Back in April when news broke that the Rover natural gas pipeline project being installed across parts of southern Stark County experienced a spill of drilling mud which contained diesel fuel, little did about 100 Perry Township families know that the spill would eventually impact their perception of the safety of their household water supply.
The spill threatened and still may be found to threaten the safety of Canton's nearby (within a few hundred yards) Sugarcreek wellfield (located in Bethlehem Township) which is the normal source of the water supplied to Perry. Out of a sense of precaution, Canton water officials decided to reduce the pumping from Sugarcreek and to access the city's Northwest wellfield to supply some of Canton's users of its approximate 24 million gallon daily output to Cantonians and other Stark Countians.
According to area media reports, those 100 families (living in the vicinity of Central Catholic High School) woke up one morning to discover discolored (iron) and generally described users as being "nasty" water.
Nonetheless, the Northwest water IS SAFE WATER, so Canton Water Department told The Stark County Political Report at last night's regular Canton City Council meeting.
Notwithstanding the scare to the Perry users, it appears that there was never a safety issue with their drinking water.
While it is understandable that there was a sense of uneasiness with the Perry users, they and, indeed, all water users as informed/responsible citizens ought to advantage themselves in knowing about water.
An important lesson out of the Rover spill for all Stark Countians who receive water from municipal/private company supplies is to pay close attention and to be completely informed when incidents like the Rover spill hit the headlines even though it may appear that my water has nothing to do with Canton provided water.
According to Converse, Perry users could be back on Sugarcreek water by the end of next week.
An interesting observation on the latter link, to wit:
The only organism that doesn’t understand the importance of water is humans, especially in industrialized countries. Children in those societies turn on the water in a sink and never think about the trouble someone has gone for that "miracle" to occur.
There were a couple of "water" quality (in the monitoring sense of the phrase on last night's council's agenda last night) which prompted Superintendent Converse to provide amplification of and clarification of the status of Canton dealing with the Rover pipeline spill.
From the language of the foregoing resolutions passed by Canton City Council last night, it appears that the Rover spill matter could end up costing Canton water users better tens of thousands of dollars unless, of course, Canton government is successful in getting reimbursed by culpable parties for the spill.
In all, Converse spent some ten minutes updating council on the history, consequences and the path going forward on the Canton Water Department's dealing with the Rover Spill.
First, Canton service director William Bartos on the work of Linda Aller and team (Williams and Bennett) in monitoring/implementing Canton's Water Protection Plan in the wake of the Rover pipeline spill:
Second, Superintendent Converse explains/describes to council:
the drilling mud diesel fuel contaminated removal and testing process,
that early test results are back to Rover but that Canton has not seen those results,
that Linda Aller of Bennett and Williams is right on top of monitoring the remediation process,
that he understands that Canton's water is a high valuable city resource and accordingly is taking a high level approach to protecting it from the likes of a nearby spill to the Sugarcreek wellfield industrial spill, and
reassures council that by Ohio law testing is to continue for three years,
Third, Ward 7 councilman (chairman of Canton Council's finance committee) asks:
Converse about Canton being made financially whole by Rover on account of expenses/damages sustained by Canton in protecting its most valuable resource, and
Law Director Joe Martuccio about the work of the Canton Water Commission to refine its Water Protection Plan and when that product will be ready to present to council,
Finally, Canton council president Allen Schulman who has long served as the chairman of the Canton Water Commission:
weighs-in on the refinement underway of Canton's water protection law, and
lauds Converse for his sterling work in working through the Rover pipeline spill problem
FROM SCPR CONTRIBUTION TO "YouTube" MARIOL ENDORSES ALEXANDER
===================== FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION OF "YouTube" Trials to Triumph A Tribute to Judge Ira G. Turpin includes Ralph Regula interview when he was still a congressman
Everyone that The Stark County Political Report has talked to say that "There is no doubt about it," both Angela Alexander and Kristen Guardado are highly qualified to be Canton's newest municipal court judge.
The opening came about when Stephen Belden stepped down (resigned/retired as of December 1, 2014) in a swirl of controversy about how he handled certain cases during his time as a Canton Municipal Court judge.
On or about January 9, 2015, Governor Kasich appointed Republican Curtis Werren to replace Belden.
This is Werren's "second bite at the apple" inasmuch as he was appointed Kasich to replace a retired judge on the Stark County Court of Common Pleas in June, 2013. However, he failed to hold the office as he was defeated by Democrat Chryssa Hartnett in a very close November, 2014 election.
Though a SCPR analysis of the vote in the Hartnett/Werren race showed that Werren bested her by about 1,000 votes in the Canton Municipal Court district, The Report thinks that Werren is vulnerable notwithstanding his impressive showing as cited above.
Werren has a very large stake in who wins the Democratic primary as between Guardado and Alexander.
His chance to retain his appointed seat is for Alexander to come out on top in the Democratic primary.
However, the SCPR doubts that an Alexander win is in the offing.
