UPDATED: 5:00 PM - SNITCHLER SET TO BECOME PUBLIC UTILITIES OF OHIO CHAIR ON MARCH 1, 2011. WHO WILL SUCCEED HIM IN STARK'S 50TH OHIO HOUSE DISTRICT?

UPDATE:  5:00 PM - CANDIDATE RICHARD GUILEY


Louisville Councilman Richard Guiley (a Louisville attorney) tells the SCPR that he has more than matched (in the 40 to 50 range) the reported (by a SCPR Republican source) 12 letters of endorsement that former state Rep. John Hagan (2000 - 2008; term limited out) is said to have taken with him to Columbus today in support of his daughter Christina being appointed to succeed Representative Snitchler.

Guiley (while not being presumptive) is already putting together a group of supporters to launch a campaign effort to retain the 50th House District seat as a Republican seat should he be appointed. He is planning on having town hall meetings throughout the district.  And he is shoring up financial and volunteer support.

Councilman Guiley says that he is the only candidate to succeed Snitchler that has actual experience putting together an economic development project, to wit:

While Snitchler has said that he will not be endorsing any of the candidates to succeed him, one of his key supporters in the 50th has been Louisville Councilman Guy Guidone.  Guiley tells The Report that he has  secured Guidone's backing for the appointment.

Guiley is not yet scheduled to meet with the Ohio House Republican Caucus, however, he says that Ohio Speaker of the House Bill Batchhelder is in receipt of his name as a person who wants to be considered as Snitchler's replacement.

UPDATE:  03:20 PM - RICHARD REGULA TELLS SCPR THAT HE IS DEFINITELY IN THE HUNT TO BECOME SNITCHLER REPLACEMENT


ORIGINAL POST

As this blog is being written, intense lobbying for whom will succeed Todd Snitchler as state Representative for Ohio's 50th House District is underway.

The SCPR has learned from a reliable Republican source that former state Representative John Hagan (Republican - Marlboro) is meeting today with Ohio Speaker of the House William Batchelder regarding the prospects of getting his daughter Christina appointed to the seat.  Hagan has told The Report's source that Hagan took with him twelve letters of endorsement of Christina from prominent Stark County Republicans.

Last week, the SCRP spoke with Richard Regula (a former county commissioner and son of long time former Congressman Ralph Regula) about his interest in the position.

Regula (of the Navarre and Bethlehem Township area)is interested but is evaluating the impact of his spending at least Tuesday through Thursday during the legislative session away from his family,  He has several minor children to tend to.  Moreover, he has a position Mercy Medical Center as director of market outreach.  Regula says that were he to contend for the 50th, he would not be leaving his Mercy Medical position, but would work out an arrangement with Mercy officials to maintain his job while at the same time serving as state representative.

Regula tells the SCPR that state Representative Kirk Schuring (Republican - Jackson - 51st) is supporting his candidacy should he decide to go for the Ohio House appointment.


Another candidate who was interested in gaining the 50th Ohio House state representative slot; namely, Wayne Schillig (Republican - Marlboro - a Marlboro Township trustee) has withdrawn from consideration.

Dean Windham (Republican - Lake Township) who lost to Jamie Walters (Republican - Jackson Township) in the 2010 Republican primary for the nod to run against former long term Canton law director Tom Bernabei (a seat which was won by Bernabei in November) may be under consideration for the House seat as may be Louisville City Councilman Richard Guiley.

BREAKING NEWS - OHIO ELECTIONS COMMISSION FINDS "PROBABLE CAUSE" ON SNITCHLER SUPPORTER GRIFFING'S COMPLAINT AGAINST BOSLEY SUPPORTER - THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR CHRIS REDFERN!

UPDATE:  09/30/2010 AT 3:12 PM.

The Stark County Political Report has learned that the Ohio Elections Commission has found that there is "probable cause" that the Ohio Democratic Party (chaired by Chris Redfern) has violated ethical rules as alleged by North Cantonian Elizabeth Griffing on behalf of the Todd Snitchler campaign for the Ohio 50th District state representative post.  Snitcher, a Republican from Lake Towship, is the incumbent.  He is being challenged by Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley (Democrat - Marlboro).

Hearing on the merits of the case has been set for October 14th at 10:00 AM.

The SCPR has talked with Ohio House Caucus representative Keary McCarthy who indicates that they (the Ohio Democratic Party - ODP) concedes that there were only two investigations of Snitchler; not the three that were alleged in "the rat flyer."


McCarthy also says that the ODP was represented at the "probable cause" hearing by legal counsel.

The SCPR has contacted both Snitchler and Bosley and neither would comment on the "probable cause" outcome.

