CONTINUING SERIES: REDISTRICTING, "GETTING TO 'ONE PERSON—ONE VOTE'"

UPDATED:  MONDAY, JUNE 26TH

LINK to First in Series of Blogs on Redistricting

June 12, 2017

During the days that I was a registered for voting purposes as a Democrat and highly active (2002 through early 2008) in the Stark County Democratic Party, I was astonished at the factionalism and infighting that I observed within the officialdom of the party.

There were the Maier/Jackson Democrats, the Perez Democrats, the Healy Democrats, the Ferrero Democrats, the union democrats, the Swanson Democrats and on and on the list of political personality centered Democrat went on—seemingly, unending.

Shifting factional alliances have been the order of the day among "organized" Democrats as a way to elect one of their own to public office countywide and in the political subdivisions in Stark County.

Nonetheless, for most of that span the Dems completely dominated non-judicial countywide office.

But it was a different picture at the state and federal level of elective office.

From 2000 on (earlier at the congressional level and Ralph Regula and Frank T. Bow before him), Stark and Ohio "organized" Democrats have fallen on hard times in terms of parity vis-a-vis Republicans in gaining elective office.

Only in 2006 and a nationwide Democratic year and evidenced in "the man from 'Duck Run'," namely; Ted Strickland did the Dems gain pretty much "across the board" statewide elective office.

Although Summit Countian Barbara Sykes eked out fellow Summit Countians Mary Taylor in Stark, Taylor won statewide.

However, despite the statewide Democratic candidate landslide success, Stark "organized" Democrats were unable to take advantage of the Democratic statewide blowout.  (Note:  Regula won district wide)

Although The Stark County Political Report is committed to getting Ohio's legislative districting schemes configured to competitive (meaning, by the district registered voters makeup,  either the GOP or Dems could win depending on the issues and qualities of the candidates), nobody should think that the lack of competition is necessarily only owing to Republican engineered gerrymandering to their advantage.

I think that lackluster party leadership, internal bickering and factionalism, pedestrian candidates and the like may well be determinative of the Dems poor performance in Stark-connected legislative races than perhaps districting gerrymandering favor the Republican candidate.

On  June 25th, the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com) which has been doing superlative coverage of a new redistricting effort aimed at Ohio's congressional districts assesses that even if  (according to an Associated Press analysis), an initiative by civic effort Fair Congressional Districts for Ohio, is approved by voters in November, 2018, Ohio will not over the long haul of implementing the legislation achieve parity, more or less,  between Republican/Democratic legislator representation in Washington and Columbus, to wit:

An interesting finding in light of an April 17th article which suggested that gerrymandering was the overarching reason that today Republicans control 12 of 16 congressional seats and a supermajority in the Ohio House and Senate.

The SCPR sees evidence supporting the notion that in Stark County it is not only gerrymandering being a factor in being causative for the competitive imbalance between Rs and Ds in D.C. and at the statehouse.

Additional reasons include the political ineptness of  (see the graphic above on how "to be non competitive" the Stark Dems have been in legislative races in recent years) and a self-serving nature of the leadership of the Stark County Democratic Party.

I think that one of the best opportunities that Stark Dems had a pretty decent chance of wrestling away of the Republican-held 50th Ohio House seat (since 2000) would have been had then Plain Township trustee since 1992 had Giavasis decided to take on political neophyte and Republican Christina Hagan running to be "retained" as state representative (originally appointed by the Republican House Caucus on March 2, 2011).

Parts of Plain Township in the wake of 2010 U.S. Census reapportionment were placed in the resulting new configuration of Ohio's 50th House District.

Plain is Stark County's largest township with a strong Democratic Party registration.

As pointed out above, Giavasis had been at that time trustee for many years.

Giavasis was not a wallflower trustee as so many of trustees are.

He over his years as trustee had engaged a number of high profile issues like:

• a 2008 fight over a projected AEP/Ohio Power rate increase,
• the Oakwood Square viability issue and the lease-going-forward-stranglehold that grocery chain Giant Eagle had on Oakwood in keeping a successor/competitive grocery story out of the Plain Township mall, and 
• being the lead public official not only in Stark County but all of Ohio in trying to affect the way fracking (also denying fracking on township property) in Plain Township.

Both issues brought him plenty of media ink including numerous blogs by the SCPR.

A truism in politics uttered by many of a politician is something along the lines:  "I don't care what you write (positive or negative), just spell my name right."

Although I had and continue to have a lot of reservations about Giavasis as a quality public official, in the interest of political balance in the Ohio Legislature, I encouraged him to take on incumbent Christina Hagan in the 2012 election.

"You know, I know, and everybody knows" that the first time out for elective office is the time to try to defeat an incumbent politician.

Apparently, Louis Giavasis didn't know.

Or, he knew:

• that ultimately, when Nancy Reinbold retired as Stark County clerk of courts (a position I think she "inherited for safekeeping" from Louis' brother Phil [now Stark County Democratic Party chairman]), he had a "sure fire" position awaiting him as a Reinbold successor clerk of courts because of his brother's influence as party chairman and so, 
• to borrow from two chairmen ago Stark Dems chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr (the real power in the party, to this day), "Why would I do that," that is say:  
• exchange a chancy thing (e.g. running for the Ohio House against an incumbent) 
• for a sure thing (being in line for appointment as clerk of courts)

Giavasis was also floated out as a potential candidate for Stark County commissioner in the 2010 elections on the heels of what Stark County civic activist Craig T. Conley has termed as being "Zeiglergate."

Perhaps both of the foregoing considerations amount to what a well known national politician would characterize as being "fake news" done to dissemble on Louis' real objective.

One could think on the basis of the AEP/Ohio Power, the Oakwood square activism and his "first out-the-box" elected public official to flirt with being anti-fracking that Louis might want be "the first" to go up against gerrymandering as a public service in the interest of giving some reality to the basic democratic-republican value of:  one person, one vote.

In hindsight, I think Louis Giavasis is just as self-serving political as brother Phil, Johnnie, Kim, Jamie (Healy),  John and Tim; notwithstanding his flirtations with being a civic minded politician as spelled heretofore in this blog.

Stark County does has its own "political" swamp in emulation of Washington, D.C., which, of course, hasn't change one iota with the election of a Republican president.

