TWO COMMISSIONER SEATS ARE UP FOR VOTER SELECTION THIS YEAR: ARE THERE ANY AMONG THE FIELD OF FIVE WHO CAN MATCH THE VISION OF RALPH REGULA AND FRED KRUM?

The Akron Beacon Journal recently published a story:   Big federal check lands at Akron-Canton Airport (Bill Lilley, March 15, 2010).

The key to the story was Lilley's focus on the vision demonstrated by longtime 16th district congressman Ralph Regula and longtime Akron-Canton Airport director Fred Krum over the years in bringing Akron-Canton along as a huge economic asset to Stark County, Summit County and, indeed, to all of northeast Ohio.

Krum passed away a little over a year ago and Regula retired from Congress in 2008.

With these two visionary giants gone from the Stark County scene, the question becomes who will pick up with their drive, dedication and determination as qualities which fueled their vision and made Akron-Canton Airport an engine and hub for future Stark economic development?

Said another way, who among Akron-Canton's public and private leadership circles will step forward to fill the void left with the absence of Regula and Krum.

The primary focus of the Stark County Political Report is, of course, the public sector and Stark's political and government leaders.

2010 brings the election cycle to the fore and presents an occasion for Stark Countians to focus on the two commissioner slots that are up for selection this November.

Here are the candidates:

The SCPR has been thoroughly unimpressed with the folks who have staffed the commissioners slots going back to the mid-1970s when yours truly first moved to Stark County.

Had Stark County had a Fred Krum or Ralph Regula in a commissioner seat over those years, Stark County would not be facing the gigantic financial crisis that is presently under way.

But who can point to one single commissioner during those 35 years that in any way, shape or form approximates Krum and Regula?

There are none!

And Stark County is now paying the price!!!

The question presented for 2010 voters is this: whether or not any of the five listed above as running for Stark County commissioner have characteristics and qualities that could, 35 years from now, have Stark Countians looking back in adulation at the sterling work done in a visionary fashion to bring Stark to the fore in economic productiveness and thereby make Stark a prime Ohio location to work and live in

These are critical times for Stark's future.

Right now, Stark is not, except for a few bright spots like the Akron-Canton Airport complex and Stark State College's high tech development footprint, headed in the right the direction.

Voters need to probe the commissioner candidates and find out which of the five provide the best visionary promise - in the Krum/Regula mode - for Stark's future.

DISCUSSION: FRED KRUM - LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

With the passing of Canton-Akron (CAK) retired airport magnate Fred Krum on Monday, Stark County has lost a "leader of leaders." Fred had a quiet authority about him. He demonstrated visionary but patient leadership in pushing the development of CAK and, of course, Stark County.

In his piece in The Repository today, Edd Pritchard captured succinctly the essence of Fred Krum significance to Stark:

As he [Krum] put it in a 1991 interview, luck intervened. Airport director Jack Doyle — Leo Doyle’s father — needed an accountant, so he called Krum, who jumped at the chance. Doyle’s call likely changed the airport and the area’s future. (emphasis added)

Fred Krum was a difference maker. And as such, he modeled a leadership style that Stark County so sorely needs these days.