political right-wingers Hagan/Harless is underway.

Who is going to end up the loser?

Christina Hagan as her ambition to build a Stark County based family political empire vanishes?

GONZALEZ: How Mature of a Politician is this Guy?

Anthony Gonzalez (R, the 16th) represents part of Stark County.

While this action is commendable, his use of RNC or Republican Congressional Caucus "push polling" (designed to lead responding citizens to politician/political party desired answers) is shameful.

Something Stark Countians would expect of either highly partisan Republican Bob Gibbs and Democrat Tim Ryan.

SCPR does  not expect a response from Gonzalez.

Apparently, he (being a freshman congressman) hasn't yet developed the maturity to qualify as a first rate representative.

Vote Smart's Story

OELSLAGER "ANGERS" STARK COUNTY EDUCATION COMMUNITY OVER HIS "HILLS & DALES" SCHOOL TRANSFER BILL!

DISCLAIMER:  SCESC Governing Board President Mary Olson is this blogger's spouse.

Up in arms! is the only way to describe the discussion last night at the regular monthly meeting of the Stark County Educational Service Center Governing Board.  Stark County state Representative Scott Oelslager (Republican, OHse 48) was the main target of the outrage.

President Olson opened the consideration of legislation passed earlier this year whereby a provision was slipped into the omnibus two year State of Ohio Budget Bill which made it much easier for any dissatisfied group of parents to petition to transfer from one public school district to another.



Here is the entire resolution.



It is widely believe that Oelslager was behind the legislation on behalf of Hills & Dales which is one Stark County's wealthiest communities, reportedly, at the urging of resident W.R. Timken, Jr.

Timken, a former U.S. ambassador, is known as being part of the Timken family who brought the Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company to Canton from St Louis many years ago.

Prior to being changed this year, the school district transfer law had safeguards against communities like Hills & Dales  cherry picking their public school district.

Reportedly, the Hills & Dales initiative motivation is to help million dollar and up homeowners sell their properties. After all, who would want to buy a mega dollar home in a school district (Plain) that has a 43% cultural diversity rate.  Much better Jackson, with its marked monolithic cultural factor.

And, by the way, it appears that Oelslager, likely through an accommodating fellow legislator, acted primarily for wealthy Hills & Dales. At most 22 students would be affected.  It could be as low as 10 students as 12 of Hills & Dales' 22 students attend private schools.

Trouble is that in Oelslager's, via a surrogate, secretive rush to aid Hills & Dales, he may have unthinkingly (giving him the benefit of a doubt) upset the "school transfer" protocol apple cart for the entire state of Ohio that could spell disaster for many of Ohio's urban school districts

Here is Mary Jo Shannon Slick (legal counsel for the SCESC) explaining to board member Barb Morgan (widow of former long time SCESC superintendent Larry Morgan) what the law "used to be."  Under that law (in 2003), Hills & Dales residents tried to separate from Plain but was stopped by standards in place.



Now with the 2019 Oelslager inspired (the SCPR's belief) change, no such standards exist. 

Accordingly, the Hills & Dales petition signers as listed below in filing a petition for removal from the Plain School District seemingly have a clear path that did not exist in 2003.

Here's Shannon-Slick expounding on the new law.



Next up, Board Member Jacqueline DeGarmo speaks up.



Members Miller, DeGarmo and Holmes lash out at Representative Oelslager.



The members of the Stark County Educational Service Center Governing Board votes to approve the Resolution.



Will the Resolution be effective to motivate some legislator (perhaps Reggie Stoltzfus [R, OHse 50th] or Kirk Schuring [R, Osen, 29th] to introduce and guide to passage a repeal of the Oelslager promoted Hills & Dales School Transfer law.

LINK: SCPR/FACEBOOK COVERAGE OF STARK CO NOV 2019 RACES

LINK to SCPR/Facebook Election Central

MOUNT UNION UNIVERSITY HOSTS CANDIDATES NIGHT

STARK CO POLITICAL REPORT WAS THERE

SEE Marlington Schood Bd Candidates in Hotly Contested Race.

The sparks didn't fly last night in Alliance, but they probably will on October 24th when these same candidates appear jointly on October 24th at the Marlington High School auditorium located at 10493 Moulin Ave NE (Marlboro Township) Alliance, OH.

Also, Alliance mayoralty, appearing council-at-large candidates and, of course, "unopposed" ward candidates.

Folks who know the political nuances of Alliance politics say that Democratic challenger David Smith has virtually no chance to defeat the two term incumbent Alan Andreani.

The video of their joint appearance on Monday evening at Mount Unions Ralph Regula Center:



The SCPR did Tweet the video of the "uncontested" ward races.  It is a said day when a city the size of Alliance cannot find at least two candidates for each and every election contest. 

