WHAT STARK COUNTIANS LIKE ABOUT THE COUNTY'S ORGANIZED REPUBLICANS & DEMOCRATS: "TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN AT PUBLIC EXPENSE!" STARK GOP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRAVIS SECREST BECOMES COUNTY EMPLOYEE. HMM?

When he burst onto the Stark County political scene, the SCPR's initial take on Canton Township's Travis Secrest was that - while he certainly had a political tint to him as a Republican - he had promise as someone who would not be a Kool-Aid drinker.

He is young, a graduate from Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, Ohio) with a degree in political science.  Most impressively, he had not yet been jaded by the likes of Stark County GOP Chairman Jeff Matthews (the quintessential party pro) and therefore appeared to be "a person with a point of view" who realized that there are two points of view and could and would dialogue with others of different persuasions in order to get to a middling ground.

The SCPR has been watching Secrest closely and the evolution that yours truly sees into hyper-partisanism is a disappointment. 

Secrest has taken three political hits for Stark's organized Republicans.

With his appointment as a partisan (Republican) sponsored employee of the Stark County Board of Elections (BOE), it is now apparent to The Report that Secrest has donned the robe of full blown political partisanship and has seemingly made it pay off in terms of securing the BOE position.

One has to wonder who from the general (non-politically-connected) public that Secrest had to compete with to get the BOE job?  How about nobody? With Stark County unemployment at 10%, one would think that there would be quite a number of Stark Countians with much stronger employment history credentials than Secrest who would have liked the opportunity to vie for the $31,000 plus job, no?  And, after all, "competition" is a cardinal principle with Republicans, isn't it?  Apparently, in select situations only.

Over the the last year or so Secrest has been executive director of the Stark County GOP.  And who is the chairman of the Stark County Republicans?  You've got it!  Jeff Matthews (currently deputy director of the BOE)!  Moreover , with the November, 2010 Republican takeover in Columbus, sooner or later Matthews will become the "DIRECTOR" (once again) of the local BOE.  Matthews (including benefits) makes over $100,000 at the BOE.

The vote was 4 to 0 at the BOE for Secrest getting the job: Republican BOE members Cline and Braden joining with Democrats Giavasis and Ferruccio to give Republicans their turn at feeding their partisan interest at taxpayer expense.

The Rs and Ds do this sort of thing routinely not only in Stark County but across the entire state of Ohio.

The BOE structure in Ohio is kind of a political "cold war" a la the U.S. and the Soviet Union of yesteryear.  It seems that BOEs and the Ohio secretary of state office constitute turfs on which the two mainline parties war with one another over who is going to control the turf.  Ordinary citizens seem to be left in the dust of the political warfare.

Board member Sam Ferruccio Jr. (a Democrat) appears to the SCPR to have gotten his appointment as a consequence of the cold war mentality.

At least, if you believe former Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.   He claims that the then Ohio secretary of state, Jenifer Brunner, was advising him that organized Democrats across Ohio should be putting attorneys (which Ferruccio is one of) on BOE's in order to ensure Republicans did not play any hanky-panky in the Obama/McCain election.

Brunner denies Maier's account, but the SCPR suspects that Maier has it right and that the secretary of state "threw him under the bus" when the press came asking.  But being the thoroughgoing and committed Democrat he is, Maier "took it like a man!"

In order to do the Ferruccio appointment, Maier had to throw Stark County's organized labor (Billy Sherer - a former ironworker who had been on the BOE for 13 years) "under the bus."

Hey, "what's good for the goose is good for the gander," no?

Hey!  "All is fair in love, war and politics."

So what was an organized Stark Democrat sponsored "union" seat on the BOE, is no more.

It does appear that there is an "a designated-hitter-esque" (the Dems) seat at the BOE.

What is it?

A "clerk of courts seat."

