ANY ELECTION EXCITEMENT BUILDING FOR STARK CO. 2012 ELECTIONS IN STARK?

To repeat the headline question:  Any election excitement building for Stark County 2012 elections?

Answer:  yes and no.

Obviously, first and foremost is the Republican presidential primary election which is a part of the overall March 6th Ohio primary elections.

A recent Quinnipiac University Ohio poll shows former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum leading former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney 36% to 29% with former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich coming in at 20% and Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 9%.

However, the big factor two and one-half weeks out from Ohio's primary is the estimate that as many as 50% of those polled say that they are not fixed in their choice.

While Santorum is presently leading across the state, the SCPR believes that Romney is likely ahead in Stark County inasmuch as Santorum appeals to the most conservative part of the Republican Party and The Report does not see Stark Republicans as fitting that description.

The Romney campaign website claims that many prominent Ohio Republicans have endorsed him (e.g. U.S. Senator Rob Portman - January 19, 2012).

It will be interesting to see who, if any of the candidates, actually show up in Stark to campaign, and, more importantly, who shares the stage with the candidate - as a tip off - as to who the local Republican establishment is to support.

Stark County Commissioner Janet Creighton tells the SCPR (as of yesterday) that she is undecided.

Other than the Republican presidential race, there is not that much going on for Stark Countians in the primary.

There is a GOP nomination for U.S. Senator contest going on for the right to match up with Democratic United States Senator Sherrod Brown going on, but it looks as if Josh Mandel (Ohio treasurer) has it locked up which makes the race ho-hum.

 Ditto for Brown.  He has two "write in" opponents.

However, there are two "inside the Columbus beltway" intraparty fights with a Stark County aspect that is likely lost on most Stark County primary voters which could affect who is chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Democratic Party.

First, the Beth Williams versus Sarah Brown 29th District State Central Committee Woman race.

The SCPR is told by Jim Woods of the Medina County Tea Party that the Tea Party contemplates filing litigation against the Kevn DeWine as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party to invalidate a rule that DeWine forced through into the governing rules of the party that requires central committee persons to have voted in the Republican primary in the last two primary elections.  If left to stand, Woods tells The Report, Williams would not be qualified to serve.

There is a fight going on within the Ohio Republican Party with Governor Kasich behind the dissidents to remove DeWine as chairman.

The SCPR's impression is that both Brown and Williams favor DeWine's removal.

It is hard to imagine Sarah Brown not winning a Stark County Republican Party intraparty contest.

Secondly, there is similar fight is going on within the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) as to whether or not Chris Redfern is to remain as chairman of the ODP.

Redfern has recruited Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II to be his man from Stark County.  Healy interesting enough is opposed by his successor 52nd District Ohio House state Representative Stephen Slesnick.

The SCPR believes that Healy is trying to position himself to take over control of the Stark County Democratic Party.  This race will be an indicator of how much strength Healy has among rank and file Democrats.

If Healy wins this race and if Democrats take a bath in the newly formed Ohio House districts (i.e. the 48th - Schuring, and the 50th - Hagan) which the SCPR projects they will, then there might be renewed impetus to set current chairman Randy Gonzalez aside to be replaced by Healy or one of his political confederates with a mission to reinvigorate the Stark County Democratic Party which has fallen on hard times over the last several years.

The Dems could be looking at a loss of the prosecutor's office, the sheriff's department and, perhaps, even the coroner's office come the general election of 2012.

Stay tuned.  The SCPR expects the general election of 2012 to be all excitement!

IS THE KASICH/DEWINE FIGHT OVER DEWINE REMAINING CHAIR OF THE OHIO GOP SPILLING OVER INTO STARK COUNTY?

IS THE KASICH/DEWINE FIGHT OVER DEWINE REMAINING CHAIR OF THE OHIO GOP SPILLING OVER INTO STARK COUNTY?

In two words, "apparently not."

With a battle going on between Republican Governor John Kasich and Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine on whether or not DeWine would remain as chairman, it was tempting to read into the fact that long term 33rd District Republican State Committeewoman Sarah Brown is being opposed for re-election (now in the 29th due to Alliance - where Sarah lives - being redistricted into the 29th from the 33rd this year) that the competition was a local spillover.

But such does not appear to be the case.

As far as the Stark County Political Report can determine, both Brown and her opponent Beth A. Williams are supporting the Kasich side of the state GOP chairmanship argument.

In a conversation with Brown yesterday, she told the SCPR that she sees Kasich as the titular head of the Ohio Republican Party and has been totally supportive of him as governor.

So why did Williams decide to take on the politically experienced (as a former councilperson on Alliance City Council), connected (married to former Stark County Republican Party Chairman Charles E. Brown, Jr. [now a Stark County Common Pleas Court judge], savvy and Republican passionate Sarah Brown?