Both Dem and GOP political parties have left the citizens of Alliance down in not producing competitive races at the ward level and, of course, the finance director and law director positions.

For those readers who want to see these candidates, here is the Twitter
LINK.

IT IS TIME FOR STARK'S "LEADING 'ELECTED' 'APPOINTED' TO PUBLIC OFFICE" REPUBLICANS TO "PUBLICLY" DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM DONALD J. TRUMP

It is truly shocking that President Trump has asked Ukraine to involve itself in the 2020 USA election.

Apparently, 2016's Russian interference on behalf of Trump on the social media is being deemed by the president as "the new normal" electioneering.

 A few Republicans, most Democrats and many political independents have taken a stand of "Country Over Party" stance and are amazed that many Republican leaders across America (including, of course, right here in Stark County, Stark Co GOP chair and executive director of the Stark Co Board of Elections being the prime example) continue to support a man who quintessentially places Self Interest Over Others' Interests in having an America, Ohio and Stark County in which fostering fundamental democratic-republican values are the top priority.

Mostly, local Republican leaders are "mum is the word" on Donald J. Trump.

Some, however, try to deal with the embarrassment of the National Republican Party standard bearer by diverting to this or that thing about Democrats (i.e. Obama/Clinton et cetera) as some sort of justification for continuing to support Trump.

It is time for Republicans to stop "changing the subject" in pointing to former Democratic president Bill Clinton as if his conduct in the Lewinsky matter will forever give a pass to any Republican president who comes along and stoops to the Clinton (and, of course, Nixon) level.

Many of us, including this blogger, have already factored in that Democratic leaders are far from perfect.

Democratic leaders of the time (and many continue to do it) want to wash away the Clinton/Lewinsky debacle as if it did not have an erosive effect on our democratic/republican values.

 Democrat and Republican elected and appointed to government post leaders who defend/justify the indefensible and unjustifiable in the own way erode the confidence on the party of everyday citizens in the integrity of our government processes.

Right now, it is time for Stark County Republican leaders to go public in distancing themselves from a man who has betrayed the public trust in government.

Here are links to a couple of SCPR Tweets on this topic:

Stark GOP Chairman Jeff Matthews Speech - 9/14 Trump Canton Rally https://t.co/jK4TOOo45l via @YouTube

— SCPR (@tramo) October 1, 2019

WILL STARK GOP CHAIR JEFF MATTHEWS LEAD THE WAY? Will elected Republican Stark County Political Subdivision officials follow, if Matthews should surprise us all and follow Flakes's plea which in effect calls for "Country Over Party." pic.twitter.com/2r3JVU9Dsl

— SCPR (@tramo) September 30, 2019

STARK CO COMMISSIONERS: Putting County $$$ Where Their Mouths Are!

UPDATED:  1:40 P.M. (See restructured Stark Co Commissioners' resolution in Appendix)

Stark Commissioners are spending up to $47,000 for a supplemental study to the February 2008 original study on assessing and improving Stark's 9-1-1.

IMPRESSIVE! STARK CO COMMISSIONERS WANT TO "FINISH THE JOB" IN UPGRADING COUNTY'S 9-1-1. Hold informational meeting for Stark's emergency/safety forces. VERY POORLY ATTENDED. SHAME OF THEM. Link to video on entire presentation: https://t.co/vwsaEWJzNt pic.twitter.com/61p8oDt0Pp

— SCPR (@tramo) September 30, 2019

A few snippets form February, 2008 GeoComm which resulted in dramatic improvements for Stark Countians needing emergency assistance.  But more needs to be done before Stark County has one of the absolutelyu BEST 9-1-1 systems in Ohio, if not, in the nation.

See Appendix for "full" copy of 2008 GeoComm Report.

Shame on Stark's First Repponders' leadership.  40 expected; about 12 attended commissioner generated informational meeting on Thursday, September 27, 2019. Many, but not all, of those invited attended.  Citizens should be contacting their local EMS, fire and police officials for answers as to why "getting to the state of the art" appears not to be their priority.

See 46 minute SCPR video of event here:



APPENDIX

Commissioners' resolution:

ORIGINAL 9-1-1 REPORT (February 2008)

AG YOST DOES RIGHT THING! RE: HB 6 BAILOUT OF FIRST ENERGY SOLUTIONS ET AL

A SCPR HATS OFF! TO ATTY GENERAL DAVE YOST! Stark Countians should line up to sign circulating petitions to repeal HB 6 though Stark OGA members Schuring (R, OSen 29), Oelslager (R, OHse 48), & West (D, 49) voted "yes" HB 6. Stoltzfus voted "no."Shame on First Engery Solutions! pic.twitter.com/FubJI27gWT

— SCPR (@tramo) September 30, 2019

Stark Countians who get harrassed in signing petition should not only contact AG Yost's office BUT ALSO those of Stark OGA delegation members Schuring, Oelslager & West!