Representative Snitchler did say that he attended the hearing along with Ms. Griffing and legal counsel

UPDATE:  09/28/2010 AT 2:45 PM.

The SCPR has learned that a probable cause hearing has been set to be heard by a panel of the Ohio Elections Commission this Thursday at 9:00 AM in Columbus on the Elizabeth Griffing filing on behalf of the Snitchler campaign a complaint against Chris Redfern in his capacity as chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP).

The complaint alleged that the ODP published falsified statements in "the rat flyer" sent out by the party with respect to the number of ethics violation complaints previously filed against Snitchler (Snitchler says one; the ODP says three investigations - in his successful 2008 election bid) and that Snitchler falsely claimed his website in May, 2010 that he was part of the Republican leadership.

ORIGINAL POST

The Stark County Political Report has obtained a copy of a complaint filed by North Canton resident Elizabeth Griffing.  She lists 2850 Limington St NW as her address which appears to be just outside the Ohio House 50th District boundaries.

She is registered to vote in the 51st Ohio House District being contested between Democrat Andrew Haines and Republican Kirk Schuring.  Her registration is Republican.

An Election Commission spokesman tells the SCPR that while the complaint was filed today, the Commission will not be ruling on whether or not it has jurisdiction and is otherwise properly filed until next Tuesday because the Commission's director (Philip Richter) is out of town.

Below is a blown up portion of "The Rat" flyer which focuses on the two points of the Griffing complaint.

Here is a copy of the base complaint.

LATEST: IT'S NOW "NO" GO! SNITCHLER VERSUS BOSLEY - JUNE 17, 2010. SPONSOR: STARK COUNTY TOWNSHIP ASS'N - NIMISHILLEN TWP AS HOST

UPDATED:  05/21/2010 AT NOON

SCTA June Meeting Update

Friday, May 21, 2010 10:17 AM

From:

"Chris Nichols" ...

To:

"Martin Olson" <tramols@att.net>

Martin:

Good morning.  Here is an update on the SCTA's June meeting.

At the SCTA's May meeting last night (the first meeting since the potential debate arose), I met with the members of our Board.  We discussed the debate/program that was being proposed.  At the end of the discussion, it was a unanimous decision of the Board that the SCTA not host a debate for the 50th House District at our June meeting.

Some of the reasons behind the decision were; we have not previously hosted a political debate, hosting debates at our meetings is not what our organization was chartered to do and some members felt that SCTA monthly business meetings were not a proper forum for political debates.

I announced the decision of the Board to the SCTA members present at last night's meeting and explained the reasons behind it.  After I made the announcement regarding the June meeting, I opened the floor for old and new business/comments and no one spoke up either in favor or against the decision not to host the debate.

Unfortunately, no one from Nimishillen Township was present at our meeting last night, so I had to leave a message about the decision on Trustee Lynch's cell phone last night.  I also spoke with both Todd Bosley and Todd Snitchler regarding our decision.

I still personally feel that the SCTA can be an excellent vehicle for hosting political discussion and debate, especially with officials and candidates that will have a direct impact on issues relating to our members...but these debates should probably take place at a stand alone event and not as part of our normal monthly business meeting of the association.

Thanks.

Chris Nichols
President, SCTA

ORIGINAL POST

It is unprecedented!  A debate for an election that is not to occur until November 2nd.

Chris Nichols, who is a Canton Township trustee (a Republican), has confirmed with the SCPR that it looks like the debate is indeed a go:  Here is how Nichols describes the likelihood of the debate going forward:

As things stand now, the Stark County Township Association (SCTA) will be hosting this debate at our June meeting.  

... .

I have spoken with both candidates and Mr. Lynch and will be meeting with Trustee Lynch [of Nimishillen Township] within the next week to discuss moderation, format, location, etc.

As I mentioned in my earlier email, this meeting is being hosted by Nimishillen Township, but it is the meeting and program of the Stark County Township Association and I want to ensure that the format, moderation and presentation represents the Candidates, the SCTA and our members at the highest level of professionalism and fairness.  

... .

The Snitchler/Bosley race is no ordinary political contest.

The Report believes whomever wins this election could determine which political party controls the Ohio House of Representatives come January, 2011.

At least one Stark County Republican, Travis Secrest - Stark County GOP executive director and opponent to Democrat Stephen Slesnick in the 52nd House District, disagrees with The Report.

Secrest predicts that the Republicans will win 10 or more seats than the Democrats in November.  He even says that he will defeat Slesnick in the lopsided Democratic registration plurality 52nd.

If he does, it will be a major political upset, perhaps; the biggest in the entire Buckeye state.

