STARK REPUBLICAN CHAIR MATTHEWS FAILS TO SUPPORT STARK COUNTY NATIVE TO OPPOSE BOCCIERI IN 2010 OFF-YEAR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS

The SCPR has learned that by a 3 to 1 vote among the Stark, Wayne, Ashland and Medina County Republican chairman, Jim Renacci is their choice to run against Democrat John Boccieri.

Who did the one dissenting vote go to?

Stark County native Phil Kiko on the vote of Chairman Jeff Matthews?

No.

Really?

Guess again.

Okay.

Ashland County's Matt Miller by the Ashland County chair Robert DeSanto?

Bingo!

Stark County Republicans certainly will be amazed to learn about this turn of events. As the SCPR has been saying for months now, Matthews is the undoing of the Stark Republican Party. Question is: how long is the Stark County Republican Executive Committee going to keep putting up with this guy?

The SCPR has learned that Renacci has hired a political director (thought to be from Oklahoma and is off and running like the nomination is in the bag for him.

But hold on just a minute!

Matt Miller of Ashland will run against the party chairmen's choice in the 2010 GOP primary, and, maybe Stark County native Phil Kiko too.

The SCPR believes that should Kiko choose to run he will win a close race over Miller and Renacci would come in a distant third.

If Kiko does not run, the yours truly thinks Renacci will eke out a narrow victory over Miller mostly because Miller is an extreme right wing Republican who plays well with the Republican base but not the more moderate elements of the party.

In the judgment of the SCPR, if Kiko runs then the Republicans could be competitive to win back the 16th. Whether or not he would win a general election against Boccieri would depend how the Democratic National Party is perceived in the public eye.

Cap-and-trade, health care and other major issues would play a large role with Kiko being the GOP standard-bearer.

The issues would take a back seat if former Wadsworth mayor and current Chevy car dealer Renacci proves to be the Republican nominee. The SCPR has already received input from sources indicated that Renacci may carry a lot of negative political baggage with him.

Undoubtedly, Democrat John Boccieri has to be pleased with the chairmen's choice.

The only only roadblock to Renacci carrying the day is Stark County native Phil Kiko.

Local politicos should keep and eye Kiko's decision as pivotal on whether or not there is a realistic chance that this seat is competitive in 2010.

Below are links to previous SCPR blogs on each of the Republicans interested in running.

KIKO

MILLER

RENACCI

2010 ELECTION SERIES - THE 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: WHO MIGHT BE RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT JOHN BOCCIERI? MATT MILLER, FOR THE THIRD TIME?

Last week the SCPR got a call from a leading Stark County Republican who shared some names of Republicans who are looking at challenging Congressman John Boccieri in November, 2010.

In another conversation with Kirk Schuring (Republican - Ohio Senate - 29th), the SCPR was told that the chances of Schuring running are "between slim and none and Slim just left town."

An old name that came up in the first conversation was Matt Miller. Former Ashland County Commissioner Miller (he left office in December, 2008 after eight years in office) a courageous young man (31 years old), has taken on two of the strongest political names in Stark County and done well.

Here are the results of his previous races:
It may appear from the numbers above, if he were to run again, that Miller needs to focus on Stark County. And he does. However, in the view of the SCPR he can only win in Stark if he moderates his "right wingishness on social issues"

Moderation is essential not only to win the Republican primary. But, if he would win the Republican primary, to have any chance at all to defeat Boccieri in the general election.

The SCPR does not see Miller moderating and therefore a Miller primary victory would likely mean Democrat Boccieri victory.

The Report went out on the Internet and looked up information about Miller and rather than repeat that information here, here are some links for you to click on to find out more about him:

• From the Medina Gazette (a bio type piece on Miller).
• His Facebook page.
• Miller's website when he last ran for congress.
  

Saturday, the SCPR ran a piece on Phil Kiko who is also said to be exploring a race against Boccieri. Yesterday, the possible run of Jim Renacci was covered.

As the campaign progresses, the SCPR will be right on top of the inside story of who which Republican will end up as the Republican National Campaign Committee (RNCC) candidate for the 16th.

In the opinion of the SCPR Boccieri will be both more vulnerable and less vulnerable. More defeatable in the sense of having a voting record, if the challenger can use the record to separate some "independent" voters from Boccieri.

Less like to lose in the sense that Boccieri as an incumbent is building up a campaign war chest from sources that weren't up to supporting him prior to his election to the House and Boccieri voting their way. Morover, he gets opportunities for publicity on his work in Congress that are not available to challengers.

No matter who the Republican nominee is, the odds do not favor taking out incumbent Democrat John Boccieri. Any chance that the Republicans to reclaim this seat is probably in the 2010 election. If Boccieri wins in 2010, then it gets progressively more difficult to unseat him in succeeding elections.

Although the SCPR does not believe the report that Boccieri is considering abandoning Congress to run for lieutenant governor of Ohio as Ted Strickland's running mate, stranger things have happened in politics.

A challengers correct or incorrect assessment of Boccieri's future political plans could loom large in this race.

2010 ELECTION SERIES - THE 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: WHO MIGHT BE RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT JOHN BOCCIERI? PHIL KIKO?

Last week the SCPR got a call from a leading Stark County Republican who shared some names of Republicans who are looking at challenging Congressman John Boccieri in November, 2010.

In another conversation with Kirk Schuring (Republican - Ohio Senate - 29th), the SCPR was told that the chances of Schuring running are "between slim and none and Slim just left town."

An intriguing name that came up in the first conversation was Phil Kiko. Yours truly asked: you mean the well-know Canton Kiko family? The answer: "those Kikos."

The caller went on the explain that this potential candidate against Boccieri is now an attorney located in Washington, D.C., where he took up work in the Justice Department after graduating from a Washington area law school.

The Report went out and looked up a bunch of information about Kiko and rather than repeat that information here, here are some links for you to click on to find out more about the possible candidate:

• Foley & Lardner LLP (Kiko's current employer).
  
• ZoomInfo (which has multiple links to secondary websites providing info on Kiko
• Implu Corporation (as website that details Kikos lobbying work in 2007/2008)

Credential wise, this guy is impressive. But being a full blown lobbyist might be fodder for the Boccieri forces to use in a head-to-head campaign.

One has to wonder why his name didn't surface in 2008?

On Sunday and Monday, the SCPR will publish a similar introductory piece on two other individuals who are considering getting into the race.

As the campaign progresses, the SCPR will be right on top of the inside story of who which Republican will end up as the Republican National Campaign Committee (RNCC) candidate for the 16th.

In the opinion of the SCPR Boccieri will be both more vulnerable and less vulnerable. More defeatable in the sense of having a voting record, if the challenger can use the record to separate some "independent" voters from Boccieri.

Less like to lose in the sense that Boccieri as an incumbent is building up a campaign war chest from sources that weren't up to supporting him prior to his election to the House and Boccieri voting their way. Morover, he gets opportunities for publicity on his work in Congress that are not available to challengers.

No matter who the Republican nominee is, the odds do not favor taking out incumbent Democrat John Boccieri. Any chance that the Republicans to reclaim this seat is probably in the 2010 election. If Boccieri wins in 2010, then it gets progressively more difficult to unseat him in succeeding elections.

Although the SCPR does not believe the report that Boccieri is considering abandoning Congress to run for lieutenant governor of Ohio as Ted Strickland's running mate, stranger things have happened in politics.

A challengers correct or incorrect assessment of Boccieri's future political plans could loom large in this race.