While this particular blog focuses on the Democrats, you can bet your bottom dollar that Stark's "organized" Republicans who hold elective office are equally adept at looking a political party interests and personal political interests above the public interest(s).

I think that Louis' flirtations were just that and not to be taken seriously.

Interestingly enough,  the "sure thing" turned out to be not so sure.

In November, 2015 Ohioans passed an amendment to the Ohio Constitution which sets up a new process by which Ohio's legislative districts  (i.e. the Ohio House/Senate) will be configured.

However, there will be no new districts at the very earliest until the 2022 election for the Ohio legislative.

The Democrats current romance with the Fair Congressional Districts for Ohio is grounded in hope against hope that they can use whatever reapportionment formula might come henceforth if Ohioans approve the Fair Congressional District for Ohio measure to recover majority political status across America.

Who thinks that "organized" Democrats down deep in their beings care one bit about being fair in politics?

"I know, you know, and everybody knows" that a sizable number of Americans apparently do not.

Slowly but surely more and more Americans are opting out of participating in our democratic-republican processes as evidenced by the fact that 45% of registered Americans did not vote in the 2016 presidential election.

If our democratic-republic eventually fails, it will be of  death by "a thousand (millions of?) cuts" a large part of which are administered by disingenuous local politicians.

It will not be the politicos who reverse the public skepticism and cynicism.

Reversal and recovery, if it comes, will be at the hand of groups like the Fair Congressional Districts for Ohio!

It appears that for the most party "organized" political parties and many of their candidates (elected and unsuccessful) do not have a "civic" bone in their structure/bodies.

The only "pathway to 'political' salvation" will be with those organizations and citizens who fight for the public interest over the parochial interests.

STARK CLERK OF COURTS: GIAVASIS - THEN - REINBOLD - BACK TO GIAVASIS?

Answer:  YES!

So The Stark County Political Report thinks.

The Report has been writing for the better part of two years that Reinbold has been contemplating retirement as Stark County clerk of courts and predicting that there would be a Giavasis to Reinbold to Giavasis cycle materialize.

Nancy Reinbold got the job in the first place on the recommendation of her former boss Phil Giavasis when he in 2008 prevailed on the Stark County Democratic Central Committee (Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. the-then chairman of the Stark Dems) for the area covering the Canton Municipal Court District to appoint him to succeed retiring long time clerk of courts Tom Harmon.  Harmon himself went on to be a Stark Dems' appointed county commissioner.;

Jumping from the county to Canton brought Phil Giavasis substantially more annual income which of course builds into a much more lucrative retirement.

Some Stark Countians thought that the Phil Giavasis vacancy was open for the general Stark County public to apply for.

One such person was Lawrence Township trustee Mike Stevens.

From a May 1, 2008 SCPR Blog:

[W]hen Lawrence Township Trustee Michael Stevens heard of the apparent vacancy; he went and talked to Giavasis to express an interest in succeeding Phil.  

As Stevens tells it, Giavasis became visibly annoyed and upset that Stevens would be interested. 

Apparently, Phil had let it be known through Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr., that he already knew who his successor would be and that person would be Nancy Reinbold (wife of retiring Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Richard Reinbold).

One has to believe she has been a mere caretaker for Family Brothers Giavasis until the brother Louis of her benefactor Phil could put himself in a credible position to succeed her.

She gave Louis his start in 2008 after she took over.

A thank you to Phil for recommending her for the job?

Of course, Ohio law prevented Phil himself from hiring a relative.

Undoubtedly, Nancy has a "best person available" story on her hiring of Louis Giavasis someone like Democrat Stark County recorder Rick Campbell had at the ready when he hired politically connected Kody Gonzalez as his chief deputy.

There are many, many inside jobs in Stark County Political subdivision government involving both the Stark County Democratic Party and the Stark County Republican Party.

For the most part, the Stark County taxpaying public can forget applying for Reinbold type jobs that come open.

What audacity! A politically unconnected person applying for a taxpayer paid for job?  You have to be kidding, no?

The foregoing thinking, The Report believes, is typical entitlement thinking that many leaders of Stark County political subdivision governments engage in.

One of the funniest "hiring politically connected" persons for taxpayer supported  took place when Stark County Board of Elections (BOE, Board) director Jeff Matthews appeared at county commissioners' work session to discuss the BOE's 2014 budget.

In the discourse, Matthews let it be known that the Board would be soon hiring some new personnel.

Would the BOE, Commissioner Regula wanted to know, be posting the positions?

As a matter of Ohio statutory law, the Ohio General Assembly has made the guardians of the integrity of our democratic-republican elections a partisan political structure.

This morning beginning at 09:00 a.m., we witness Commissioner Thomas Bernabei's attempt to get certified as an independent candidate for mayor of Canton at the BOE headquarters located at 3525 Regent in Canton.

Next Monday morning, it will be former Massillon mayor Frank Cicchinelli, Jr attempting to get certified to run as an independent for mayor of Massillon.

To say the least, independents are not favored by either the the Democrat or Republican BOE members and both Bernabei and Cicchinelli have a tough road ahead of them.

And to say it again, the Republicans and Democrats have no problem at all using your money and my money as members of the taxpaying public to support perpetuating themselves and their inside-the-political-beltway-connected friends in office.

No wonder that increasing numbers of citizens are opting out of our democratic-republican system even at the basic level of voting.

The Report believes that the office holding Reinbolds, Matthewses, Giavasises, Harolds, Maiers, Zumbars, Harmons and their ilk are slowly but surely eating away at the public's confidence in the integrity of local institutions of government in terms of the general public's access to taxpayer supported jobs which over time will coalesce with other "the public be damned attitudes" on the part of elected officials and thereby undermine the health of our cherished democratic-republic.

Undoubtedly, these folks will be pointing the finger at others as it becomes more and more apparent that public support for the the American government as administered in waning.

No mirrors allowed in the offices of these folks!

The Stark County Political Report loves the reported magnanimity of Louis Giavasis.

If he gets appointed to succeed Reinbold, he is going to resign as Plain Township trustee.

What a terrific guy this Louis Giavasis is, no?

Selflessness personified, no?