A Guardado win likely makes Werren "a two-time-loser" in being unable to retain for Republicans an appointed judgeship.
Alexander will make Guardado work hard to win the Democratic primary. And that will benefit her in what will be a "political life or death" struggle in this fall's general election inasmuch this election has to be "the end of the 'political' road" for Werren, if he loses.
With the bulk of Alexander's stellar (LINK to prior blog detailing her Summit County work) professional legal work having been done in Summit County; whereas Guardado's has been done with the Canton Law Department, such is likely prove to be an Alexander fatal political flaw that provides Guardado a comfortable margin of victory come May 5, 2015.
Both Guardado and Alexander live in Plain Township.
But other than the Summit/Stark thing, there is another significant political difference.
Guadado has been on the Plain Local Board of Education for more than a decade, and, in the course of things, has been on the ballot for three elections achieving "top vote getter" status in two of the three elections. Such only adds to the SCPR's belief that at the end of the day Guardado will prevail against both Alexander and Werren.
The most interesting and significant thing about Alexander's website is the listing of some high profile Canton City Council members endorsing her for judge, to wit:
Surprising, no?
The SCPR surmises from a conversation with one of Alexander's endorsers is that her being African-American is a key component difference maker for some of them in choosing between the two well qualified candidates.
Of course, Chris Smith (Ward 4) and Thomas West (Ward 2) are themselves African-Americans.
The Report's source thinks Alexander is a "win-win" for Democrats if she were to get the nod to go up against Republican Werren in November.
The SCPR's source thinks that Alexander can win such a match up because of her far superior to Werren's legal profession credentials as compared to Werren's being president of the Stark County Red Cross for several years before Kasich first-appointed by to the Stark County Court of Common Pleas bench.
Moreover, it is thought by the source-person that being a minority will be a positive in that voters will see the need for an African-American to be on the bench inasmuch as Canton has a Black population of 24%.
The source said he believes that the Canton Municipal Court has never had an African-American judge and Stark County only one. That being Stark County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ira G. Turpin.
However, a Stark County Political Report research reveals that in 1962 Ohio's 60th governor and Democrat Michael V. DiSalle appointed African-American Clay Hunter (1895 - 1976) as a Canton Municipal Court judge. Hunter is referred to in a reverential vein in the video below of Stark County' only ever Stark County Court of Common Pleas and 5th District Court of Appeals (the only Black at the Court of Appeals in all of Ohio, at the time); namely, Judge Ira G. Turpin.
It appears that Hunter was unsuccessful in his effort to get elected in his own right in that The Report's next research shows that Hunter is listed as a magistrate in Stark County's family court in a 1975 The Evening Independent article.
There is no doubt about it. Canton and Stark County seems to always been a tough venue for Blacks.
The SCPR always endeavors for each and every blog to thoroughly search on the Internet for material germane to a given blog.
In yesterday's search for this blog, yours truly found "a gold nugget:" A video entitled "Trials to Triumph - A Tribute to Judge Ira G. Turpin."
Turpin's interviewer is former Timken executive Stephen Perry. Perry's daughter, Andrea, is Canton's safety director.
The SCPR implores The Report's readers to take about 22 minutes and view this YouTube video. It is awesomely inspiring!
While Angela Alexander suffers the same fate as Turpin when he in 1969 failed to win election as a Canton Municipal Court judge, there is no doubt that she is a high quality lawyer and, in time, if she persists become a member of the Stark County bench at some level.
Were Alexander to be the Dems' nominee, it seems to the SCPR that Werren has a huge advantage in Plain Township (22% of the vote in the November, 2014 election) inasmuch he bested Hartnett by 668 votes which was nearly 67% of the 913 votes that he won by this past November election; only calculating the votes in the Canton Municipal Court district.
The Report thinks that if the Dems are to capture this judgeship, their political strength lies with Guardado as pointed out above.
But there is more.
On March 3rd of this year, Kristen Guardado held a fundraiser at Skyland Pines.
This event perhaps more than other advantages that she holds in the mind of the SCPR is indicative of the political strength of Kristen Guardado.
The Report talked with Guardado last week about the event. She was humbled as about 300 people showed up at her fundraising event.
Included in the assembly were former Canton law directors:
Harry E. Klide, (1970s; went on to become a judge a various levels),
W. Scott Gwin (1985 - 1988; now a 5th District Court of Appeals judge) and
Thomas Bernabei (1988 through 2000; now a Stark County commissioner), serves as Guardado's campaign treasurer,
Joseph Martuccio, current law director (appointed by Stark Dems Central Committee members to replace Bernabei who retired mid-term; elected in his own right in November, 2001)
Note: Kristen Guardado works for Martuccio
Republican Canton Municipal Court Judge Richard Kubilus was also in attendance.
The SCPR did attempt to contact Alexander to learn more about her level of support (beyond the four councilpersons identified above), but she as not returned The Report's call as of the writing of this blog.