That is until the seated member has to run for re-election, then he must step aside to be replaced by a non-running clerk of courts.  Recently, Maier (running for re-election as Massillon clerk of courts( had to step aside.  Who replaced him?  Canton Clerk of Courts Phil Giavasis.  Hmm?  And there is a prior history, to wit: Randy Gonzalez and Maier's "gofer" err chief deputy at the Massillon clerk of courts Shane Jackson - son of former Stark County commissioner Gayle Jackson.

When folks like Secrest and Gonzalez say that they are doing this or that local government job as a "public service," one has to burst out into an uproarious laughter. 

Who believes that?

Stark Republican officialdom (like a Travis Secrest) have loved it when the SCPR has roundly criticized Stark's organized Democrats for seemingly providing jobs at public expense to favored and insider partisans.  At the time, Republicans held relatively few offices across Stark County.  That is changing.  The Report has always said that Republicans will get every bit as much scrutiny as Democrats, once they assume positions of political and governmental power. 

Now that "the worm is turning," it is likely that Republicans are not so amused.

What these folks do not seem to get is the apparent exponential growth they are fueling (with their inside dealing, political cronyism and the like) is public cynicism.

In the Stark County world of practical ramifications, political machinations have to be an added factor for a growing number of Stark Countians in promoting a no vote on the upcoming sales tax issue?

And what is really weird is when someone like Jeff Matthews (who has - as a public official - a huge stake in the well-being of the financial condition of Stark County) came out against the Bosley, Harmon and Vignos imposed 1/2% sales tax (Canton Tea Party, April 15, 2009).

Of course, that's the political Jeff Matthews acting as a party chairman trying to whip up sentiments against Democrat officeholders.

When the Stark commissioners had their meeting with county officials about a month ago outlining the huge cuts that will be forthcoming in 2012 and beyond if November's 1/2% sales tax proposal does not pass, The Report did not see Deputy Director Matthews stepping up to take a 40.7% cut on county appropriations.  He mostly deferred, when asked by Commissioner Ferguson to address the question, to Director Jeanette Mullane.

Hmm?

The Report has opinonated previously that Matthews in taking these contradictory positions:  (one as a politician opposing a levy for political advantage) and another as public official needing to keep the office afloat (and with that hat on - supporting the levy) shows what a hypocrite and political opportunist he is.

Hey!  In politics "one does what one has to do!!!"

And by the way - "the public be damned:"  Is that the message, Jeff?

(VIDEO) 52ND HOUSE DISTRICT - SECREST VERSUS SLESNICK - LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND CANDIDATES CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS?

Back in 2008 when Travis Secrest ran as the Republican candidate for Stark County commissioner against Democratic Party appointee and political warhorse Tom Harmon, the SCPR thought he was one of the most articulate candidates in the 2008 election field.

Secrest seemed to have a bright future in Stark County elective politics.

But only shades of that Travis Secrest showed up at last night's Stark County League of Voters "debate?" held in the auditorium of Timken High School in downtown Canton last night.

For this race, Timken High School was an appropriate site because it is located in the 52nd Ohio House District.  However, this is the only debate that should be held at this location.  Politically correct or not, Stark Countians are not going to want to troop down to downtown Canton no matter how safe Mayor Healy and his safety director says it is.

The Stark County League of Women Voters (the debate sponsor - using the word "debate" very loosely) obviously did not adequately publicize the event nor make a strong enough effort to get Cantoninans and Canton Township voters (the heart of the district) who live nearby to attend the event.

Another media person estimates 25 people.  The Report only counted 15.  Either number is unacceptable and the League needs to do better or get out of the debate business.

And neither of the candidates were rock stars either.

As expressed earlier in this blog, The Report was disappointed in Secrest.  He has shown much better in the past.  And yours truly gives him a pass for simply having a bad night.  It could be that as executive director of the Stark County Republican Party, he is spending too much time in the company of Stark County Republican Party Chairman Jeff Matthews.  Matthews is not exactly the SCPR's idea of a ideal mentor for an up-and-comer like Secrest.

