(VIDEO) CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS: FOR MAYOR OF CANTON - REPUBLICAN LEON GERIG - PART 2 OF 2

The SCPR's take on the Republican primary for mayor of Canton is that Leon Gerig (a former Canton councilman and Republican primary mayoralty candidate) is NOT the Republican Party establishment's choice to run against either current Mayor and Democrat William J. Healy, II or his challenger in the Democratic primary Bill Smuckler (a long time city councilman).

In a conversation with former Canton Mayor and Republican Janet Creighton (now Commissioner Creighton) about a week before the filing deadline in early February, Creighton hinted to yours truly that there would be another entry on the Republican side, other than Leon Gerig.

And now we know who that other person is, to wit:  A.R. "Chip" Conde.  He served Creighton as her finance director and chief of staff.

The SCPR reads into Creighton's hint that she was actively involved in persuading Conde to run.  It increasingly appears to The Report that Creighton may be the master planner of the Stark County Republican Party in terms of making the Stark GOP, once again, the predominant party in Stark County.

Conde works for the highly active Republican Stephen Mears (behind the scenes) of StrategyOne, Inc. Mears may be Canton/Stark County's most virulent anti-Healy activist.  Accordingly, if Conde becomes the Republican nominee and Healy survives the Democratic primary, then Cantonians should expect a raucous, "no holds barred" type of general election campaign.

Should Bill Smuckler win the Democratic primary, Conde's approach to campaigning will be much different.

In May the Republicans have a choice to make.  The "establishment" candidate "Chip" Conde or a man who seems much more people oriented:  Leon Gerig.

It is impressive that Gerig has left fulltime employment to devote his full time and attention to securing the Republican nomination.

A Gerig-Healy/Smuckler match up would be much more of a "let the voters choose an approach to solving Canton's problems" type campaign.

In the accompanying video, it is noteworthy to hear Gerig say that Stark GOP Chairman Jeff Matthews told Gerig that Gerig is somebody he can work with.  Reading between the lines of Matthews' comment, it is obvious that Gerig is not Matthews' and the Republican establishment's first choice.

Here is the SCPR's interview (part II) of candidate Gerig.

(VIDEO) CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS: FOR MAYOR OF CANTON - REPUBLICAN LEON GERIG - PART 1 OF 2

Today begins a series of interviews that the Stark County Political Report is in the process of doing for contested races in the Democratic and Republican primaries which will be held on May 3rd.

First up is Republican Canton mayoral candidate Leon Gerig.  He will face off against A. R. Conde who was a "late in the game" surprise candidate on the Republican side.

While either Republican candidate will have an uphill battle on sheer political party registration numbers alone (registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about 9 to 1 in Canton), 2011 might actually present an opportunity notwithstanding the registration disparity.

That we have a Republican Party primary in and of itself is indication that the Stark GOP is hopeful that its candidate in the November election may attract Canton voters who want an alternative to Mayor William J. Healy, II.

The SCPR's take is that Healy is very likely to be the Democrat's candidate in November.

The Report caught up with Republican candidate Leon Gerig at a Canton City Council meeting on January 28th.

Here is Part I of the interview Leon Gerig in his own words.