But The Report has on yours truly's initiative been in touch with three of the five listed Canton City Councilpersons listed on Alexander's website as being endorsers/supporters.
First, Councilman John Mariol.
Second, Councilman Frank Morris, III (council vice president and majority leader). Morris had this to say:
Frank Morris Mar 10 at 3:10 PM
To: tramols@att.net
I feel that Angela Alexander is an outstanding individual with an impressive background as an attorney.
After meeting with her just once I knew she was the candidate I would be endorsing in the primary election.
Her go against the grain, aggressive attitude and strong work ethic is exactly what we need in our court system.
Thirdly, Canton City Council president Allen Schulman.
Schulman made the point that both Alexander and Guardado are clearly and highly qualified to be Belden's replacement.
Without making it sound like he was in favor of some sort of quota for Black aspiring officeholders, Schulman said that it is high time for a richly qualified African-America to attain a judgeship in Stark County.
Since Ira Turpin retired from the bench on January 31, 1982; no Stark County Black aspirant above the Ward level has gotten very close to achieving elective office.
And who can quarrel with Schulman that electing an eminently qualified African-American such as Alexander is long overdue.
Having said that, the SCPR thinks that the political dynamics (i.e. her having a Summit County legal work base and Guardado firmly entrenched in Stark County politics and legal community) are such that were Alexander to defeat Guardado in some 50 days; her success would be billed by most political analysts as being a stunning upset.
To repeat, if the SCPR is correct and election on May 5th is not in the cards for Alexander; she needs to try and try again. She is clearly first-rate.
Like it or not, Alexander needs to square up with the political realities of her being an "outsider" at least as perceived by many leading Stark County-based elected Democrats and work after the election to establish herself with the core leadership of the Stark County "organized" Democratic Party.
In 2015, one likes to think that Alexander being an African-American is not a barrier in Stark County. For in 2008 and 2012 Barrack Obama carried Stark County.
Nevertheless, there are those who think that it is virtually impossible for a Black to get elected above the Ward level in Stark.
The SCPR disagrees. However, it will take hard work and persistence like that demonstrated by Ira G. Turpin. Angela Alexander appears to have Turpin-esque qualities in her make up.
This time around, it is apparent to the SCPR that Stark County "political insider" Kristen Guardado is the odds on favorite to become the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican appointee Curtis Werren.
While she may lose on May 5th, the SCPR encourages her to cement her professional ties to Stark County and thereby overcome the "outsider" label in future tries for public office.
Who knows what the future brings.
A vacancy can develop in a heartbeat (e.g. Belden's sudden resignation) in the Canton Municipal Court or the Stark County Court of Common Pleas.
Should Alexander lose in the Democratic primary to Guardado, hopefully Alexander will have by the time another judicial vacancy occurs be in a position to become Stark County's "only ever" Black female judge.
List of elected officials who attended Guardado March 3, 2015 fundraiser:
EXECUTIVE SESSION VOTE POSTED AT 07:13 AM (POST - SESSION VOTE)
POSTED AT 08:20 AM
===================
COUNCIL WOMAN CHRIS SMITH
"First Female/African-American Leader of Council"
===================
COUNCILMAN-ELECT RICHARD HART
'His Role as a Politically Independent Councilman"
===================
COUNCILMAN FRANK MORRIS
"Consensus New Majority Leader"
===================
COUNCILMAN KEVIN FISHER
"A Review of Past 2 Years & Looking Forward"
===================
COUNCILMAN JOHN MARIOL
"A Review of Past 2 Years & Looking Forward"
======================
COUNCILMAN EDMOND MACK
"A Review of Past 2 Years & Looking Forward"
=======================
In a August 30, 2012 blog the Stark County Political Report dubbed Canton City Council's newest members as being "the four young turks."
The Report is pleased that these members (Frank Morris - Ward 9, Edmond Mack - Ward 8, John Mariol - Ward 7 and Kevin Fisher - Ward 5) have taken to "the young turk" description.
For the expression is meant as a high SCPR compliment indicating their energy, zeal, vision and persistence in what appears to be a dogged determination they have to slowly but surely bring Canton back to a semblance of her former greatness.
While "not young enough" to be included in the 'young' aggregation, Councilman-at-Large elect Bill Smuckler and Councilman Greg Hawk (Ward 1) are empathetic with the aspirations of "the four young turks" and are likely to join forces with the four in critical votes determinative of the direction that Canton city government takes going forward.
A key councilman and, perhaps - a pivotal factor - is likely to be former Republican Canton city councilman Richard Hart who was elected "at-large" this past November.
It could be that Hart will be a difference-maker between "the four young turks and their allies" and a bloc of remaining councilpersons; which the SCPR dubs as being "the Smith bloc," namely;
Jimmy Babcock, at-large,
Tom West,Ward 2,
a candidate to be leader this time around,
Jim Griffin, Ward 3,
former "assistant majority leader,"
Chris Smith, Ward 4,
likely to be voted "assistant majority leader," on January 6th,
David Daugherty, Ward 6
the former leader who wanted to be leader again,
Hart could join either bloc of council persons on "key" issues that come up on council, but the SCPR expects him to side mostly with Morris-led bloc.