Keep in mind, Secrest is the executive director of the Stark County Republican Party.

The Report has always liked Secrest as an up and coming articulate Young Republican and thinks he could be a improvement over the lackadaisical, inarticulate and uncommunicative (to media who ask tough questions such as the SCPR) Slesnick.

His commissioner campaign against Democrat Tom Harmon was impressive in terms of publishing a detailed agenda spelling out what a Secrest election would mean for Stark Countians.

But maybe not.  Has being executive director of the Stark GOP (about two months now) taken a toll on his reality index?  It would be a shame for such a promising young Republican to get caught up in the Braden/Matthews model of politics.
 . 
The Report trusts that Secrest will return to political sanity soon!

SERIES: HOW ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE STARK COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOING? TODAY: SNITCHLER-1

With this blog, the SCPR is initiating an Statehouse series.

We start with state Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake Township) today.

Snitchler is, in the opinion of the The Report, the political fight of his life.  Ohio Speaker of the House, Democrat Armond Budish, personally recruited Stark County commissioner Todd Bosley to run against Snitchler.

Snitchler is scheduled to debate Bosley on June 17th at a Stark County Township Association sponsored event (hosted by Nimishillen Township trustees).

You can bet that Snitchler's actual legislative record will be a topic that comes up in the debate.

The SCPR has analyzed Snitchler's record by looking at sponsored and co-sponsored bills for the 2009-2010 legislative year.  He has sponsored 10 bills and co-sponsored 81.

None of Snitchler's sponsored bills have seen the light of day.  Snitchler complains about being bottled up by the Democrats who control the Ohio House.  Snitchler's prime sponsored legislation is House Bill 65 which would establish state performance audits for departments of Ohio government to be done by the State of Ohio Auditor phased in over a period of years.  However, he cannot get a smell from the Democrats.  Snitchler points to a Ohio Senate version of his bill that has passed the Senate that performance audits have bi-partisan support.

Today's report on Snitchler is the first in a series that The Report will be doing between now and the run up to November's election on all member of the Stark County legislative delegation.

A BELLWEATHER RACE: IF ALAN HAROLD DEFEATS KIM PEREZ IN THE STARK COUNTY AUDITOR RACE, LOOK FOR WHOLESALE DEMOCRATIC LOSSES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL IN 2012?

Revised at 11:15 AM

Is the Stark County "organized" Democratic Party close to collapsing?

Hmm?

Collapsing?

A Party which has every non-judicial countywide office under its control, on the brink of collapse?

Not likely, but there are some "nervous nellies" surfacing these days among Stark Dems.  Nervous Nellies?  Nervous about what?

Nervous about the "imminent" unfolding of the legal consequences of the alleged theft of taxpayer money from the Stark County treasury!  Nervous about being the Party (via Commissioner Todd Bosley and former Commissioner Tom Harmon) that imposed a 0.50 sales/use tax on Stark Countians taking away the fundamental democratic right of citizens!!

First, the Zeigler matter.

More and more one hears a castigation of Party officials for not learning hard on Treasurer Gary Zeigler to resign.  These folks apparently feel that as long as Zeigler remains an a elected Democratic official, his presence will "rub-off" on the likes of Auditor Kim Perez and could cause their defeat in upcoming elections.

The SCPR does have indication that a least one key Democrat has been pressuring Zeigler to step down, but Zeigler is adamant that he has done nothing wrong and therefore is not about to quit.

A early test case of whether or not the controversy surrounding the Democrat-controlled treasurer's office will be the Republican Alan Harold versus Democrat Kim Perez auditor's contest coming up this November.  Perez, rightly or wrongly, seems to The Report to be publicly perceived as being a close political ally.

If Perez were to fall in November, then political analysts will be turning their attention to November, 2012.  Who could be next?  Zeigler, the treasurer?  Campbell, the recorder?  Ferrero, the prosecutor?  Swanson or Perez, the sheriff?  Murthy, the coroner?  Reinbold, the clerk of courts? Maybe even Engineer Bennett? (who seems most impervious, because of the requirement of special qualifications)

If Perez falls, will Stark's Republicans be emboldened to go all out to capture more countywide offices?

The SCPR has already chalked the Creighton/Meeks match up as going the Republicans' way.  But it will be a relatively close race.  In the work up to November, it will be interesting to see whether or not former Canton mayor Creighton tries to associate Meeks in any way, shape or form with the goings on in the treasurer's office.

Creighton has queried previously to the SCPR (a kind of thinking out loud type of question), whether or not county offcials should be looking to attempt to recover any deficiencies in county money (the loss, projected by some to be about $3 million, less any bond money recovered) from Treasurer Zeigler himself.