Though he has very little chance to defeat Slesnick because the district is an overwhelmingly Democratic one, The Report believes he can do much better addressing the issues than he showed last night.  In doing so, he would put the heat on Slesnick to be a far better representative.

The Report was not disappointed in Stephen Slesnick.  He performed exactly as expected.

For Slesnick to describe himself (as he did last evening) as a "red shirt freshman legislator" is a telling self-description.  A red shirt in athletics is an athlete that is not quite ready for prime time.  At least Slesnick knows himself. 

Stark County's 52nd District voters should not be accepting of a "red shirt legislator."  Shame on Slesnick for having the audacity to run in the first place as ill-prepared as he demonstrated to the SCPR over his time in office to hold the office.

Yours truly and others criticized Canton Councilwoman Mary Cirelli for not being up to the demands of office when she served as state representative.

As limited as the SCPR thinks she was, Cirelli was a world ahead of Stephen Slesnick.  In hindsight, The Report thinks she did a better job than "the whiz-bang of Canton" (Mayor William J. Healy, II) who ousted her from office in 2004.

The SCPR did not hear one specific idea from either candidate.  Mostly, they did not answer the question asked and Moderator Dick Kuhn did not have the fortitude to bore in on them to get meaningful responses to questions posed.

It's questionable whether or not the event was a debate in any sense of the word.  A newbie would have had a hard time figuring out who the Republican and the Democrat among Secrest and Slesnick was.

It is really strange to see a staunchly conservative businessman being the representative for this largely urban district.  Slesnick is a company officer with Slesnick Iron & Metal (vice president since 2000).  And he acts the part of someone having had the way paved for him.

The Report is told that Slesnick shows up late for Ohio House committee meetings and often leaves early.  And for a city guy like Slesnick to be chair of the Agricultural and Development Sub-committee (see below) may be an indication of how little Ohio Speaker of the House Armond Budish thinks of him.

Also, the SCPR finds him to be inaccessible except when yours truly runs into him out on the political hustings.  Apparently, he only returns phone calls to those who throw him bouquets or softballs.

Slesnick is a classic example of what voters get when they live in a non-competitive political district.

The SCPR would like to advocate that Stark voters attend future Stark County League of Women Voters events.  But if they are to be a ditto of last night, then there are clearly better things to do.

They have three debates left.  The highlights will be Bosley versus Snitchler on October 13th, and Harold/Perez (county auditor) as well as Koher/Zumbar (county treasurer) on October 20th.

If the League can get things together for the debates of the 13th and 20th, they may be worthwhile for Stark Countians to take in.

Last night definitely wasn't as was amply testified to by the mere presence of 15 or 25 (pick your own number) who attended.

The SCPR shot a lot of footage of last night's event, but nearly all of it tells voters very little - and nothing new - about what Secrest and Slesnick would specifically do if sent to Columbus.

The Report does present a video of the opening statements of each candidate to give readers an idea of the lackluster evening that all of us had who attended the "debate?".

COULD THE 52ND OHIO HOUSE DISTRICT GO REPUBLICAN IN 2010?

Conventional Stark County political wisdom has it that there is no way a Republican can win Ohio's 52nd Ohio House district.


And convention is probably right on the mark in this case.


However, this time around it appears that the Republicans are offering an attrative candidate this time around.  Travis Secrest, said by some to be in line to succeed Jason Wise as executive director of the Stark Repubiican Party between now an May, has taken out petitions to run for the office.

If Secrest plays his political cards right, he could be like the Tortoise in the Tortoise and the Hare.race fable wherein the hare naps and consequently the tortoise gets poised to and actually wins the race.


It is not likely that Secrest will best Slesnick in the 52nd, but the SCPR believes he has a chance.


Becoming the executive director of the Stark GOP probably would not enhance his chances of unseating Slesnick.  The city of Canton (which comprises most of the district) is overwhelmingly Democratic.  For many Democrats, it is a big leap to vote for a Republican in the first place let alone voting for an executive director of the Stark GOP.