Council President Allen Schulman will likely continue to be tie-breaker when a tie vote occurs.
It seems to the SCPR that "the young turk coalition" will not want a question to come out a tie because in The Report's view, Schulman in his votes over the past two years - in The Report's perception - have been mostly with the Mayor William J. Healy, II administration position (which also, more or less, is supported by "the Smith bloc).
Last evening Canton City Council met under what the SCPR in what President Schulman termed as being "an aspirational meeting" to determine a consensus of who is going to be council's next majority leader and assistant leader.
The prospective new leaders are:
Frank Morris (Ward 9) as "majority leader:" also known as the vice president of council.
Chris Smith (Ward 4) as "assistant majority leader:" also known as first vice president.
It appears that neither the SCPR, Matt Rink of The Repository, nor the general public may have been afforded the necessary pre-meeting notice to have been a properly called and conducted meeting.
The Report opted not to file an objection because the meeting held in "executive session" on the motion of David Daugherty was pretty much an extension of "informal" discussions which have gone on among the various players for majority leader (Morris, Daugherty and West) pretty much from November 7th (the day after this fall's general election).
It should be disturbing to the Canton voting public that Leader Daugherty moved to go into executive session on the matter, that is to say:
A vote as to whether or not to go into executive session the vote breakdown?
As seen in the SCPR video (see below) of the session:
For:
Babcock,
West,
Griffin,
Smith,
Daugherty
Against:
Hawk,
Fisher,
Mariol,
Mack
Morris
Here is video on Daugherty's "lets' go into executive session" motion vote.
Here is the post-executive session video.
Hmm?
Five (5) to five (5).
A harbinger of things to come, no?
And guess how Allen Schulman voted?
You've got it: with "the Smith bloc."
No surprise here to the SCPR.
While The Report likes Schulman and thinks he does a superlative job in terms of civilities, courtesies and his "citizen-friendly" demeanor amply demonstrated in the "public speaks" segment of council meetings, there is little doubt with The Report that substantively he is more or less aligned with the Healy administration viewpoint.
The SCPR sees Schulman as one of Stark County's most zealous small letter "d" democrats (he being, perhaps, Stark County's most "liberal" Democrat) and all that the small letter "d" democrats connotes which includes among a large list of democratic values the value of "openness."
Last night was an opportunity for Schulman "to put his money where his mouth is" on democratic values and The Report thinks that he failed that test and denied the Canton citizenry the opportunity to see exactly what Councilman Daugherty wanted to hide from the public.
The Report asked Schulman for an interview after last night's meeting to ask him on camera - under critical questioning - the reason(s) for his siding with closing the meeting to the public. However, he declined to be interview.
The SCPR has known for some time that a consensus had been reached among Canton's councilpersons that Frank Morris and Chris Smith are to be the new leadership of city council and that a lot of wrangling has occurred among council members to get to the consense.
Moreover, the SCPR also has known that Daugherty was not going down easily.
The Report's take on Daugherty is that he only has himself to blame.
Over the past two years of SCPR coverage of Canton city council, there is a good sprinkling of blogs featuring Daugherty which indicate a surly, "inconsiderate of others' feelings" (including the general public when citizens use council's public speaks forum, when he has substituted for Schulman) demeanor.
Hardly, what one wants of a leader of council, no?
One can only imagine what he is like when not in the public view and not on camera?
Hopefully, as far as the SCPR is concerned; residents in the 6th ward will find an alternative to Daugherty come November, 2015.
Which is a shame.
Because the SCPR is told by a number of his fellow councilpersons that David Daugherty is a very bright guy who has provided high quality substance in terms of policy and practice.
But the guy needs to learn civility, courtesy and how to deal effectively and with political maturity with those with who he disagrees.
The SCPR did take advantage of last night's session to talk with "the four young turks, prospective new "assistant majority leader" Chris Smith and new councilman-at-large Richard Hart "on camera."
Here are those interview.
First, Chris Smith, who is breaking ground as the prospective new assistant majority leader as being the first female and African-American as a leader of Canton Council.
Second, Richard Hart and his perspective on his role as the only non-Democrat on council.
Third, Frank Morris, the expected to be elected at council's next regular meeting (January 6, 2014) majority leader.
Fourth, Kevin Fisher, Ward 5.
Fifth, Edmund Mack, Ward 8.
Sixth, John Mariol.
Canton mayor William J. Healy, II will be challenged as never before by the 2014-2015 version of Canton City Council with "the four young turks" who have learned their political lessons well over the past two years.
He can choose to fight with them (which the SCPR predicts he will do) or seek to find "common ground."
The Report would like Healy to "turn over a new leaf" and demonstrate a political maturity that he has never seemingly shown before.