Perhaps, Creighton was thinking of Ohio Revised Code Section 321.04 Ohio's law on the subject since October 1, 1953 which was referred to the SCPR by Attorney Craig T. Conley), to wit:

321.04 Deputies. Each county treasurer may appoint one or more deputies, and he shall be liable and accountable for their proceedings and misconduct in office.  Effective Date: 10-01-1953

Will she be applying pressure on Meeks during the campaign to become a advocate of such an attempt?  If so, how does Meeks respond?

Remember, Zeigler maintains he has done nothing wrong, and, in fact, affirmatively did what the law requires of him in reporting the alleged theft to law enforcement authorities.  Notwithstanding Zeigler's position, the political reality among the Stark County electorate appears to be that Zeigler is in a "the buck stops here" modality and therefore should be held accountable.

Does Meeks say:  "Treasurer Zeigler has said he's done nothing wrong, in fact, everything right.  The alleged theft is an unfortunate incident.  I have no basis to challenge Zeigler's position and therefore there is nothing to be done."

Or does Meeks say:  "I understand what Treasurer Zeigler has to say about his non-culpability in the matter.  I respectfully disagree with him and in terms of "the buck stopping with him" as the head of the Stark treasury, I think the county should consult with legal counsel with a eye towards pursuing a civil recovery from Zeigler for any deficiency and let a judge or jury decide whether or not Zeigler, in his performance as treasurer, bears any legal liability."

Second, the imposed sales/use tax.

While the SCPR does not believe that the Stark Democrats will suffer wholesale losses 2010/2012 election cycle, it could happen.  Especially, if one adds into the political equation, the 0.50 county commissioner imposed sales/use tax increase as being a Democratic gig.

Yes, Republican Jane Vignos did support the imposed tax and she still stands by it as having been the right thing to do.  But isn't the public perception, in the main, that it was a Democrat (Bosley, Harmon) thing?

Will Republican Harold press Perez and will Republican Creighton needle Meeks into disavowing the Bosley and Harmon decision?

How about the survivor of the Republican primary for the two-year commissioner term?:  Windham or Jackson trustee James N. Walter.  Will the nominated candidate join Harold an Creighton and force Democrat Tom Bernabei to stand up or stand down on the Bosley/Harmon action?

And there is one more dimension to the sales/use tax aspect of this blog?  How will it impact on Bosley himself?  Commissioner Bosley is running against Republican state Representative Todd Snitchler in Ohio's 50th House District.

The SCPR has every reason to believe that Bosley will stand squarely behind his December, 2008 "impose the tax" vote as the right thing to have done.  Accordingly, this race - though covering only about one-third of the county - could be at least a partial measure of how much the Stark County electorate are disaffected with Stark County Democrat politicians.

Conclusion.

To repeat, the SCPR does not expect the Stark County "organized" Democratic Party to collapse between now and the 2012 election and lose all of its currently held non-judicial county posts.

But it could happen.

It all depends on how skilled the political players involved turn out to be defining/positioning each other.

November, 2010 could be the election year that local politicos long remember?

NORTH CANTON - A CASE STUDY. ARE PERFORMANCE AUDITS THE ANSWER FOR REDUCED GOVERNMENT REVENUES? A "REAL" REMEDY OR "PIE IN THE SKY?

North Canton is facing about $1 million deficit over the next two years in its city budget needs.  By Ohio law, neither Ohio nor its political subdivision can run a deficit like the federal government does.

So what is the alternative?

Cutting employees, making employees take less in benefits (e.g. paying larger deductibles, et cetera) services and a combination of the three - that is what the alternative is.

One of the strategies in big time play in Ohio government circles these days is the performance audit.  The proponents of the performance audit present it as if it is a "real" remedy for all that ails government in terms of struggles of balancing the budget.

But is it?

The SCPR says it is not.

Every little bit helps, but the results of performance audits show that only about 15% (on average) of audit recommendations are actually implemented.

Some of the recommendations are impractical and seem, too many times, to carry the burden of political bias.

Political bias?

Yes, The Report believes that many times the supposedly "objective" audit is a subterfuge for reining in unions and their contracts.  Republicans generally are known for not being organized labor friendly and the press of a down economy presents a golden opportunity for Republicans to depress middle income and working class wages/salaries because the volume of workers is the best opportunity for governments to get well in a hurry.

But there are Democrats who buy into the unfairly placing of the "balancing the budget" burden on folks who do not have much to give. 

Who is Mayor William J. Healy (a Democrat who seems to have a Republican point-of-view when it comes to working class folks) going after to balance his administration's budget?  Firefighters, policemen, and unionized office workers, that's who!