THE FULL YOST PRESS RELEASE

SELECT SCPR TWEETS NOW LINKED TO SCRP BLOG

SCPR is adding a LINK SELECT SCPR Tweets. Some readers are not interested in frequenting Twitter. Accordingly look daily for "new" selected Tweets. BE SURE TO CLICK ON "LINK" TO SEE THE TWEET POSTING

Example:

IS BOB GIBBS PLANNING TO RETIRE?

 CLICK ON pic.twitter.com/txByXDBirf to view Tweet

BOB GIBBS (R, U.S. Congress, the 7th which includes most of Stark Co to be the NEXT REPUBLICAN TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT? Let's all hope!!! pic.twitter.com/txByXDBirf

— SCPR (@tramo) September 27, 2019

HAVE YOU BEEN PURGED FROM STARK CO VOTER ROLLS?

 CLICK ON pic.twitter.com/Ly7Oq87zEF to see Tweet content.

3,000 STARK COUNTIANS PURGED FROM VOTERS ROLL. TOTAL STATEWIDE: 182,858! SOURCE: OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE. pic.twitter.com/Ly7Oq87zEF

— SCPR (@tramo) September 28, 2019

CCS BD MEMBERS APPROVE McKINLEY GRAND TAX ABATEMENT: 4 TO 1 (RESNICK: HELL, NO!)

CCS BOE MEMBER & VP ERIC RESNICK:  "A MIXED BAG!"

RESNICK VIDEO - THE GRILLING OF CRAWFORD

RESNICK VIDEO - EXTENDED REMARKS

On the one hand: one cannot but admire CCS board member & VP Eric Resnick for putting up a fight against the CCS agreeing to a 75%/15 yr Enterprise Zone property tax abatement which will likely end up depriving the CCS.

On the other hand:  Resnick came off as a "sore" loser as he went on and on and on (Bd president JR Rinaldi tried to cut him off) regarding the arguments made by national and state "Think Tanks" as referred to by Resnick in his comments before last night's vote.

On the positive side, Resnick was the ONLY board member to grill HOF representative and president Michael Crawford.  Rinaldi, Russ, Milligan came off as cheerleaders which should endear them to Repository publisher Jim Porter who is well known for his sycophantic ("the official newspaper of the Pro Football Hall of Fame") relationship all things HOF Village related project.

Here is Resnick in his "finest 'moment'" in grilling Crawford:



The Resnick/Crawford exchange is an object lesson for all members of deliberative bodies in Stark County political subdivisions (i.e. cities, villages, townships and boards of education) of the preparation that a council/board member ought to have engaged in prior to asking questions of the likes of a Micheal Crawford.

BUT he did "guild the lilly" and thereby detracted from his incisive questioning of Crawford.

Here is Resnick in  an "overkill" mode.



His seemingly unending diatribe may cost him re-election on November 5th as hoped for by The Rep's "powers that be!"

A Resnick loss will make Rich Derosiers and Jim Porter of the "official newspaper of the Pro Football Hall of Fame" very, very, very happy!

Encouraging a public official analytical, skeptical frame of mind is not a quality that these newspaper men will abide when it comes to HOF matters.

Likely because they perceive "all things HOF" as a last gasp as a last hope for reviving downtown Canton and they do not want anyone upsetting the apple cart.

All-in-all, CCS board member and VP Eric Resnick was "a mixed bag" last night.

SCPR & CANTON REP EDITORIAL BOARD AGREE: RESNICK CONTINUING AS CCS BOARD MEMBER IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE SCHOOLS; NOTWITSTANDING HIS PASSION!

On Thursday, The Canton Repository Editorial Board (Executive Editor Rich Derosiers) wrote a scathing editorial on the unsuitability for Canton City Council member (currently, the vice president of the Board) to be re-elected to another term.

Be sure to read the editorial.  Here is a LINK.

The SCPR takes Resnick as to his word ("you be the judge" as repeated numerous times in Resnick's response, all of which is published immediately after these SCPR comments) and on the basis of having covered Resnick and his political activities and elected/appointed office record, sides with The Rep editorial board and its Thursday editorial.

Need this blogger say that the SCPR has taken exception to the management/editorial practice (i.e. "the official newspaper of the HOF"), style and substance since March 12, 2008?

No doubt there is something positive to be said about Resnick's passion.  But he has now become a distraction to sorely needed re-direction of the CCS to pull itself out of being one the very poorest performing school districts in Ohio and possibly in the nation.