(VIDEOS) STARK DEMS PUT "HAPPY FACE" ON GONZALEZ YEARS AS CHAIRMAN

 UPDATED AT 1:00 PM (REVISED & ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY)

No doubt it is politically incorrect (as far as Stark County Democratic Party officialdom is concerned) not to get in line with all the King's Horsemen and the King's Men in an effort to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

True to form, the Stark County Political Report is not about to say that Randy Gonzalez's reign as Stark County Democratic Party (Party) chairman was a success.

However, as The Report nearly always does, this blog will let those who differ have their say.  Accordingly, the SCPR has included in this blog Gonzalez's self appraisal, the remarks of various other leading Stark County Democrats and the presentation of new party chairman Phil Giavasis make their own case.

The truth of the matter, as The Report sees it, is that Gonzalez's five years plus as party chairman has not been a success for the Party and much more importantly has,  to say the least, been a trying time for the citizenry of Stark County which likely has resulted in an overall subtle decline of the public's confidence in the institutions of local government.

The Stark County commissioners' office (Democrat Thomas Bernabei and Republican Janet Creighton, in the main) have been the only force in local government that has performed since 2011 in a fashion to undo the damage (which did not materialize until 2009) some think was put in motion when the Stark Dems' (ironically, in 1999 under the chairmanship of now Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero) appointed  one Gary D. Zeigler as Stark County treasurer.

In his day, Zelgler's primarily qualification to be appointed treasurer seemed to be his persistent and enduring work on behalf of the Party's causes and his carrying the Party banner in "sacrificial lamb" sorts of  multiple tries for political office of the 1990s.

Moreover, when Gonzalez became chairman Stark's organized Democrats held all non-judicial countywide offices.

In the 2010 elections, the Dems lost the treasury and the auditor's office.  While Zeigler was restored to office in August, 2011 by the Ohio Supreme Court because the pre-election-of-2010 Board of Stark County commissioners (Democrats Bosley, Ferguson and Gonzalez confidant Steven Meeks) had unconstitutionally removed him as a consequence of what local attorney ancd civic activist Craig Conley has termed as being Zeiglergate, it was clear to one and all that Alliance Republican Alex Zumbar (who won the 2010 treasury election which the Supreme Court invalidated) would have to because of public demand be appointed by the Democrats. 

Last night's Dems' meeting was in celebration of Party loyalists.  That is to say, those loyal to the political machine built up over time (going back to the late 1980s) by Johnnie A. Maier, Jr of Massillon.  But, of course no direct mention of Zeigler was made.  (for those readers unfamiliar with Zeigler's time in office, here is a LINK to get up to speed with).

The - sore point - oblique reference to the Zeigler years in office was made by Chairman Gonzalez last night as he recalled and described how he had to lead the fight within the Party to appoint  Zumbar to replace Zeigler when Zeigler resigned/retired on October 19, 2011.

Zumbar in the November, 2012 general election easily defeated the token Democratic candidate put up to oppose him.

Gonzalez as he is prone to do (a la the Democrat's very best political spin artist; i.e. Canton mayor William J. Healy, II) put the best face on the unpleasantness of appointing Zumbar.

However, a number of "official family Democrats" are still upset that Gonzalez caved in to public pressure.

To be sure, the Democrats still have a tight grip on most non-judicial countywide office.  The fear now is that they could lose the sheriff's office come November.

At least some of Stark's organized Democrats are concerned.  Others may just as soon see Republican Larry Dordea's election.

These may include those who did not support either in February or December, the selection of George T. Maier to be the Party's appointed sheriff.

If George is elected, then the Maier faction of the Stark County Democratic Party (the controlling faction) will have achieved its deepest reach into Stark County government.

Though not nearly inclusively enough, here is a graphic created by the SCPR to give a semblance of the Maiers' reach into Stark County officialdom government.

And most of them were main players in last night's gathering.

The machine itself was rocked on February 5, 2013 when Junior's brother George T. Maier narrowly defeated the politically unknown and unsophisticated Louis Darrow for the Stark County Democratic Party Central Committee's  (SCDP-CC) appointment as Stark County sheriff (LINK to circumstances and background of the appointment for the unfamiliar).

Everybody was stunned when Maier had to fight hard to eke out a narrow 92 to 84 over political novice Darrow.

It remains to be seen as to whether or not the George T. Maier appointment will stick.

It is one thing for him to have navigated the waters created by brother Johnnie over nearly 30 years of politiking, but it quite another to have to get the endorsement of Stark County voters in an election year that without a doubt is going to be a banner year for Ohio Republicans.

If Republican John Kasich runs as well as the SCPR and many other political analysts think he will, it will be difficult indeed for George T. Maier to win election even if (as the SCPR expects he will) runs well ahead of other Democrats running this election year in Stark County.

And it was obvious from the remarks of the Maier controlled Stark County Democratic Party officialdom that though there may be other Democratic Party candidates on the November 4, 2014 ballot; nearly all the local Party's resources are going to be dedicated to the George T. Maier effort.

The SCPR dubs the Maier/Dordea (Republican Larry Dodea, former Alliance police chief and current Hartville police chief) as "Dordea's to lose."

"Dordea's to lose" in the context of the "up-ticket" drubbing that the Democrats are likely to take in the November election is the SCPR's take on the November Stark County sheriff races match up.

If this were 2016, the tables would be reversed and Maier would be the odds-on-choice to win.  For Democratic political organizations can only seem to get the Democratic base out in big enough numbers in presidential years. 

If Maier is to win, then new chairman Phil Giavasis (Democrat; currently Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts, formerly Stark County clerk of courts) will have to demonstrate tremendous leadership skills in terms of bringing a divided political party together.

In any event, whether Maier wins or loses, Giavasis, the SCPR assesses, is only a "temporary" chairman.  The chairman-in-waiting, The Report is convinced is Randy Gonzalez's son Kody who succeeded father Randy as chief deputy clerk of courts under guess who?

You've got it:  Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts Phil Giavasis.

As promised, here is a series of videos the SCPR took of last night of the "Maier Loyalty Club" rally.