The Report has been unable to contact Williams but has exchanged e-mails with Jim Woods and The Report believes that Woods has shed light as to why Williams has filed to contest the Republican 29th District state committeewoman seat.

The Report's interest in the Brown/Williams was piqued on receiving a broadcast e-mail yesterday from Woods.  Witness these extracts:

• For our part, this divisiveness began when DeWine "broke the bank" to defeat "Tea Party" Republicans in the 2010 primary, leaving the party short of funds to defeat democrats in the fall.
• [H]e [DeWine] will not step down as Chairman.  Not in order to prevent a costly Primary battle for state central committee seats, consuming resources that should be applied to the general election.  Again, as he did in 2010.  
• He is adamant that he will remain Chairman no matter what, until January 2013.  Not if the war between him and the rest of the party continues right through the general election, with all the implications of infighting and intrigue within the party has on the Ohio Presidential election, and the possibility that the divisiveness in Ohio may result in Obama's re-election. 
• This is not the action of a man who is committed to the cause.  It is the action of a man who has put himself first.  Conservative Republicans, liberal Republicans, social conservatives, and the "Tea Party" may disagree on many things, but one thing I think we can all agree upon is that a person who is in it for their own self-interest above all else, is not "one of us". 

Hmm?

While Williams may have a special edge to her in being a member of the Stark 912 Patriots (since April 21, 2011 according to the group's website) and thereby absorbing the intensity of the Tea Party's feeling against DeWine, it is clear to the SCPR that Sarah Brown is firmly ensconced in Kasich's corner and supports his desire to have a person as chairman to his liking.

It appears that Williams candidacy is grounded in the Tea Party's effort to get a prominent place at the table within the Republican Party.

Here is how Woods puts it to The Report:

The Tea Party movement has been encouraging its members to run for central committee positions since 2009, in order to increase our influence in the major political parties.  We also believe that both major party's should be more open, inclusive and responsive to the rank and file members of their party.

 Moreover, he adds this:

I note that the GOP Chairman (DeWine) does not have a candidate of his own for this seat.  Whether either Beth or Sarah decide to withdraw or proceed is up to them.  They are both clearly on the same side of the "Head of the Party" issue.  If neither chooses to withdraw, then may the best woman win!

For her part, Sarah Brown tells The Report that she welcomes the political competition from Williams pointing out she has had numerous opponents in a various runs for Alliance City Council.

You can be sure that those seeking votes in Stark County in future elections are keenly interested in knowing exactly how much clout the Tea Party has in the county.  

Unless one of them withdraws from the race, one thing that the outcome could reveal is an indication of the answer to that question.

ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE SARAH BROWN WINS THE COVETED "MICHAEL JACKSON - WE ARE THE WORLD" LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADER AWARD?

From the Alliance City Council minutes of its July 6, 2009:

Sarah Brown of 1200 Fernwood Blvd. Alliance, Ohio discussed the opposition to Cap and Trade legislation in Congress and requested Council formally oppose it.

Brown is wife of Judge Charles Brown, Stark County Court of Common Pleas, member Republican State Central Committee (33rd district), and Republican candidate for Alliance City Council.

In the light of her interest in "global warming," it is likely that one of Ms. Brown's favorite books is The REPUBLICAN WAR on SCIENCE pictured to the left.

Apparently, Carnation city residents are in for a rocking good time if Brown is elected to Council in November. The SCPR takes Sarah Brown to be Stark's version of Sarah Palin. But when it comes to national and international politics, Brown is at a disadvantage to Palin. She cannot look out her picture window and see Russia.

But it should be comforting to Stark Countians that we have a local who realizes that we live in a world is larger than Alliance or even Stark County.

So in due recognition of her interest in global issues from the "grassroots" up, the SCPR supports Alliance's Sarah Brown (when she becomes an Alliance council - err person? woman?) for the "Michael Jackson - We are the World - Local Government Leader Award."

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI - "REPUBLICANS FOR BOCCIERI INTERVIEW"

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) continues its series TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS: CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI with an interview of Forrest Barber.

Forrest is a lifelong Republican who has worked closely with Stark County icon Republicans such as Judge Charles Brown (Stark County Court of Common Pleas) in his days as Stark County Republican chairman as well as Charles' wife Sarah who is about as a fanatic a Republican who inhibits America. But Sarah does have competition right here in Stark County. Richard Wingerter who is a member of the Stark County Education Service Center Board runs a lose second to say the very least.

Barber is much more balanced than Sarah Brown or Richard Wingerter as evidenced by his support of Boccieri.

Watch and listen as Forrest Barber speaks for himself.