Resnick, who has been on the board, on-and-off, for a good part of the past ten years (though only one of five board members) owns a share of not providing enough of effective leadership that the CCS has desperately needed to avoid the state the school system is currently in.

Long before The Rep recognized that Resnick and his passion and zeal for whatever comes out of his mind/mouth makes him, in an overall sense, a detriment to the effective functioning of any public board (elected or appointed);  SCPR blogs over the past eleven plus years has tracked Resnick's involvement in public matters.

Now Resnick's FB response:

Eric Resnick for Better Canton Schools

August 1 at 5:13 PM · 

I thought I had seen just about everything when the Repository editorial board seemed unhappy that my Board colleagues and I did our jobs too well, inferring that protecting the districts assets was "dangerously close to extortion" in its July 14 editorial. (Keep in mind that our negotiating opponent was Hall of Fame Village and the Repository is "the official newspaper" of the Hall of Fame.)

But today THEIR agenda, comes into clearer focus than it was then, and I suppose I can channel President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who asked Americans to "to judge me by the enemies I have made."

Today's editorial is case in that point.

I am a bit flattered that the editorial board has to take much out of context to do what they think will be a hit piece on me. Rest assured this won't be their last between now and the election.

You all saw the video of my comments to Canton City Council on Monday and can judge for yourselves.

I have posted my testimony each time I have testified at the statehouse, and those comments are part of the public record. I make no apologies for advocating for public education nor looking out for the Canton City School District. It goes along with the job. Again, judge for yourselves.

(The senate Education chair was a little unhappy that I called her out for hearing a graduation requirement proposal for the first time at 1:30 on the afternoon senate budget amendments were due at 4:00, and her fellow senator for saying in open hearing that the proposal would be "the only one in the budget." Of course that kind of sleazy backroom dealing behind the public's back should be called out, in my opinion. Again, you can judge that for yourselves.)

But perhaps the most telling display here by the editorial board is their objection to my objection that Canton City School District personnel (not merely "I") were not credited with our participation in the press conference opposing Academic Distress Commissions in their June 30 editorial, which followed my complaints that they had not covered the matter, which is of critical importance to this community, as news.

Note:  (Resnick "for you to judge" enlarged print and underline added for emphasis sake)

I post here, for you to judge, 

the very e-mail the editorial board objects to, 

and 

it is followed by Rich DeRosiers' response. Again, judge it for yourselves:

Good afternoon.

I can't let the day conclude without commenting on your editorial today.

I love the conclusion.

I have been one of the leaders among my peers fighting the academic distress commissions and state takeover.

I testified against Cupp-Patterson, exactly because it is so unfair to districts like ours, which you know because your sister paper to the north reported it.

I also testified twice against what they did with graduation requirements.

Again, I agree with your conclusion 100 percent.

I shared the editorial with my colleague and friend Mohamed Al-Hamdani of the Dayton school board, and I agree he was a star performer Wednesday.

My objection is around how hard you had to work to fail to mention the names of the Canton City School District people who were there, and who represented their community very well.

I was fortunate, when I worked in the newspaper business, to have worked for an editor was OCD, and one of the things he was obsessive about was drilling it into us that every article has to stand on its own. Every article has to be treated as if it is the only thing reported about something, and a person passing through, only reading one thing, should get the whole picture.

The Repository has yet to report on the effort to eliminate academic distress commissions as a news item. I have talked to Kelly twice about this, so I know you have the material. I don't understand the reluctance to go there. Jim and Rich signed the letter spearheaded by the Canton Professional Educators Association in opposition to academic distress commissions, so I know you know something about it.

You have ignored what Dr. Jeff Graham has been doing behind the scenes and out front last week, having the distinction as an expert on state takeovers because he lived it personally.

The Canton City School District joined the Youngstown City School District Board of Education in their suit against the state in the Ohio Supreme Court. We are the only school district to do so.

My point is, the Canton City School District has been leading and out front among Ohio school districts on this from the beginning, yet your readers would not know that from reading the Repository, and I find that unfortunate. You fail my former editor's test.

Our community, our stakeholders and employees deserve to know what those who represent them are doing in their name.

I am tired of talking about this around the community and being asked what we're doing about it. Your readers -- our stakeholders -- should already know. That should be your mission.

No school district had as many representatives at the event Wednesday that we did, and we were all there by invitation, because of the leadership we have shown.

No other school district had a teacher speak, and Mr. Geraghty really does represent the future of teachers in the Canton City School District, and does not deserve to be ignored.

CPEA's leadership on this has raised the bar among unions that represent Ohio's teachers. That's worth our community's awareness.

Instead, you worked real hard to avoid mentioning their names or what they have done.

Finally, if this is emblematic of your continued grudge against me, shame on you.

That's all.