SCDP-CC SWEARING IN & GONZALEZ FAREWELL
OKEY APPOINTED TEMPORARY CHAIR



GIAVASIS NOMINATED/ELECTED AS NEW CHAIR
NOMINATOR: CRAIG CHESSLER, PERRY TWP TRUSTEE



NEW CHAIRMAN GIAVASIS TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR ST. JOHN
POLITICAL DIRECTOR SHANE JACKSON
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR KODY GONZALEZ



NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS

RANDY GONZALEZ TO RETIRE AS DEMS PARTY CHAIR ON JUNE 5TH

REVISED & UPDATE FROM AN ORIGINAL POST OF 05/29/2014

UPDATE:  11:28 AM (05/30/2014)

The SCPR has been told by a number of sources that Stark County Democratic Party  (SCDP) chairman Randy Gonzalez has sent out a letter to those central committee (CC) persons who voted for George T. Maier to be the Dems' appointee as sheriff of Stark County  . . .  (only kidding Randy, for background see this SCPR blog) announcing his retirement as party chairman effective June 5th with the selection of his replacement by the SCDP-CC on the 5th.

Gonzalez's former boss at the Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts office (from which Gonzalez retired as chief deputy clerk of courts in December, 2013); namely, Phil Giavasis is rumored to have Gonzalez's blessing as his successor.  However, he reportedly has been having second thoughts about becoming chairman.

One source mentions Gonzalez son Kody as a potential player.

Kody succeeded Randy as chief deputy on the latter's retirement.

About a year ago rumors were rampant that Randy was stepping down as Party chairman, which, of course, did not materialize.  The SCPR at that time asked the senior Gonzalez about to son-succession speculation.

His answer?

"I wouldn't wish that (the Dems' chairmanship) on anybody, certainly not my son!"

We shall see very soon now!

Gonzalez has been chairman since 2009 when he took over for his political protege Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.

His tenure as chairman has included the most difficult thing that any political party chairman has ever had to do with his having to guide the SCDP-CC through the process of appointing a Republican to an important Stark County office.

On October 31, 2011 he presided over the appointment of Alliance Republican Alex Zumbar as Stark County treasurer.

Democrat Gary D. Zeigler had resigned/retired as county treasurer on October 11th in a deal with the Stark County commissioners in resolving a lawsuit filed by Democratic Stark County prosecutor John D. Ferrero to make recoveries on behalf of Stark County under the provisions of Ohio statutory law.

From a October 19, 2011 SCPR blog:

Zeigler has been under public fire since April 1, 2009 when Stark County was rocked by a revelation that his Chief Deputy Vince Frustaci had stolen, by some accounts, $2.96 million (Frustaci has only ever admitted to $2.46 million.

Ever since the revelation, Zeigler has been under public pressure to resign.  But he, until today, refused to do so saying that he had done nothing wrong.

Zeigler was not implicated in the theft by federal, state, or local law enforcement officials.

Another storied  political legend happening during the Gonzalez reign as chairman was the appointment of George T. Maier as the Dems' successor to Mike McDonald as sheriff of Stark County.

McDonald, elected in November, 2012 was unable to take office on January 7,2013 due to an illness which tragically claimed his life on February 22, 2013.

In a touch of irony, it was McDonald who helped Gonzalez corral resistant SCDP-CC members to supporting the chairman in his quest to have Republican Zumbar appointed with this speech to SCDP-CC members on October 31, 2011.



In a tortured process, Gonzalez was under a lot of strain in working through the process (February 5, 2013 and December 11, 2013) in getting Maier appointed.

Chairman Gonzalez may think that it is "mission accomplished" with respect to the Maier appointment with his (Maier) having survived a Stark County Board of Elections process (followed by a secretary of state and Ohio Supreme Court process) over his right to be on the November ballot.

However, in a conversation that the SCPR had with a leading player in the BOE fight, The Report was impliedly told that Maier's status as sheriff is still subject to further legal challenge.

It will be interesting to see whether or not this was mere "huffing and puffing" or Stark County is in for another round of turmoil on the sheriff situation.

To Gonzalez, the Maier appointment sticking and his election has to be on reflection the major accomplishment of his tenure as chairman.

As far as the SCPR is concerned, the Gonzalez time as chairman has been example of the statement of humorist Will Rogers when he said: "I am not the member of an organized political party, I am a Democrat."

Stark County's "organized" Democrats have proved to be a rather "unruly" group during the Randy Gonzalez stint as the Stark County Democratic Party chairman.

WHICH IS IT WITH "NEW" CANTON MUNY COURT "CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK?

If you ask Stark County recorder Rick Campbell and Clerk of Canton Municipal Court Phil Giavasis  (ran unopposed in November, 2013, which undoubtedly explains his arrogance as a public official) to apply the SCPR above-posed questions to one Kody Gonzalez (son of heretofore Canton Municipal Court Chief Deputy Randy Gonzalez) they definitely would say "cream always rises to the top."

Giavasis was very upset when the Stark County Political Report contacted him on Wednesday to ask about a tip The Report had received earlier in the morning that Kody had been installed as chief deputy of the Canton courts this past Monday (November 18, 2013) as a replacement for his father Randy whose last day, The Report is told, is set for January 1, 2014.

Why was Phil Giavasis upset?

First, because he knew (from past SCPR blogs involving his being Stark County clerk of courts days) that I was going to ask some direct questions.

On May 1, 2008 (a mere 45 days or so after I began the SCPR), I wrote a story about how it appeared to me that he had cut off any competition (in favor of Nancy Reinbold, wife of the-then Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Richard Reinbold) to whom his successor was going to be when he decided for himself that being clerk of courts for the Canton Municipal Court was a "greener pasture" than continuing to be the Stark County clerk of courts.  

Secondly, and undoubtedly, because he knew that the Stark County Political Report would not necessarily buy his line that "cream always rises to the top" in terms of his employing Kody.

Any more than the SCPR did when Stark recorder Rick Campbell pretty much used the same line when asked by The Report about Kody's leapedfrogging over longer-serving employees at the recorder's office (with only two years -  right out of college - of job experience [as a Plain (2005)/Jackson (2006) schools "entry-level" teacher]) to become the chief deputy recorder.

"How dare," Giavasis, Campbell and father Randy protested, that the Stark County Political Report would raise the question that, perhaps, Kody became an overnight Stark County/Canton government phenom because of the intervention of "it pays to be "politically" connected."

Randy said he was as surprised as anyone that Kody ended up with the next-to-the-top county recorder's job.  No doubt, it is a repeat "I was the-last-to-know" on Kody being handed Randy's soon-to-be "old job."