The SCPR supports government efficiency, but the supposedly "objectively" arrived at audit recommendations should not be a vehicle to advance a political agenda.

Ohio's auditor - Mary Taylor - is Ohio's biggest proponent of performance audits.  Because she is a politicized person; her agency is not ideally suited to doing "objective" audits.

It is well known that most Republicans support a "smaller" government.  And that is all well and good.  But they should stand front and center and tell voters that, if elected, what they will cut and how voters will be affected.

Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake) is Stark County's leading proponent of performance audits while at the same time advocating a 44% reduction (eliminating Ohio's income tax - House Bill 400) in state revenues.  Doesn't seem as if Snitchler has much of a grip on reality, does it?

Here is the list of the sponsors of Snitchler's House Bill 65 which proposes to set up a state audit of state agencies.  Hmm?  A state audit of state agencies?

If Ohio is to do audits, Ohioans cannot trust a politicized Auditor of State to do the job, whether the office is controlled by Republicans or Democrats.  Neither side should be able to use a structure of the people to single out the other side's adherents for special "carry the burden" treatment.  Just like in war, the sons, daughters of the rich, the poor and the in between should share equally in the burden of war.  No Bill Clintons and Dick Cheney with their deferments.

A Democrat (let's say left-of-center, as many elected Democrats seem to be - especially at the state and federal level) would bring his/her own set of political bias (burden the well-off, business and industry) in making recommendations and therefore would have the same problem in getting implementation as the Republicans are having now (remember the 15% on average implementation).

Implementation of audit recommendations IS THE PROBLEM!

The SCPR does support performance audits if done by a civil service-esque agency of government, or, alternatively, a non-profit performance auditing organization that is recognized by Republicans, Democrats and independents of having no political bias and calls for changes that call for sacrifices that are shared by all; not largely by politically unfavored groups.

But a bill with 17 sponsors and only one Democrat?  Snitchler likes to point to an Ohio Senate version of the bill which passed recently without one nay vote as indication of bipartisan support.

But it isn't.  Senate Democrats know that the bill as a whole will not pass the Ohio General Assembly.  So Senate Democrats can signal that Democrats in the Ohio General Assembly support the concept of performance audits, but just not Snitchler's offering.

On March 4th, the Snitchler campaign used a Stark County District Library facility (the Lake Branch) to present his what appears to be the backbone of his campaign - the performance audit issue - for re-election to the Ohio House - 50th in an "objective" setting.  One of the participants in the Snitchler event was Representative Ron Amstutz (Republican - Wooster).  A curiosity?  Why isn't Amstutz one of HB 65's sponsors?

The presentation was slick, but did show - to the discerning - real problems.  Talk centered on Ohioans/Stark Countians and affected government workers having the "will" to accept changes recommended.

The Report even agrees in talking in terms of "having the will."   However, "having the will" is a non-starter if the recommenders-in-chief are perceived to have a political bias as to who bears the brunt of the "new" efficiencies.

Representative Snitchler has a good idea.  However, for it to have much of a chance, he will have to structure his bill to have audits done by someone other than the Auditor of State.  And that someone will have to be perceived as being consummately fair.

One of the key supporters of Snitchler's performance-audit-based campaigne is North Canton president of North Canton City Council - Republican Daryl Revoldt.  The SCPR videotaped Revoldt's presentation which is presented at the end of this blog.  Revoldt tells of North Canton paying $60,000 (the number was acutally $68,000) to Taylor's office for its audit.  However, that cost is not the end of the matter.  North Canton has hired a Stark accounting firm (at a cost of $15,000 and perhaps more) to get "implementation" advice from the local audit firm of Brunner Cox LLP with Perry Township Republican trustee Anna Capaldi  (who works for Brunner Cox) "just happening" to be the auditor.

When queried by the SCPR about the "co-incidence" of Republican Capaldi being the auditor, North Canton Mayor David Held (Republican) said that the political connection had nothing to do with the hiring.  Hmm?

Watch and listen carefully to the following video.  For if you do, you shall see by Revoldt's own words that performance audits are no panacea for budget woes.  Moreover, notice who is bearing the burden of the savings.  Is this a fair distribution of the burden?

Here is the Daryl Revoldt video:

.

IN THE REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE CATEGORY. STATE REP TODD SNITCHLER (50TH) CO-SPONSORS HB 400 WHICH COULD COST STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS 248 MILLION SMACKAROOS.. REALLY?

The bad news for Todd Snitchler is that he did a politically stupid thing and allowed his named to be placed on Ohio House Bill 400 as co-sponsor.  The good news for Stark Countians is that the bill does not have "a snowball's chance in Hell" of becoming law.