ERIC
------------
To which DeRosier responded:

Mr. Resnick:

Thank you for your letter and your compliment.
It is not the newspaper’s position to print or not print news based on perceived “grudges.”
If academic distress commissions are abolished, due credit will be given to those involved.
Until then, a news story on the work behind the scenes does nothing to make a difference in Columbus. That’s a role for the Editorial Board at this time.
All things in due time, Mr. Resnick.

Go enjoy the sunshine.
Long emails on a day as glorious as today are a misuse of God’s gift to us today.

Rich D

Note:  Readers can refresh themselves on the Resnick/Rinaldi "Knock-Down, Drag-Out" 2013 head to head CCS BOE race at this LINK.

To provide readers with "in-depth" background on the SCPR's assessment of Resnick as a political figure, elected and appointed public official, here is an encore rendition of a January 19, 2019 blog:

Now turning The Report's attention to Mister Resnick as the SCPR's latest addition to "The Bottom 10 List!

Congratulations, Eric.  Resnick is a former CCS BOE member having been elected in 2009 to fill the unexpired term of John Rinaldi (how ironic is that) who abruptly resigned earlier in the year.

Canton City Schools have had quite a lot of negative publicity over the past year and a good part of the negativity came from Resnick as he seems to the SCPR as having been the lead in opposition to the successful effort by school officials with BOE approval of the merger of Resnick's alma mater Timken High School with McKinley with the McKinley name surviving the consolidation.

If Superintendent Adrian Allison thinks having Resnick as an "outside-the-beltway" opponent was a bad trip; having him working his Machiavellian politics from the inside will likely the outright nightmare for the Super.

The SCPR is prone to be supportive of folks like Resnick because of their willingness "to shake the trees" of establishment political and government circles.

But yours truly finds it hard to abide him for his utter arrogance and vitrolic ways. Undoubtedly, does some good in a Devils' advocate role.  But in the end, The Report thinks he does more harm than good in an official capacity.

He seems to like to present himself as the paragon of righteousness in his functioning as a public official.  But The Report for one questions whether or not he adequately protected Canton Joint Recreation Board (CJRB) taxpayers during his stint on its board and in particular as the board's president.

The Report has done some blog work re:  Resnick when he was a member of the CJRD, the legitimacy of which was brought into question by some when he continued on in that capacity as an appointee of the Canton BOE even after he lost his place on the BOE, but is not done with that matter just yet.

It had to be a huge disappointment to the likes of John Rinaldi (current vice president of the Canton BOE) and the highly regarded Richard Milligan and perhaps relatively new member Will Grimsley (a fellow union member with Rinaldi) to see the results of election night November 3, 2015.

It has been tough enough for the Board in Resnick's absence from BOE officialdom over the past four years, for example (in part):

• Convincing CCS constituents of the viability of implementing the system's Brighter Tomorrow program
• The merger of Timken and McKinley High School (which Resnick opposed in his capacity as a citizen and alumni of Timken),
• Financial uncertainty,
• Substandard (as compared to other Stark County school districts) academic performance,
• The controversy between the CCS treasurer and the Stark County Educational Service Center (of which yours truly is a member) over reimbursement to the SCESC of payments made by the Center to Alison's wife working at the CCS as a SCESC employee, and
• The resignation of board president Ryan Brahler over some controversial remarks directed towards game officials he made at a McKinley girls basketball game,

November 5th was not tough to exiting board members from the standpoint of the election of Corey Minor Smith.  Optimism abounds that she will be a productive board member.

Resnick's narrow victory in light of his past board member performance had to be troubling going forward.

A mere 27 votes separated Canton having a totally productive board to one in which The Report thinks that there will be acrimony generated by mostly by highly emotional Resnick.

Two years ago, Rinaldi handily defeated Resnick in a knock-down, drag-out political fight (LINK) in which Resnick in the opinion of The Report placed himself in the political gutter.

What a reprieve for the Canton City Schools, no?

Resnick originally as indicated above was elected to the CCS BOE in 2009 but could not get his gathering petition signatures act together in order to qualify for a place on the ballot in 2011.

Resnick, who the SCPR thinks fancies himself as being smarter than everybody else in the room failed to get the required 150 signatures to qualify for the ballot in his quest to be re-elected in the November, 2011 general election.

He submitted 197 signatures, but 50 did not qualify as registered voters.

Amazing, truly amazing!  Of his submitted signatures, 26% of them didn't qualify as valid signatures.

A guy who once ran for the United States Congress.  Wow!

The SCPR can say for sure from direct experience that getting nearly all if not all of one's signatures to be signed by validly registered voters is a very, very, very simple and an on-the-spot (called "walking-lists") verifiable process.

And he thinks he is the smartest guy in the room?  Running for the Board of Education?