Don't you just love it when one of Stark County's most politically attuned and astute persons claims to be completely uninformed when a next-of-kin gets a top notch government job with everyone else being cut off from applying?

Giavasis told me in a telephone conversation on Wednesday (see a more detailed account of the conversation below) that Randy only learned after-the-fact that Kody had been hired.

What a coincidence?

As an "entry-level" teacher back in 2005, Kody (who graduated from Ohio University in 2005) was likely making somewhere in the low to mid $20,000s.

As Campbell's chief deputy less than two (2) years later, he likely was at $49,000 (according to the Stark County auditor) in cash salary and you can figure another $15,000 or so in fringe benefits.

As of October 10, 2013, he was making $54,461.60 plus, of course, the fringes.

So in the matter of six (6) years Kody received an increase of about 10% from beginning to end on his "uncompeted for" recorder's office chief deputy job.

Remember that this is a period of time that many other county employees were getting "zilch" in annual increases.

Probably because Recorder Campbell did not want to risk losing an employee who spontaneously emanates par excellence abilities, no? 

As Canton Municipal chief deputy clerk of court Kody Gonzalez will start out at $64,000 according to the Canton auditor's office.  Do not forget that the fringes boost the total take to about $90,000 per annum.

Hmm?

Since entering county/city "public service?," Kody has had an increase of 30%. 

I raise the "public service" issue because Randy claims that for the Gonzalezes working in the public sector is a family tradition of doing public service.

My response?

Well, it is certainly is "well-paid" public service.

Kody Gonzalez has to be the envy of many county/city employees.

Perhaps, that was what motivated a SCPR tipster to notify The Report of Kody's new hire status in a Wednesday e-mail.

The only time the SCPR gained any appreciation of Kody's work product was at the Stark County commissioners' annual  upcoming fiscal year budget hearings which occurred in January, 2013 for fiscal year 2013.

There was definitely "a spit and polish" (i.e. a fancy Powerpoint presentation) aspect to it that the SCPR will concede is beyond the apparent (to The Report) capabilities of Recorder Campbell himself.

However, I couldn't make "heads or tails" out of how much Stark County general fund funding for "new" (i.e. to be hired in 2013) recorder's office and microfilming employees was being asked for.

As the video in the linked blog above shows, Kody's work on the numbers appeared to be confusing the commissioners.  Especially, Commissioner Tom Bernabei.

If memory serves me correctly, the recorder's office had to do an follow-up presentation to clear things up.

But, perhaps, the budget presentation was an example of the proverbial "having a bad day" and not typical of Kody's day-in, day-out performance.

Anybody who knows anything about Stark County politics know that Randy Gonzalez is chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party and has been since 2009.   Moreover, he has been a Stark Dems kingpin for quite a few years before becoming chairman.

"Father" Gonzalez seems to have his hand in nearly everything political and governmental in Stark County over many years.

He is a one time Jackson trustee and currently fiscal officer and believed by many to be the foremost politically powerful person in Jackson Township who is "the-power-behind-the-throne" and effectively controls the likes of John Pizzino, Jr, Todd Hawke and James "Jamie" Walters.

The amazing thing about Democrat Gonzalez's clout in heavily Republican Jackson Township is that two of the three trustees (Hawke and Walters) are currently registered Republicans and Pizzino, Jr (a cousin to former Massillon mayor Franchis H. Cicchinelli, Jr) is a former Republican.

A couple of years ago in a conversation that I had with Trustee Walters, it was astounding to hear how Walters believed that Gonzalez was his political friend.

But that was not what I was hearing from Randy Gonzalez himself.

Which goes to say that the SCPR believes Gonzalez has honed a skill of being all things to all people (a considerable political skill) dressed in a cloak of finesse which can be beguiling.

Beguiling to many, except, of course, to the Stark County Political Report.

But suffice it to say, the SCPR believes the Gonzalez political factor has been instrumental in friends and family (direct or indirect on from key Stark officials ingratiating themselves unsolicited) in getting placed into government positions in various Stark County political subdivisions.

Gonzalez gets very angry when The Report writes such opinions.

While The Report thinks his preferred way of dealing with such situations is to "turn the charm on;" he is quite capable of and does play political hardball the equal or superior to the very best Stark County practitioners of the politics.

He has tried both with the Stark County Political Report.

When the SCPR wrote a blog questioning how son Kody was enshrined by Stark County recorder Rick Campbell as second-in-command in the recorders office in (June, 2007; no competitive interview conducted), father Randy contacted me to express his marked displeasure that I would suggest that he had anything to do (as Stark Dems chairman) with Kody's meteoric rise from relative obscurity as a "entry level" schoolteacher to becoming one of Stark County's very top public officials.

It could be that he had no direct involvement in the hire.

But it's certainly in the category of "who is going to believe that?"

Is anyone going to believe that Randy's role as party chairman had nothing to do with Campbell picking Kody from "out of nowhere" to become his chief deputy recorder.

There is no doubt that Randy has the requisite political skills not to "leave his fingerprints" on having anything whatsoever to do with his son's recorder office employment and now his landing a $10,000 increase in his move over to the Canton Muny Court position.

One local civic activist tells me that Randy Gonzalez is perhaps Stark's most highly skilled politician.

And I never argue the point.

Randy is a very likable guy with a terrific set of social skills, but, of course, with the Stark County Political Report, the blogs are never about whether or not I personally like/dislike this politician/government figure or that one.

For my money, "personality wise," he has it all over Stark Dems executive vice chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr (chairman from 2003 through 2009).  However, the SCPR views Maier, Jr as the real power within the Stark County Democratic Executive Committee and from whom Gonzalez gets his marching orders.

But now back to the Kody Gonzalez hire as Canton Muny Court chief deputy clerk.

When public officials will talk to me, (some won't because of my incisive questioning style), I always hone in on "cut-to-the-bone" questions.

In a Wednesday phone call (I think I caught him by surprise that I knew about Kody's hire), I asked Giavasis whether or not he considered folks other than Kody to replace Randy.

Answer:  No.

Question:  Why not?

Answer:  Because I do not have to.

Question:  Whom contacted whom about the job?

Answer:  I contacted him.