For if it did, according to a column written by Akron Beacon Journal statehouse reporter Dennis Willard this past Sunday, it could cost Stark County schools upwards of $248 million.

How does $248 million translate to cuts to Stark K-12 students?  About $4,000 per student according to one of Stark County's chief education officials.  Bill Stetler, superintendent of Northwest schools (a part of Snitchler's 50th Ohio House district) says that Northwest spends about $7,700 per student.  So a $4,000 cut would leave the district with $3,700 or so to educate with.

How do you like this quote from Snitchler from the Willard piece:

Rep. Todd Snitchler, R-Lake Township, who is seeking re-election, co-sponsored the Adams bill. He said it is not perfect, but many elements are worthy of discussion.

''For us to just maintain the status quo and not look at other viable solutions is foolish,'' Snitchler said.

Let me get this straight.  Cutting state revenues by 44% which has the prospect of resulting in $248 million in state education funding in Stark County is one of a number of viable solutions?

The SCPR is beginning to believe that Todd Snitchler is so much of a true believer (the extreme right of the Republican Party) that he gets trapped in his ideology and makes some really dumb moves.

Sponsoring this bill was one.  And this one could be a back-breaker for his re-election bid.

At the very most, it might be an offset to Todd Bosley having voted (as Stark County commissioner) to impose a 0.50 of of one percent county sales/use tax as well as a $10 per plate county-added license plate fee.  Snitchler better be hoping and praying for an offset.

Democrat Todd Bosley will have daily campaign crucifications of Snitchler on the potential devastating impact that Snitchler apparently was willing to subject Stark County school districts to.

Several weeks ago, yours truly and Snitchler had an e-mail conversation to the effect that Snitchler was denying that he called Bosley "Taxing Todd" at the annual Stark County GOP McKinley dinner on February 4th.

To paraphrase:  "Martin, why would I do that?  After all, my first name is Todd.  People might confuse the two of us.  That would be stupid for me to have done."

Answer:  "Todd, politicians do dumb things all the time and then deny they did them."

In the case of House Bill 400, signing on was a dumb and irrefutable thing Snitchler has done.  He has now put himself on the defensive and if Todd Bosley is anything he is a political opportunist.  He will make Snitchler pay, and pay and pay some more.

And there is another dumb thing Snitchler has done.  Again, this is right in line with his right wing ideology.  He did back on April 15th (Tax Day, Tea Day) what all Republican rightists were doing:  condemning the stimulus package.

A word to the wise for Sntichler.

If he wants to be re-elected 50th Ohio House state representative, he'd better be finding his way to the political center and doing so at breakneck speed!

THE PETITIONS ARE FILED: WHICH STARK COUNTY RACES WILL COMMAND THE MOST ATTENTION OVER THE NEXT 8 PLUS MONTHS?

For Stark County only, the Stark County Political Report believes that the four listed in the graphic above with prove to be the most interesting.

For sure there will be other exciting races for Stark Countians to pay attention to.  To mention a few, there is the governor's race as well as the 16th congressional district, a U.S. Senate seat and several statewide offices being contested.

But today the focus of the SCPR are four The Report believes could be very close races.

MEEKS/CREIGHTON

Former Canton mayor Janet Creighton entering this field for the full term commissioner seat being vacated by Commissioner Todd Bosley made this contest #1 on the SCPR's list.

Steve Meeks was appointed by the Stark County Democratic Central Committee to the seat formerly held by Tom Harmon.  But Meeks wants no part of coming up for re-election in two years.  The next two years may be the most difficult that Stark County (in the government sense) has ever faced.  

Why?

Because there is no money and there is not going to be any new money for the foreseeable future. Maybe, and only maybe, there might be a renewal of the existing sales tax.  

How will this impact running for commissioner in 2012 for an incumbent?

This way.

The commissioners will have to make draconian cuts in county services to Stark Countians.  And the cuts are not going to set well.  The public really does expect the commissioners to take care of the entire county with a few fishes and loaves.  When the manna from Heaven stops raining, then the grumbling will start and in the end sitting commissioners will be the butt of citizen anger.

So 2012 is not a time to be running for re-election.  That's why Meeks ducked out of the two years left on his term for the four years that Commissioner Bosley would have stood for if he had not decided to run for state representative (the 50th).

Meeks might have made an unwise choice.  Had he stayed in the two year term race, he would have won hands down as former Canton law director, city councilman, chief of staff and service director (Healy administration) will.  However, Bernabei likely just plans to be a commissioner for two years to do what he can to help straighten Stark County finances out and then move on with his life.