And there is an opening to Secrest to exploit the nearly 71% of Democrats who did not vote for Slesnick in the 2008 Democratic primary.

Secrest, who ran for township trustee (Canton Township - the other major component of the 52nd) a number of years ago and narrowly lost, needs to base his campaign on his near success and pick up on the the disaffection with Democrats (mostly Mayor Healy - Slesnick is close to Healy) to get enough votes  added to a significant Canton Township plurality (he absolutely needs) to get coming out of Canton Township to pull off a squeaker.

And believe me, if Secrest wins, it will be because Slesnick has gone to sleep during the race.

Slesnick, in the opinion of the SCPR, has all the attributes that makes for him to be an "overconfident" hare.  He relied on his family name (the "Slesnick" salvage operations) to slip past a large field of Democrats in 2008.  


In the opinion of the SCPR, state Representative Stephen Slesnick has done nothing to distinguish himself in the Ohio House.  Moreover, his public presentation and articulation skills are virtually non-existent.


Secrest ran a well-articulated campaign against the now former commissioner Tom Harmon in November, 2008.


But Harmon has been a political fixture in Stark County for over 30 years and to expect a newbie like Secrest to unseat the likes of Harmon is a bit much.


Slesnick is a different story.


Secrest does have a chance.

Will he be up to it?  Can he be the tortoise who overcomes the hare?


If he does, then Stark County will have a representative who has demonstrated that he has productive thinking skills and the articulation skills to make him a leadership figure in the 129th Ohio General Assembly. 

And he will have proved that Republicans can be successful in the Democratic urban strongholds of Stark County.  Such will have the effect of encouraging Republicans to run countywide and break the stranglehold that the Dems now have over all of Stark's non-judicial countywide offices.

Political competition is the first cousin of political accountability!

DISCUSSION: STARK COUNTY ANTI-SALES TAX PEOPLE OUT IN FORCE AT CANTON TEA PARTY EVENT

UPDATE: 04/16/2009 at 11:10 PM. A source (no full name or return e-mail address given) who claims to be close to Jason Wise, the person who organized Tax Day, Tea Day - Canton, Ohio, tells The Report that Wise did not personally pay the bill referenced below that somehow ended up at the Stark County commissioners' office though, according to the source, the Stark County commissioners' office address was not on the invoice.

ORIGINAL POST

Stark County Republican operative Jason Wise was in his glory yesterday as he viewed the thousand or so folks who showed up for the Wise-organized Canton, Ohio Tea Party.

A funny and perhaps ironic twist to this event as told to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report/SCPR) by a source, is that an invoice for an event expenditure directed to Jason Wise showed up at the Stark County commissioners' office. The Report's source said the bill was for nearly $800.

Hum? Found its way to the Stark County commissioners' office? Could it be that Wise is telling folks that he plans on running for commissioner next year (against Commissioner Bosley) and he was misunderstood as currently being a commissioner?

Wise did take command of the microphone for a time (see video below) and asked the crowd to find one of the "green-shirted" Stark County Right to Vote Committee members to sign up to put the 1/2% sales/use tax (passed in December, 2008 by county commissioners for funding to fix 9-1-1 countywide and for additional general revenue fund monies) on the ballot for repeal in November of this year.

The Report continues to believe Canton Tea Party was opportunely adadapted by the organized Stark County Republican Party as a preparatory prelude to taking Bosley on in the 2010 general election. Although the WHLO provided emcee insisted that this was a non--partisan effort focusing on state and national tax issues, it seemed to The Report that the Stark County sales tax issue got major play at the party.

The "Green Shirts" were all over Canton's Central Plaza trying to coax attendees to sign up on the sales/use tax repeal petition.

The Report is not sure whether Bosley's opponent will be Wise or fellow Republican Travis Secrest. Secrest spoke with yours truly and did definitely commit himself as running for commissioner. However, he is still determining whether his run will be against Bosley in 2010 or Ferguson or Harmon in 2012.

Secrest lost to Harmon by a substantial margin in 2008.