Question:  Well, how about Stark County's (in this case Canton Muny court district) taxpayers?  Are they entitled to compete for the job?

Then he went on what I view as a rant about how one-sided the SCPR is as evidenced (according to him) by a blog I did on the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) that was not pleasing to him and Randy Gonzalez.

Stark Democratic Party stalwart Reinbold in 2012 was running for re-election as Stark County clerk of courts and I had written a blog wherein her opponent (Republican Jeff Heimbaugh) critiqued CJIS.

Consequently they invited me over to the the Canton clerk of court offices to take a first-hand look at CJIS in operation.

And I appreciated having been invited to see first-hand the Giavasis/Gonzalez cameo-esque presentation.

However, they should have known (as anyone who reads SCPR blogs know), I  always go to any such occasion with my full critical faculties intact.

Notwithstanding Heimbaugh's criticism, I am well-taken with CJIS which is largely Randy Gonzalez creation.  But I am not ready to coronate it as being "the best that it can be."  Apparently, that unwillingness has stuck in the craw of Giavasis, if not Gonazalez.

Randy's work on:

• CJIS,
• Stark County's 9-1-1 "broken" (according to a 2008 report) centralized dispatching system, and
• His very recent  effort to bring Jackson Township, Plain Township, North Canton and Canton into a collaborative economic development mode

is impressive.

Seemingly, single-handedly, Gonzalez has "kept hope alive" that some day in the foreseeable future he will realize his dream of Stark County achieving a "state of the art" 9-1-1 dispatching system.

From what I have seen of Kody Gonzalez, I he think is a "work-in-progress" with potential for leadership but not yet ready for prime time.

He has always been civil and courteous to me notwithstanding my inquiring blogs.

I think it is a fair question that Stark Countians should consider as to whether his ascendancy is due to:

• a case of "it pays to be politically connected," or
• a case of "cream rising to the top"

I cannot say that Kody's father mirrors his son's demeanor and temperament.

He gets more than a bit snarky with me when I write in a fashion displeasing to him.

Campbell, Phil Giavasis and Randy Gonzalez can try to cajole or bully (the most used technique) the SCPR "until the cows come home," but such efforts have been and will remain "all in vain" as long as I write the Stark County Political Report.

The Report understands that a father is going to react to questions raised as to how his son got to where he has gotten in the public sector.

President Harry Truman on December 18, 1950 did so when a music critic panned his daughter's piano recital, to wit: (Source:  Wikipedia)

I have read your lousy review of Margaret’s concert. I’ve come to the conclusion that you are an eight ulcer man on a four ulcer job … Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes and perhaps a supporter below. 

Margaret, of course, was not a public employee.

Kody Gonzalez is.

And, accordingly, he is open to media scrutiny as to how he got to where he has gotten.

Readers of the Stark County Political Report know that The Report will continue to raise questions, to repeat myself, such as was a given hire:

• "A case of  'being politically connected'" or
•  A case of  "cream rising to the top"

I do express my opinion in my blogs but the deciders who count in terms of the persuasiveness of my opinions are the readers of the Stark County Political Report.

No amount of flattery or flack from the subjects of my blogs or their supporters alters the SCPR's "cut to the core" observations.

As a "for instance" on the flack side, the SCPR has little personal regard for Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero as a consequence of his attack on me and my constitutionally protected right of free speech as a media type and as a citizen of Stark County under the guise that I happen to be a lawyer.

I am still waiting for his apology.

Nevertheless, I have blogged that I consider him to have been "a stand up guy" for the "rule of law" in the instance of his having filed an affidavit in his capacity of Stark chief interpreter of the law that he considered George T. Maier "unqualified" under Ohio statutory law standards.

Ferrero must have been the recipient of Maier-partisan's ire ever since.

When one is a "political insider" like Ferrero is within the Stark County Democratic Party politics (Stark County Democratic Party chairman from 2003-2009); it takes a lot of moxie to do what he did on February 5, 2013 in filing the affidavit for consideration by assembled Stark County Democratic Party Central Committee members.

In my view, Chairman Gonzalez humiliated Ferrero in suggesting that Ferrero was a "fly in the ointment" of the chairman's desire that the members appoint Maier as sheriff.

The SCPR says "kudos" to Prosecutor Ferrero for sticking up for "the rule of law."

Agree or disagree with me; like me or dislike me, readers of the SCPR get my candid assessment of Stark County politics and politicians and other Stark County public figures.

A big Thank You! for reading the Stark County Political Report.

Like no other Stark County media outlet, the SCPR keeps the Stark County public informed on the seamy side of Stark County politics and government.

STARK CO. CLERK OF COURT CANDIDATES REINBOLD & HEIMBAUGH TUSSLE TO GET IN THE LAST WORD ON THE SCPR?

Back on October 12th, the SCPR did its last (LINK) of a succession of blogs on the Stark County clerk of courts race between Democrat and incumbent Nancy Reinbold and Republican challenger Jeff Heimbaugh.

Readers of this blog owe it to themselves to take a few minutes to click on the LINK and get up to speed on the back-and-forth between Heimbaugh and Reinbold  (and her emissaries) so as to appreciate the significance of this particular blog:  "Who Gets the Last Word?"

The October 12th blog was given life when The Report was contacted by Stark County Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) project manager Randy Gonzalez (who also is Stark County Democratic Party chairman) who invited yours truly to go to the Canton Municipal clerk of courts office (run by elected-Clerk Phil Giavasis [former Reinbold boss]) to see the "spit and polish" of CJIS "up close and personal."  (The Report's words, not Gonzalez's)

And, indeed, the CJIS operation is impressive.

Apparently, the invitation and the schooling on CJIS was supposed to put the "perfect squelch" on anything that Heimbaugh could possibly say as a rejoinder and would lead the SCPR to conclude that any additional Heimbaugh responses should be ignored.

Well, that is not quite how the SCPR operates.

Needless to say, over the nearly five years that the Stark County Political Report has been published, yours truly has received complaints/observations from time-to-time that "there is more to the story."

The Report's response?

Fine, send in an e-mail to tramols@att.net composed "in your own words" and the SCPR will publish it word-for-word.

Quite a few Stark County public officials and other subjects of SCPR blogs have taken advantage of The Report's open invitation.