Another thing that Meeks had planned on was who his opponent would be on the full term.

Undoubtedly, his jaw dropped when he saw that former Canton mayor and countywide officeholder Janet Creighton had taken out a petition.

And so it should.

It is pretty clear to the SCPR that Meeks cannot defeat Creighton and that he will be giving up his commissioner's seat come December 31, 2010.

A Creighton victory will be good for Stark County.  Democrats have had a stranglehold over countywide offices for a number of years now which has turned out to be a bad trip for the county.

BOSLEY/SNITCHLER

Number 2 on the SCPR list.  

Why?

Because this seat is a Republican gerrymandered one designed to keep a "safe district" Republican in the Ohio House.  The gerrymandering sheltered the lazy, politically inept John Hagan for a full 8 years in the House.  Hagan proved his political ineptness when - notwithstanding his long run as a Stark County politician -  he lost to political novice Pete Ferguson over a 2008 commissioners position in a politically competitive environment.

However, with the entry of Todd Bosley into the 50th Ohio House district seat, there is a chance that the Republican "fix" will become unfixed.

Had he not been the leading architect for imposing of a 0.50 of a percent countywide sales/use tax increase in December, 2008, Bosley likely would be a shoe-in to win the 50th.

Because he did the "politically" wrong thing to do, he is reduced in the SCPR's opinion to having a chance to win the 50th.

Bosley will be hammering away at Snitchler as being a "do-nothing," "right-wing ideologue" state representative. 

Snitchler, on the other hand, will - one way or another - play to the imposed tax as indicating that Bosley will be a "tax and spend" Democrat if he were to be sent to Columbus.

One other important note about the outcome of Bosley/Snitchler.

Could a loss by either be the end of a a Stark County political career?

OELSLAGER/REINBOLD

Scott Oelslager should be vulnerable in playing musical chairs with now state Senator Kirk Schuring and they bounce from chair to chair between the 29th Ohio Senate district and the 51st Ohio House district. 

But he won't be.

The Stark County Democratic leadership decided to get behind former Stark County Court of Common Pleas judge Dick Reinbold to contest Oelslager in the 29th.

This match up will go down in the annals of Stark County political history as one of the most boring on record.

Both Oelslager and Reinbold are colorless.

Oelslager has been in the Ohio General Assembly well over 20 years and has very little to show for it.

Anyone with much background in the huge funding of public education problem would be highly troublesome to Oelslager as an opponent.  Democrat Dick Reinbold is not that person.

Reinbold is one of a growing number of Stark County leaders who are leaders because they have ingratiated themselves to the political powers that be, not because he has innate qualities of leadership.

He and wife Nancy (Stark County clerk of courts) have used Stark County Democratic Party organized political apparatus for feathering their own nest.  The SCPR take on Reinbold is that he fits in very neatly with the likes of party chair Randy Gonzalez, Commissioner Steve Meeks and former chair Johnnie A. Maier as being consummate politicians.

While Oelslager has been a gigantic disappointment to The Report, Dick Reinbold, who has not legislative bona fides, would never, ever take exception to the Democratic Senate Caucus.  Oelslager, as a redeeming quality, has - here and there - done so.

Oelslager should be politically punished for not having been effective on not taking a leadership role in solving the public education funding problem.  But with the Democrats picking Reinbold, Oelslager got a huge boost in terms of not being that great until you look at the alternative.

Maybe Reinbold has qualities the SCPR hasn't been able to discern over the years.

If he does, he better not wait until September to make them apparent.  For such a delay will ensure the re-election of Oelslager.

The Report doubts that Reinbold will ever be anything other than a mediocre candidate that hopes against hope that he can out I.D. Scott Oelslager.

Talk about not having a handle on political reality!

 PEREZ/HAROLD

The main question here is:  will Alan Harold stay in this race?

Two years ago he was slated to run against the now-beleaguered Gary Zeigler (Stark County treasurer).  But he didn't.  The "story on the street" is that Harold's employer asked him to step aside after high level state Democrats complained about Harold's candidacy to Huntington.

The SCPR asked Harold about this story.  His response:  "No comment."

Harold's whole handing of the Zeigler thing, leads The Report to believe that Harold has no stomach for "down and dirty" politics.

And if he gets queasy about roughhouse politics, taking on Stark County auditor Kim Perez is not the place to be in a run for political office.

Although somewhat of a maverick in Stark County Democratic politics with his own political base (much like Commissioner Todd Bosley), he is a political power broker and likely will teach Harold a political lesson that Harold will not forget for years.

Harold will learn that taking on Perez is not like showing up at a Congressman John Boccieri campaign event (at the Sunoco station on Tuscarawas) with a sign in hand and yelling at the top of one's lungs.