In any event, the CCS were spared having him on its board.

The only significant productive thing the SCPR thinks Resnick has done on the CCS BOE is to push for a sorely needed tax issue on the 2011 ballot.  And to his credit, he took the pro-levy stance in his campaign to be elected to the board in 2009.

It passed and was critical to CCS staying financially solvent.

Other than that, the SCPR sees Resnick as nothing but trouble and look for him to get ugly with any on the board as presently constituted who have the audacity to differ with him on a controversial matter.

Allison and his fellow board members have to be bracing themselves for what they suspect is about to come.

Some readers might think it is unfair to place Resnick on "The Bottom 10 List" on his having just begun his term.

But this guy in no novice to politics and government.

The Report thinks that enough is known about Resnick from how he has handled himself in the public arena (including his abbreviated two year plus on the board previously) that justifies his #10 ranking coming out of the gate.

Had he been successful in running for the board in 2011 and/or 2013, The Report thinks he would have made a place for himself higher up on the list when it first got rolling and before the November, 2015 election.

For The Stark County Political Report blog, having Resnick in an elected position in a Stark County Political Subdivision is a godsend.

Hopefully, for the sake of the well being of the CCS, he proves The Report wrong in having highly negative expectations for him as a board member going forward.

Regrettably, the SCPR thinks such is not going to be the case.

The person who makes #1 on the list in this periodic update ought to be looking over his/her shoulder because it could be that Eric Resnick will some how manage to challenge for being the SCPR's Stark County absolutely worst elected official sooner than one might think, no?

IS IT LEGAL FOR A CANDIDATE TO RESCIND A WITHDRAWAL FROM AN ELECTION IN OHIO?

UPDATED:  09:20 AM

HAVE STARK GOP CHAIRMAN/EXECUTIVE DIR OF THE STARK BOE

JEFF MATTHEWS

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

REPUBLICAN OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LaROSE'S OFFICE

CREATED NEW ELECTION LAW/POLICY?

First of all, let it be said that this blog is not about the candidate.

Nancy Halter has been and continues to be a superlative public service asset to the city of Massillon.  She has been listed by The Stark County Political Report as one of the top officials in Stark County political subdivision government in terms of performance.

It appears that she will be selected on Monday by the Massillon members of the Stark County Republican Party Central Committee to replace recently deceased Milan Chovan as a Massillon councilperson-at-large through December 31, 2019  And that is A GOOD THING for Massillon.  Nobody in Massillon has the credentials that Halter does in having renedered public service to the city of Massillon.

However, it is about the manner in which Stark County Board of Elections executive director Jeff Matthews (chairman of the Stark County Republican Party)  has dealt with, in conjunction with the legal counsel for Republican Ohio secretary of state Frank LaRose, regarding the resignation/rescission of resignation letters of former Councilwoman Halter in reference to her off/on again Massillon council-at-large candidacy for the November 5, 2019 election.

Readers of the SCPR know that it is immaterial whether or this blogger personally likes or dislikes a Stark  County political subdivision (county, city, township and boards of education, etc), officials in analyzing the processes of government and scrutinizing whether or not a subject official(s) is/are in compliance with the rule of law.

This blogger does not believe that Matthews and derivatively (as "the buck stops here" accountable officials, the BOE board members) are in compliance with Ohio law.

And if the SCPR's belief is unmerited, hopefully, Matthews, the secretary of state's office or (if accessed by the BOE, the Stark County prosecutor's office will come up with credible legal bases upon which Halter should be allowed on the November, 2019 ballot.

To repeat, on a qualitative basis, Halter is exactly the personification of a person who should be on the ballot among the choices that voters have in deciding who their elected officials will be.

On May 31th (received at the BOE on June 3rd), Nancy penned a letter to the Stark County Board of elections, to wit:

Her withdrawal left Massillon Republicans with two candidates for "council-at-large" positions in Massillon city government.

Tragically and at a great loss to the Massillon community,  incumbent Republican councilman Milan Chovan passed away on June 24th.

The Chovan passing left Massillon with only one Republican councilperson-at-large candidacy; namely, incumbent Ed Lewis, IV.

It appears that Massillon/Stark County Republicans were caught flat-footed by Chovan's untimely death in the political sense of untimely.

Had Milan survived until November 5th (the date of this year's general election) and been re-elected; the Massillon Republican Party Central Committee (MRP) would by Ohio law appoint a successor to serve out his term.

But unfortunately he did not and consequently the MRP was only going to have only one candidate on the November 5th ballot which, of course, made it highly likely that Democrats were going to control council and, Massillon Regular Republicans, were going to be one, maybe, two or at the very most three in number come the 2020/2021 term of Massillon City Council.