But if he does not, the SCPR is confident that the new leadership of Canton City Council will forge ahead with programs, practices and policies that bode well for the future of Canton.
C. David Morgan has had this to say about the SCPR point about African American candidates having been elected citywide:
I did find one comparison that you drew missed the mark a bit, in my opinion. You used the Canton City School Board as an example of the ability of African Americans to win city-wide elections, and then you asked aren't Canton City School Board Members elected city-wide?
Actually, they are not.
A large portion of Ward 8, while in Canton City as a municipality (via prior annexations), it is also in Plain Twp Schools.
Likewise, parts of Ward 4 (mainly in the far East) are in the City, but not in the Canton City School District. And in one of the more curious bits of boundaries, there is a portion of the area around Meyers Lake that is in the Canton City School District, but is not within the municipal boundaries of the City of Canton (CCS Board Member Nadine McIlwain lives in such an area).
The Report thanks Reverend Morgan for having provided his correction.
VIDEOS
COUNCILMAN WEST
OPENS
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEETING
ON
CHARTER GOVERNMENT ISSUE
(JOUSTS WITH COUNCILMAN HAWK)
COUNCILMAN MACK
PRESENTS
THE CASE FOR
CANTON AS A CHARTER CITY
COUNCILMAN MORRIS WEIGHS IN
COUNCILMAN FISHER TAKES A TURN
COUNCILMAN MARIOL
ON
DEFINITION OF "EDUCATION"
ACCORDING TO
COUNCILMAN WEST
ONE-ON-ONE WITH WEST
ONE-ON-ONE WITH MACK
THE ENTIRE MEETING
(UNEDITED)
At the outset of last night's Canton City Council Judiciary Committee meeting (Thomas West, D-2, chairman) it was apparent to the SCPR that West was in a "delay and hope it goes away mode" on a proposal by sponsors Edmond Mack (D-8, a judiciary committee member) and Mary Cirelli (D, at-large; also a judiciary committee member) to have council consider placing a measure on the ballot to have Cantonians elect 15 (unelected to city office Cantonians) to a Charter Review Commission.
West, clearly on the defensive, jousted with Councilman Greg Hawk (D-1) on what allegations that West was holding the proposed legislation up.
West cited the effort by former Ward 8 and Republican councilman Mark Butterworth (ironically and interestingly running against Edmond Mack this November in an effort to get his seat back) in October, 2010 to get Canton council to consider putting a charter government review commission measure on the ballot.
He could have even gone further in delving into a rather obvious Republican drive to change the structure of Canton government so as to advantage Republican city of Canton office seekers who in recent times have been shut out from office in Canton.
Even the politically powerful Republican Janet Creighton (now a Stark County commissioner) was unable to get re-elected in 2007 after four years of her very respectable administration of the city.
Canton has about a 9 to 1 Democrat to Republican registration plurality.
In June, 2010 a former Stark County Republican Party executive director (Mike Cunningham) with ties to W.R. Timken, Jr. who was at the time chairman the board of directors of a company (Strategic Public Partners) which employed Cunningham surfaced with an initiative to get a convert to charter city proposal before Canton voters.
What has to be troublesome to West is that the new agitation is from a number of fellow Democrats on council.
So there is no partisan factor at play.
And after January 1st, the totally Demcratic council will include former long time Councilman Bill Smuckler who back in 2003 or so was pushing hard to change Canton from a statutory city government to a charter city government. A status now held by 73% of Ohio's cities.
The Report is told by Smuckler that it will take eight of twelve members of council to get before Canton voters a measure to elect a charter review commission.
Those numbers clearly are not there now.
But they might be after November of this year with the addition of Smuckler and Roland K. Burns, III.
That is, if Kevin Fisher can be turned into a "yes" vote and David Dougherty repeats his prior support for having the voters elect a commission.
So it appears that perhaps eight votes could be wrangled out of the new council for a May, 2014 primary election opportunity for Cantonians to elect a charter review commission.
Such a commission will have one year to come up with a specific proposal for Cantonians to either accept or reject at the ballot box.
The star attraction last night was Councilman Mack.
Mack made a very powerful and persuasive Powerpoint supported presentation, to wit:
After Mack presented, Frank Morris (D-9) chimed in.
He went after West on the "educate the public factor."
Basically he took the position that "time is awasting" and Canton needs to restructure its government in order to deal effectively with Canton's 21st century needs.
Then it was Ward 5 Councilman Kevin Fisher's turn.
What was interesting to the SCPR about Fisher was his separating himself from what The Report has tabbed as "the four young turks" (Mack, Mariol and Morris being the other three) on this issue.
He takes the position that charter government is oversold and that Canton government as it exists has the wherewithal to deal with Canton's problems.
However, as a member of the committee he urged Chairman West not to refuse to report the legislation out to the full council as he feels that the full body is entitled to consider the Mack/Cirelli sponsored proposal.
The SCPR knows Fisher to be a thoughtful councilman and finds it hard to believe he has his mind made up at this juncture of the deliberations.