And it is not like running for a place on the Stark County Educational Service Center (formerly known as the Stark County Board of Education).

Apparently, the board candidacy was a "dry run" for taking on Perez.  Well, if Harold duplicates that effort in his vying with Perez, he will be looking wistfully at his numbers achieved in the board race (he narrowly lost).

Another campaign like that one will leave him a distant, distant second in a two man race!

THE "STRAIGHT TALKIN TODDS" - THE STRAIGHT TALKING IS SINKING FAST!

It has taken awhile, but the SCPR is getting clearer on state Representative Todd Snitchler (R - Lake) and his opponent for the 50th Ohio House seat, Todd Bosley (D - Marlboro), and their inability to say what they mean or mean what they say.

Back in June, 2008; before he was elected to the Ohio House (50th) Snitchler appeared at a Uniontown Business Association (UBA) meeting to talk about his "we have no money" Lake Development Corporation and whether or not it was part of the Lake Chamber or Commerce or not.

But it wasn't a campaign appearance.

Who believed that?

When the SCPR published a video clip of his "dancing all over the place" presentation, it appears that he put one of his friends in the UBA to complain to yours truly that his appearance was non-political and not fair game in political commentary.

Then in his campaign against fellow Republican Tina Hagan in the Republican primary there was talk about whether or not Snitchler had anything to do with Hagan's revelation that she had been offered a job by the Ohio House Republican Caucus in order to get her out of the race.

In his race against Democrat Celeste DeHoff (former trustee from Tuscarawas Township), DeHoff complained bitterly about Snitchler distorting her positions in campaign literature.

In an appearance at Tax Day, Tea Day (April 15, 2009) in downtown Canton, Snitchler said outright that Ohio should refuse federal stimulus money.  Shortly afterwards, he was saying he was taken out of context.  But a tape and many ear/eye witnesses of the event show that he said exactly that and no, if, or buts about it.

He has complained to the SRPR and many others that he cannot get anything done in the Ohio House because the Democrats won't let him.  You mean they will not allow him to co-sponsor any of the bills that Democrats put forth?  Of course they will.  But then he wouldn't be being Republican enough.

Did The Report say "not being Republican enough?"  That's another slippery thing he is trying.

On "Points to Ponder" a couple of weeks ago, Snitchler - with his disingenous answers - had Ron suggesting something to the effect that he was sort of a non-partisan type.  Really?  If this be true, why doesn't Snitchler cross the aisle here and there and join in on some of the Democrat legislation.

Apparently, Democrat offered legislation are all partisan whereas the Republicans and Snitchler's, in particular, are unbiased.

Hmm?

And then there's this.  The SCPR was told by a prominent local Republican that at the recent (February 4, 2010) annual Stark GOP McKinley fete, Snitchler got caught up in the - may I say it - partisan hoopla of the event and teed off on his upcoming opponent as being "Taxing Todd Bosley."

In an email exchange of Sunday past, Snitchler denied he had ever said any such thing as it would not be too smart to say "Taxing Todd" as he might be mistaken to be talking about himself since his first name is Todd, too.  Agreed.  But politicians are widely known to say and do things that "are not too smart."  Moreover, yours truly checked back with The Report's source - a person that very likely favors Snitchler over Bosley on the basis of Republican identity alone - who confirmed that Snitchler did identify Todd Bosley with taxation in a very clear and unmistable way.

The SCPR is not impressed with Snitchler's equivocation, parsing, quibbling and excuse making.

But his opponent, Commissioner Bosley, has his own problems saying what he means and mean what he says.

Bosley's seemed to be tripping all over himself with ill-advised words in his dispute with the Vote No Increased Tax Committee folks.

When he did, then he gave that standard political line "I didn't mean it like it sounded."

Further evidence of Bosley's inability to say what he means and mean what he says was there in his explanation of why the Stark County Board of Commissioners decided to hire former commissioner Tom Harmon's stepson as deputy dog warden a few weeks back.  He took yours truly aside and explained  and amplified that he went along with the hiring to avoid hiring one of the two other finalists selected by the then warden.  The SCPR doesn't believe the account for one New York minute.  Obviously, the move was designed to placate the Harmons (long time friends of Bosley) and convince them that Bosley was worthy of their help in the upcoming campaign against Snitchler.

It appears that 50th House District voters are in for quite a trip during the next eight months.

Here we got the two Todds who seem to have some difficulty in communicating what is really on their minds and behind their statements and actions.

Right now, the SCPR gives Todd Snitchler the lead on this score.

The question is this?  Will Todd Bosley be content to be outdone on this count?

Probably not!