Those who decline should be thought of as being whiners who are trying to put the SCPR on the defensive and perhaps affect the tone, the critique, of future blogs merely by virtue of having whined.

Kind of like the player or coach who complains to the referee not because he thinks the call will get reversed.  Rather he hopes the next call will go in his favor merely because he protested.  Protest is in and of itself is designed to make the referee see that he has somehow been unfair.

In the sporting event context, one suspects that whining works on occasion.

However, not with the SCPR.  But The Report has a fullproof way to deal with a complainer/observer.

The Report opens up the pages of the blog to let the "offended" person state his/her case.  The readers of the blog will then decide whether or not he/she has made his/her case.

Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero comes to mind as a local public official who consummately bellyaches about how unfair the SCPR is to him.

But not one time has he ever had the fortitude to come on the blog with his counter to the blogs he complains about.

Apparently, he thinks his performance in office is immune to scrutiny as evidenced by his bellyaching.

Justices of the United States Supreme Court get roundly criticized for their work on the bench, if not lambasted,  by not only media types and by members of the bar who make it clear that they are speaking as members of the profession.

Only last week, yours truly saw Justice Scalia on a CNN program defending and explaining himself.

Hmm?

Justice Scalia, who draws perhaps more scrutiny and criticism than any other jurist, takes the criticism in the spirit of public debate that better informs the public.

But John Ferrero, what does he do?  He sulks and seeks to silence his critics.

The Report does not look for it to happen, but it would be "sweet indeed" for Stark County if Stark County voters were to unseat Ferrero in favor of Republican Mike Grady on the 6th of next month.

Thankfully, Ferrero is an exception among Stark County politicians and elected office holders; not the rule.

Heimbaugh has been the latest in a long line of SCPR subjects to take up the continuing SCPR to respond to a blog "in his own words."

Today, The Report presents Randy Gonzalez's response to an SCPR inquiry and (partially) a Heimbaugh's e-mail of October 12th (published as an "update" to the blog of same date.

The Report's inquiry:

From: Martin Olson <tramols@att.net>Subject: CJIS budgetTo: "Randy Gonzalez" <randy.gonzalez@cantonohio.gov>Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012, 1:19 PM
Randy, 

I forgot to take the copy of the CJIS budget that you printed out for me yesterday. 

Would you please e-mail it to me (or fax it to 330 838 2342). 

As I indicated I would, II did check out the point we discussed as to whether or not was Heimbaugh was calling for "off-the-shelf" software to take care of CJIS and other court-related.  It appears to me that you and Phil are correct in your take on Heimbaugh's position. 

Heimbaugh does talk about a plan to upgrade the CJIS system to enable e-filing of court pleadings and that there might be a module with "of-the-self" [sic] software that could make it much cheaper to do than if CJIS were to be upgraded. 

Is there such a plan (i.e. upgrade CJIS to include e-filing)?  If so, when is it to be done? If so, what is the projected cost?  If so, would Yates be the person doing the programing for such an upgrade?  If so, is the work to be included in the $85,000 per year contract price? 

Thanks,
Martin/SCPR

Gonzalez's response:

Re: Fw: CJIS budgetTuesday, October 16, 2012 10:43 AM
From: "Randy Gonzalez" <randy.gonzalez@cantonohio.gov>View contact details
To: "Martin Olson" <tramols@att.net>

Martin, attached is the budget you requested. Also by all the Courts working together with CJIS it gives us the ability to shop pricing for products like ORACLE and drive the prices down for all by using they get all or no contracts from Stark County. Also the CJIS server can serve as an additional back up for all the courts and information request for all courts come from one place instead of 4 separate request. 

In addition to court management systems CJIS also includes: 

Population control for the jail package
Prosecutors package
Probation Package
Pre Trial Release Package
Compliant maker for law enforcement package
Line-ups for law enforcement
Online Payments
Complete Warrant data base for all courts and law enforcement.
Jail Photos
Reports all 4 court centrally to State agencies. (Supreme Court, BMV, BCI and so on)
Coming soon will be paperless uniform traffic tickets. 

Again there is no charge to any agency for CJIS not the jail, law enforcement or any other user. It is paid for by user based fees established statutorily that created the Clerks of Court automation fund. 

In answer to your question attached; Judge Heath went to a judicial seminar and became involved in pursuing e filing. She and Nancy started a committee which included the main users (attorneys). Yes they are not looking to reinvent the wheel and are familiar with a couple different successful system currently being used in Franklin and Montgomery Counties. The attorneys are also used to those systems.  

CJIS will be the portal to the E filing system and yes Chris Yates will develop the interface with the vendor chosen at no additional charge, it is part of his job. Implementing E filing through CJIS, will include all 4 courts and again will keep the cost down by each not going off on their own while adding continuity of all users. 1 contract not 4! 

Hope this answers your questions, although as I stated yesterday I believe Nancy has answered these questions and at our meeting Phil and I have also went over all of this. I trully [sic] appreciate your thoroughness so I hope this does it. 

During The Report's one-on-two (with Gonzalez and Giavasis), Gonzalez made a point of saying that the above-budget is funded by a $10 per filing fee (to fund a court technology fund) attached to each and every new case filing with the respective listed courts. And, consequently, taxpayers do not pay for CJIS.

The implication, The Report believes, is that CJIS is free to Stark County taxpayers.

Hmm?

The SCPR begs to differ with Gonzalez, if that was his point.

The vast majority of those who file cases in Stark County courts are Stark County citizens who happen also to be Stark County taxpayers at various levels of local government.

Gonzalez's position is somewhat analogous to former Governor Ted Strickland raising fees for certain State of Ohio fees by $36 million across a number of state agencies several years ago.  His spinmeisters maintained that the $36 was not a tax increase.

Hmm?

A final point.

It could be that this blog is "the last word" on the Reinbold/Heimbaugh race.

That is, if both sides cease weighing in on the toplic.

For like no other Stark County media, the SCPR is committed to allowing subjects to get their full point-of-view before the Stark County public.

However, the issues raised in the Reinbold/Heimbaum series of blogs go beyond the campaign itself.

The SCPR will be pushing the Stark County commissioners to fully vet whether or not it is in the best interest of Stark Countians to continue to contract with an out-of-county host/maintainer of CJIS when it comes up again next year.