In the end, yours truly thinks Fisher will be reconsidering his current stance.
West got into it with Frank Morris over Morris' assertion that West had said he would not sign off on the legislation to get it out of committee and before the full council.
West held firm that his statement was conditioned on his insistence that once he was satisfied that Cantoninans were informed on the issue, he would sign off on the legislation.
It did get a little heated between the two as the video clearly shows.
Next up, Democratic Councilman John Mariol of Ward 7.
He faced West down on what his definition of "educating the public" is. Actually, this exchange proved to be useful in getting the chairman to agree to report the legislation out of committee.
The ultimate agreement was that the chairman would sign off on the legislation on the agreement by Councilman Mack to host a "town hall meeting" on August 19th at 6:30 p.m. at Canton city council chambers.
But, as the foregoing video shows, Councilman Hawk was not quite done (having parried with him earlier) with West.
He honed in on the point that council's job was to get the Canton public a new opportunity (the last having been over 50 years ago [1962]) to vote on whether or not to make Canton a charter city.
After everything was said and done, it was apparent to the SCPR that Councilman West's reluctance to report out the legislation is twofold, to wit:
He is ticked because he is convinced that Councilwoman Cirelli (who, although a member of the judiciary committee, was unable to be at last night's meeting) agreed to join Councilman Mack in sponsoring the charter review commission legislation in order to get back at Canton City treasurer-elect Kim Perez whom Cirelli lost to this past May in the Democratic primary election.
He worries that African-Americans will not be among the 15 commissioners to be elected to come up with a charter proposal for Cantoninans to vote on.
The Report is not impressed with either reason and thinks that his concern that African Americans cannot be elected citywide is not supported by Stark's recent electoral history.
How can Councilman West say that a proportional number of African Americans cannot gain seats on the review commission of the 15?
Barack Obama won in Stark countywide in 2008 and again in 2012.
How does West account for the strong race that Kelley Zachary ran against Republican Alex Zumbar countywide in 2010?
How does West account for the strong race that she ran against Kim Perez for Canton city treasurer this past May?
A case exists that if Cirelli was not in the race, perhaps Zachary wins, no?
How does West account for this picture showing African Americans as members of the Canton City Schools Board of Education. Don't they run citywide?
Bill Smuckler tells the SCPR that he ran for council-at-large with Fonda Williams (a key member of the Healy administration now) a number of years ago and that Williams lost by seven votes in being the third of three "to be-elected"candidates.
Like any candidate, Williams had to be kicking himself afterwards with "should haves" on the particulars of his candidacy.
It seems to the SCPR that Councilman West may fast becoming the "anti-democrat."
He wants less accountability of ward councilpersons as evidenced by his pushing for extending councilpersons terms from two to four years.
And now he appears to not want to allow Cantonians the opportunity to speak again on the charter issue after a 50 year plus gap in having had the chance in 1962?
Yours truly finds it to be strange indeed that African American West would not be at the forefront of enhancing the rights of Americans of every stripe to enjoy the full measure of democratic rights including the opportunity to hold him and his colleagues accountable every two years.
Here is the SCPR one-on-one with West.
The Report also did a one-on-one with Councilman Edmond Mack.
The SCPR believes that the case has been made that Cantonians should have an second chance after a 50 year plus as to weigh in on whether or not they want a charter government.
As was pointed out in yesterday's committee meeting, those who want charter government had better do voter educating come an election on the issue, for if folks are uninformed or confused they will surely vote "no."
Last night's meeting was productive in getting West off dead center in threatening to be a one-man-wrecking-crew by inaction in committee and thereby deep sixing any chance of the full city council voting on the Mack/Cirelli charter review commission proposal.
Now it is time to go to work on council to get those eight votes needed to provide Cantonians the opportunity to exercise the franchise on a very important issue going forward.
If he can pull it off, it certainly will send Councilman Mack's political stock soaring.
Here is an unedited version of the entire proceeding of last night's meeting.
After about a year of non-action, Healy acts to staff Tree Commission:
VIDEOS
Council Votes Down Rule Changes
Schulman Reacts
Morris and Cirelli React
Schulman Questions Redflex Representative
Morgan on Healy Failure to Appoint Tree Commission
The Stark County Political Report has seen political figures do some "really" dumb things.
But the apparent attempt by Canton council's political cabal of Dougherty (6th Ward; also majority leader), Griffin (3rd Ward; also assistant majority leader), Cole (at large), West (2nd Ward) and Babcock (at large) last night to slip through changes to the rules of council as if they were merely "cleaning up the rules" ranks up there as being a huge blunder.
Seemingly, the "suggested changes" to council's rules have been in the works for some time. They were published on February 8th. But Councilpersons Frank Morris (the 9th Ward) and Mary Cirelli (at large) told The Report (see video below) that they only learned of them on Friday, February 22nd at the end of the business day.