Republican mayoral candidate James Haavisto has been pretty much read out of the Stark County/Massillon Republican party and he has encouraged maverick Republicans and independents loyal to him to run for council.

What to do?  Likely was the question racing through the mind of Chairman Matthews?

At least one Haavisto Republican (Mark Lombardi, Ward 1, unopposed) and, perhaps, two (Michael Snee - Ward 6) will serve on the 2020/2021 cycle of Massillon City Council.  There is also an "independent" running in Ward 2 (a seat currently held by Democrat David Irwin).

Regular Massillon Republicans had high hopes for Jim Thieret but the independent (Jack Moore, said to be put up to running by Haavisto) makes it likely that Democrat Irwin will win a second term.

That leaves only Regular Republican Mike Gregg (incumbent and unopposed, Ward 4) and fellow Regular Republican incumbent councilman-at-large Ed Lewis, IV as possible returning to council councilpersons.

Again, probably from Stark GOP chairman Jeff Matthews' perspective:  "What to do?"

It appears that his answer was to convince former distinguished councilperson (twice a councilperson) Nancy Halter to reconsider her withdrawal.

On June 26th, just two days after Milan Chovan's death, Halter filed this letter with the Stark County Board of Elections.

Some Massillonians, especially the three Democrats running for council, might be saying:  "WAIT A MINUTE!"

How can a person withdraw and then rescind the withdrawal?

It appears that Matthews and/or Republican BOE administrator Travis Secrest, once they received the Halter rescission, contacted Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office with the question:  Will this fly?

Answer from Travis:  

July 8, 2019  2:20 p.m.

Martin,

We referred this question to the Secretary of State’s legal counsel and below is the response we received.

“Presuming the Board has not taken action in response to the withdrawal letter, we are not aware of any law or policy of the SOS that would prohibit the candidate from rescinding the request to withdraw.”

Travis

In order to get the foregoing response, this blogger had to press the matter beyond the first responsive Secrest e-mail as included hereinabove.

Here is the original SCPR e-mail to Secrest:

Sent: Monday, July 08, 2019 8:21 AM
To: Travis E. Secrest <tesecrest@starkcountyohio.gov>
Subject: Halter withdrawal/reinstatement

Travis,

As you obviously know Nancy Halter withdrew her candidacy for council-person-at-large for the Massillon City Council sometime between the 2019 primary election date and June 7th.

Now the BOE website is showing that she has been reinstated.

Please explain to the SCPR/Twitter a basis in Ohio law upon which this change was permitted?

Thank you,
Martin Olson

SCPR/Twitter

The first SCPR follow up:

From: Martin Olson [mailto:tramols@att.net] 
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2019 2:53 PM
To: Travis E. Secrest <tesecrest@starkcountyohio.gov>
Subject: Re: Halter withdrawal/reinstatement


When did the BOE receive Halter's letter of withdrawal (please send me an electronic copy).  When did she rescind the withdrawal (please send me an electronic copy)? What is the usual timetable for the BOE to act on candidacy withdrawals?  Where there in BOE meetings between the withdrawal letter and the rescission letter?  If so, what were the dates of those meetings?

To which responded by sending two attachments which were copies of Halter's resignation and subsequent attempt to rescind.

Travis E. Secrest <tesecrest@starkcountyohio.gov>
To:  Martin Olson

Jul 8 at 3:01 PM

Attached are the documents you requested. The time stamp on the first letter is hard to read in the scan, it is 6/3/19.


Travis

To which, the SCPR responded thusly:

Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>
To:  Travis E. Secrest

Jul 8 at 3:52 PM

Am I going to get answers to my questions?

Secrest's response:

Travis E. Secrest <tesecrest@starkcountyohio.gov>
To: Martin Olson

Jul 8 at 3:56 PM

I believe you are asking if there were any board meetings between the dates of these letters.


There were none.

The SCPR's follow up:

Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>
To: Travis E. Secrest

Jul 8 at 4:10 PM

Another question you have not answered.

 "What is the usual timetable for the BOE to act on candidacy withdrawals? "  


An additional question:   Why would the BOE publish in its November list of candidates on about June 7th that Halter had withdrawn if the BOE "presumably" (the word used by the OH SOS legal counsel) the BOE had not acted on the request to withdraw?

As of the publication of this blog, no response to the 4:10 p.m. SCPR follow-up.

And, likely, there will not be.

For it appears to the SCPR that Director Matthews does not want to be forthcoming about how he has dealt with the Halter matter.

It is obvious to this blogger that it is going to be like "pulling teeth" to get at the "heart of the matter" as to what Matthews and or Secrest were doing to deal with the Halter try to rescind her withdrawal.

To cover all bases, the SCPR has sent this e-mail to the Ohio secretary of state office:

Three days later, NO RESPONSE!