REPORTEDLY LOUIS P. GIAVASIS WILL NOT RUN FOR STARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER. A GOOD THING FOR STARK COUNTY?

It is a good thing that Plain Township trustee Giavasis underlines Louis P.  Otherwise, people might confuse him with his brother Phil.  Brother Phil is the better known Giavasis siblings.


Phil was Stark County Common Pleas clerk of courts for a number of years.  When Tom Harmon decided to "retire," Phil jumped all over being Canton Municipal Court clerk of courts because of the increased pay which will jack up his retirement benefits from PERS on retirement.


On the way out the door at Common Pleas, Phil Giavasis handed that job to Nancy Reinbold, wife of former Common Pleas Court judge Richard Reinbold.  

Who is one of Reinbold's chief employees these days?


Phil's brother Louis P.  That's who!


Louis doubles up as Plain Township trustee.


The SCPR has complemented the Plain trustees for having probably the best fiscal operation in all of Stark County, if not all of Ohio.  Louis P. deserves some of but not all of the credit.


The question becomes:  would Louis P. Giavasis as a Stark County commissioner be good for Stark Countians.


The SCPR's answer is probably not.


And this may be an academic discussion because The Report is told that Louis P. Giavasis will not be running for commissioner.  Reportedly, he has made a statement on his Facebook page to that effect.


Okay let's go the academic route:  why Louis P. Giavasis might not make a good Stark County commissioner?


Because he is afflicted with the "perpetual bridesmaid effect" which has him cozying up to political suitors but being rejected because of some perceived "political imperfections."


Hmm?  The "perpetual bridesmaid effect."


Yes, Louis P. is a wannabe type in terms of Stark County power politics who is largely unappreciated by the powers that be in the Stark County Democratic Party.  Moreover, if his brother was not Phil, he likely would not be the "Title Bureau Czar" for the Stark clerk of courts office.


Though Louis P. probably works far harder on the campaigns of other Stark Democratic hopefuls than brother Phil (who likely does no on-the-ground work for others), he ends up being the Rodney Dangerfield of Stark Democratic politics whereas brother Phil is one of the key players of the Party.

An argument can be made that had Louis P. not worked day and night for Commissioner Todd Bosley in Bosley's 2006 campaign,  the good commissioner would not be commissioner.


A part of Louis P's problem getting respect is that he has "apparently" taken on some powerful interests that are major players in Plain Township and Stark County as a whole.  One such interest is the Giant Eagle grocery chain. 


Why Giant Eagle?

Because when Giant Eagle vacated the oldish Oakwood Square shopping complex, Trustee Louis P. Giavasis fought with Giant Eagle over a provision in Giant Eagle's lease with the shopping center owners that gave the grocery chain behemoth a veto right over allowing a replacement grocery store from coming into Oakwood.  

Giant Eagle moved just down the road from Oakwood to the brand new Washington Square.


So?


Well, it wasn't just that Louis P. fought with Giant Eagle, it was the tone and vitriol that seemed to be a part of Louis P's presentations and advocacy.


Stark County Democratic leaders got real nervous about Louis and the potential he posed to upset the Stark County political applecart by making a big deal out of the Giant Eagle thing.  They likely got to thinking that this guy Louis P. gets off the reservation from time-to-time and therefore we cannot put him in a front and center politically sensitive situation.


Another powerful interest that Louis P. Giavasis has taken on is American Electric Power (AEP).

Several years ago AEP decided to as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) for a gigantic increase in electric rates over three years.  Louis P. Giavasis spearheaded an effort to get all Stark County local governments which had AEP users within their boundaries to send letters to the PUCO protesting the increases.


Again, the Stark County Democratic Party leaders had to be saying to themselves:  "there goes Louis P. again."  So, one might ask, who is Louis P. Giavasis?

Is he a maverick who makes local powerful Democrats leaders nervous or is he a political toady-up?


The answer:  about a 80/20 ratio with the 80 being the "consummate party man" factor and the other 20 being Louis P. Giavasis, the political  "maverick."

In a sense, it might be right on the mark to call Louis P. Giavasis Stark County's genuine political "double-agent."  He has one foot squarely planted in being an agitator for the people - on the one hand, and one foot squarely planted in being "anything for you" to the Stark County Democratic Party leadership - on the other hand.

If one buys into The Report's assessment of Louis P. Giavasis, would you want him as Stark County commissioner - if he changes his mind about for running (politicians do that you know) and decides to run?


Commissioner Todd Bosley would.  And why wouldn't he. 

The SCPR would not be surprised in the slightest if Louis P. changes his mind on running for commissioner before the filing deadline later this month.

He has demonstrated his ability to change his mind on the efforts of The Steering Committee for the City of Plain to incorporate parts of Plain Township.


As the SCPR understands his original position was one of neutrality


However, at the December 23, 2009 meeting of the Plain Trustees he and his fellow trustees came out against the effort.  


Of course, they are against the incorporation.  If the incorporation wins, then the trustees will be marginalized in terms of what is left for them to govern.


The City of Plain group were hassled by county officials in getting the incorporation issue on the ballot.  Hmm?


One has to wonder:  what, if anything did Louis P. do - on the political backstage - to try to keep the incorporation issue off the May ballot?

The SCPR believes that there is enough of a take on Louis P. Giavasis to justify opting out on Giavasis being anything other than a township trustee.

The Report believes that Louis P. Giavasis is "up to his eyebrows" in Stark County Democratic insider politics and therefore would, if he ran and was elected commissioner, be a part of the Randy Gonzalez political machine which loves to work their "wink and a nod" deals for the benefit of party insiders.


Louis P. Giavasis is, in being a bridesmaid type politico, close to the key action but just a shade short of qualifying for being prime time (i.e. being the bride).


Because he is questing to being "bride" of Stark County Democratic political order, the SCPR believes that Stark Countians should be glad that he has not thrown his hat into the ring.


For if he did, the SCPR believes he would win a Democratic primary against Michael Stevens (Lawrence Township trustee) and be the odds-on-favorite to defeat any of the announced Republicans in the November general election.


Then Stark Countians would have Steve Meeks ("of, by, and for politics") and Louis P. Giavasis (the 80/20 man) running Stark County government.


Could Stark County survive a hit like that?