Just on that count alone (i.e. springing changes on council "not involved in the committee process" councilpersons "at the last moment) is not a politically wise thing to do.
And add to that a provision to strip council president Allen Schulman of his task, as the presiding officer, to assign proposed ordinances to committee.
A source (not Schulman himself) tells the SCPR that Schulman, when told of the proposed change, was "bouncing off the ceiling" as in upset.
The Report did get Schulman on camera last night. If the "upset" account is accurate, then he certainly had cooled down by last night.
Schulman is much more politically skilled than Messers Dougherty, Griffin, Cole, West and Babock as his measured response shows.
Another of the proposed rule change that was upsetting to the vote "no" group (Cirelli, Hawk, Fisher, Mariol, Mack and Morris) was one requiring that council members submit copies of proposed informal resolutions and other communications (agenda items) to the majority leader and the appropriate committee chairperson.
Seems harmless enough, no?
But not to the six who voted "no" on the "amend council rules" informal resolution.
To pass, the amendment needed eight votes. It got only five (likely six, if Smith is present). Who is doing Majority Leader Dougherty's counting?
The six no votes obviously had concerns about the new requirement.
The SCPR understands that "mum was the word" among the dissident councilpersons as they geared up to vote the proposal down in terms of tipping off Leader Dougherty at their plans.
Hmm?
Talk about "a lack of confidence" in Leader Dougherty!
Obviously, the six did not think talking sense to the Leader would change the minds of him and is consorts.
Of Canton council's 10 standing committees, only two are chaired outside the Dougherty, Griffin, West, Cole, Smith and Babcock council combined.
Likely council's most able financial man Greg Hawk (Ward 1), was removed as finance committee chair after serving for years in that capacity when council reorganized in January, 2012. And he tells the SCPR, he was pushed off; he did not ask for another assignment.
Makes one wonder whether or not Leader Dougherty and assistant Leader Griffin can expect a new term as council leaders in the 2014/15 council?
Councilman Thomas West has practically been down on his hands and knees begging in trying to get his fellow council members (most of who, if not all, are among the six voting "no" last night) to vote as a majority of council in favor of his Redflex traffic camera "pilot project" proposal.
After having put the proposal back on council's agenda for a second reading last night, he had to have Leader Dougherty send it back to committee after it became apparent that council was not going to vote favorably on it likely due to concerns raised by Council President Allen Schulman (in the pre-council-meeting work session) about the desirability of contracting with Redflex given the media revelation that the company has been the subject of an investigation in the Chicago area.
Schulman (in this video) asks Redflex's representative to Canton City Council to get back to council with a full report of the extent to which Redflex is being investigated.
Strange that a man who needs the support of his fellow council members would participate in what seems to be a more or less a secretive rule change process until it got sprung on council at virtually the last minute?
To boot, about a month ago he and fellow councilperson Chris Smith were impliedly accusing councilmembers Fisher, Mack, Mariol and Morris of not being team players in going off and holding their combined meeting with residents of their respective wards.
The Report has got to think West is politically smarter than that!
All-in-all, last night's council meeting was very interesting.
And this blog does not even get into the details the matters of:
Schulman skewering state and federal legislators for their making no response (except for Scott Oelslager [Republican state Senator - 29th - chairman of the Senate finance committee] to council's request and explain state and federal cuts to urban communities' funding, and
Citizen and civic activist C. David Morgan's chiding of Mayor Healy for not appointing members to the council-voted in Tree Commission which passed a year ago. (Healy said he will get the job done this week)
The big story (from a "politics of council standpoint" standpoint) as far as the SCPR is concerned is the snub by the Dougherty, Griffin, West, Cole and Babcock fivesome (perhaps six, if Chris Smith had been present) of the remainder of council on the amended rule proposal.
The snub shows that there is a deep, deep divide on council and that the majority leader and assistant majority leader (of all the councilpersons ?) were in on the clandestine rule action does not indicate that relationships will improve anytime soon.
The ultimate loser?
The citizens of Canton.
The Report believes that the division is a product of and a consequence of a "divide and conquer" strategy that seems to be embedded into the political sinew of Mayor William J. Healy, II working hand-in-glove with Dougherty.
It is really weird that they apparently think this helps them politically over the long run and, more importantly, the well-being of Canton.
The SCPR, from many decades of life experience, knew that it was inevitable that the activism and energy of a group of Canton councilmen whom The Report has affectionately dubbed as "the four young turks"(Fisher, Ward 5; Mack, Ward 8; Mariol, Ward 7 and Morris, Ward 9) would draw the attention of those whom have not been all that effective in solving Canton's longstanding problems.
The Report believes that a line of inquiry at Monday night's council meeting initiated by Councilwoman Chris Smith (Ward 4) on the availability of a downpayment subsidy for those who want to locate in Canton's surplus housing was a tip-off that the inquiry is, perhaps, indicative that there is a sub rosa discussion underway among oppositional circles within Canton City Council, with contribution from the Healy administration, on finding ways to rope in the straying councilmen.