The SCPR is beginning to think there might be a public official Matthews/Secrest"cover-up" in process and to make matters worse on a government ethics plane, Matthews might not be rightly dividing his job as Stark County Republican Party chairman and that of being executive director of the Stark County Board of Elections.

Frank LaRose and his legal counsel at the Ohio secretary of state office ought to be doing a thoroughgoing review of the exchanges between his office and Matthews/Secrest and provide a "real" legal analysis to the Stark County/Massillon public!

Though this blogger would like to see Halter on the November ballot and trust that Massillonians would be wise enough to elect her, the SCPR is skeptical of the SOS legal counsel's response is in accord with Ohio election law, to wit:

Take a look at Ohio Revised Code Section 3513.30:

3513.30 Death or withdrawal of candidate before a primary election.

(D) Any person nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition as a candidate for election at the next general election may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior to the general election. Such withdrawal may be effected by the filing of a written statement by such candidate announcing the candidate's withdrawal and requesting that the candidate's name not be printed on the ballots.  ... .

Focus on the statutory language  "[s]uch withdrawal may be EFFECTED (emphasis added) by the filing of a written statement by such candidate [Halter, in this case] ANNOUNCING (emphasis added) the candidate's withdrawal ... ."

Now take a look at the SOS legal counsel's words:  "[p]resuming the Board has NOT (emphasis added) taken action in response to the withdrawal letter ... ."

In this journalist's take of ORC Section 3513.30(D) there is NO PROVISION FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO TAKE RESPONSIVE ACTION!

The submission of the May 31st Halter letter seems to this writer to be "self-executing" under the language of 3513.30(D) and that anyone submitting such a letter to an Ohio Board of Elections should be very, very, very sure that withdrawal is what she/he wants to do.  

The SCPR does not believe (reference SOS:  "presuming the Board has not taken any action ... ") is a bona fide legal analysis but one designed to help the Stark County Republican Party to salvage the candidacy of Republican Nancy Halter in the November 5, 2019 general election.

To say it again, the problem is not Nancy Halter and her superlative qualities as a candidate; it appears to the SCPR to be, perhaps, the political zeal of GOP chair/BOE executive director Jeff Matthews, perhaps, unchecked by the Ohio secretary of state's office.

Undoubtedly, being the quality "the rules are the rules" person she is;  had Matthews/Secrest/the Ohio secretary of state office (through Matthews and Secrest) not accepted the rescission, he would have been good with that.

And, it could be that there is a much stronger legal position than:

“Presuming the Board has not taken action in response to the withdrawal letter, we are not aware of any law or policy of the SOS that would prohibit the candidate from rescinding the request to withdraw.”

In additional e-mail exchanges with Secret, it appears that THERE IS NO FORMAL "NOT HAVING TAKEN ACTION" being implemented at the Stark County BOE and, likely, not anywhere else in Ohio in that there seems to be no authorizing legislation for the creation of such a process.

In light of the flimsiness (i.e. "presuming") the legal advice Matthews in apparently relying on,  the secretary of state's office needs to take up the SCPR's request for a thoroughgoing legal analysis.

Take a look at this e-mail from legal counsel for the Ohio SOS on two questions presented by Director Matthews (through Secrest) on the Massillon situation:  

(NOTE:  As is to be seen in the e-mail below, Secrest contacted the SOS office via telephone on June 26th, the date Halter wrote her attempt to rescind letter.  The SCPR does not believe that Halter had anything to do with what appears to The Report to be "political maneuvering" at the direction of Matthews.  Rather, this blogger thinks she was doing what any citizen should do and that is relying on election law experts to provide her with a "solid" legal footing upon which to seek to rescind her withdrawal.  The SCPR thinks that Matthews and the SOS did not deliver.)

Had the SOS's Hobday ruminated on ORC 3513.30(D), then one could take his opinion more seriously.

If the secretary revisits and/or the Stark County prosecutor provides a plausible legal justification for the BOE's acceptance of the Halter attempted rescission, of course, this blogger is willing "to eat crow."

The SCPR did ask Secrest whether or not the Stark BOE had engaged the Stark prosecutor's office.

So far:  NO RESPONSE!

As it stands, the response should be recognized for what it seems to be.  A feeble legal-esque response.  No analysis of ORC 3513.30(D).  Are you kidding me?!?!!!

Matthews in his public official position as executive director of the Stark County Board of Elections needs to be totally transparent on what contacts were made to the secretary of state office and the "total" substance thereof on this matter.

And if he will not provide it, then the secretary of state's office needs to.

This blog is about public office holder accountability and transparency in ensuring that candidacies are scrutinized on the basis of a thorough vetting of the law of Ohio.