Joining Smith (by happenstance, of course) in the indirect criticism of the Ward 5, 7, 8 and 9 councilmen, was Ward 2 Councilman Tom West.
It was a weird sort discussion that involved, in turn, Smith (to start), then Mariol, then West and then Mack in sort of a zigzag line and finally Councilwoman Mary Cireilli (at-large) defending her fellows from 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Smith obliquely approached what The Report believes to be the real issue:What are these councilmen doing banding together, just the four of them, to lay a foundation for finding solutions for Canton's decaying neighborhoods in partnership with the people?
Cutting through all the crap, The Report believes that is where she and West were heading.
Take a look at this little "dog and pony show" (so, The Report thinks) put on by Smith and West.
Judge for yourself.
Please note that Smith's apparent "mask question" asked of Community Development Director Fonda Williams was, in effect: "Doesn't Canton already have the ability to subsidize the downpayment money to those who want to buy redeveloped/rehabbed property in the city?
It so happens that the idea of a downpayment subsidy was discussed at some length by Fisher, Mack, Mariol and Morris at their joint townhall meeting of December 5th.
But it seems to The Report that there was just a tad of dissembling going on by Smith, West and their "silent" allies.
So, whose bright idea was this to, by insinuation and in misdirection, to start a "below the radar" campaign against the collaborative effort of the four?
The Report believes that Mayor William J. Healy, II is the "behind the scenes" person.
His objective?
Yours truly thinks: to create just enough turmoil (a divide and conquer strategy) to make Fisher, Mack, Mariol and Morris back off their scrutinizing of his poorly thought schemes of government and to back off their aggressive and proactive search for effective and enduring solutions for what ails Canton.
They have been a primary force is making him retreat from several legislative initiatives and you can bet that this man MBAed by the New York University Stern School of Business is not liking it one bit!
The Report thinks he will do what he has to in order to come out on top.
And there is precedent for Healy trying to put others up to doing his dirty work. It could be that the tools of Healy's effort are not even aware of how they are being manipulated.
Does anyone doubt that as Canton's chief executive that Healy (given his grandiose view of himself), in his heart of hearts, thinks he and his administration is the only legitimate authority to deal with Canton's overwhelming problems?
However, Healy has one huge chore in trying to sell that notion to Cantonians.
Notwithstanding his having been mayor for five full years, Canton is not making headway in solving its problems. Many think Canton is sliding more quickly and deeper into an abyss of no return than ever before.
Healy undoubtedly sees that if allowed to show success, the four newer council members will put him on the sidelines looking on.
Anyone who knows Hizzoner has to know that being on the sidelines is not a option for him.
So we shall see what kind of determination that Fisher, Mack, Mariol and Morris have.
All they have done so far is to start meeting with their constituents on a regular and sustained basis and in doing so they are raising eyebrows.
And for the four to have come together on December 5th for a mass meeting, wow! The raised eyebrows appear now to have been converted into clanging alarm bells.
If they actually get some "redeem Canton" solutions up and running and showing effectiveness restoring Canton into becoming a viable city, they "ain't seen nothing yet" in terms of the subterranean lighting and thunder that will began flashing to the surface.
It could be they will "get the message" and back off. After all, they are elected officials likely with future political aspirations. Moreover, they are human beings. And if they start producing results, the pressure to back off will ratchet up proportionally.
If they do, then Canton loses perhaps its last chance to escape its inexorable destiny of political and governmental oblivion.
The Report looks for Healy to try to use the likes of West (Ward 2), Smith (Ward 4), Babcock (at-large) and Cole (at-large) in one fashion or another to stymie Fisher et al.
They already are pretty much in Healy's hip pocket. But that is not enough to fire them up to do "in the trenches battle" with the insurgent councilmen.
Aha! (a finagler might think)
Who likes to standby and watch peers achieve what one has not been able to do him or herself? Think that won't generate some passion?
Indeed, the recipe! "Look, you are being shown up!!"
Go figure that one of the observations on Monday night was in effect a finger pointing at the four young turks as being a cause for concern as bringing division within council for actively pursuing solutions - just the four of them - for Canton's deep, deep problems.
Blame the victim, pure and simple!
Another telltale sign that an attack is underway?
As far as the SCPR is concerned, what is beginning to unfold has William J. Healy, II's hand written all over it.
For the future well being of generations of Cantonians, the question is: will these "can do councilmen" have the strength of character and personality to hold their ground in doing the right thing; not the politically expedient thing?
B.A. - Political Science
J.D.
AN INDEPENDENT MINDED POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
Until 1976 I was a Republican. Since then I have considered myself a Democrat. So after long term stints of being a Republican, then a Democrat, I have come to the political position I feel most comfortable with - being an INDEPENDENT MINDED ANALYST who demands effectiveness of our politicians - Republican, Democrat or whatever.
I have changed my political affiliation to "non-partisan" by not voting in either political party primary election.
