DISCUSSION: WILL OELSLAGER & SCHURING EVER STOP PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS?

Once upon a time, in the days of Vern Riffe (the then all powerful Ohio Speaker of the Ohio House, a hero figure to Stark County Democratic Party chair Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.), the Ohio Republican Party General Assembly caucuses devised a plan to change from being a minority party to a majority party, in fact - in time, a super-majority party.

The plan?

Term limits! Impose term limits to create open seats and then pour tons of money into legislative races to capture control of the Legislature.

And, the plan worked.

In 1994 the Republicans and their opportunistic term limits plan created enough "open" seats to wrest control from the Democrats.

Yes, the plan worked magnificently and, in particular, right here in Stark County. The Stark County target: yes, Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. In 1999, Maier quit the House early because he couldn't run again in 2000.

Initially, Maier won election (1992 - the 56 House District) in a solidly Democratic district (which included Massillon, all of Perry Township and Canton Township) but his appointed successor Micheal Stevens (now a Lawrence Township trustee) could not hold the Republican gerrymandered seat (redesignated the 50th) as Maier did (beating John P. Hagan in 1998 by a 71% to 29% margin - which shows the power of incumbency).

We went through all this political history to show how the Republicans have moved the goal posts as personified here in Stark County by Kirk Schuring and Scott Oelslager. This duo has become accomplished at playing "SAFE (two chairs - instead of one - for two people) musical chairs" with the public trust by violating the spirit of term limits while not violating the letter of the law.

And this "entitlement" attitude demonstrated not only by Schuring and Oelslager, but by all too many public officials, is at the heart and soul at what ails America, Ohio and, indeed, Stark County in terms of public officials getting comfortable and stale.

These officials' own political preservation seems to triumph over the public good. Only a few seem to put community over self.

One might look the other way on these two gaming the electorate had they achieved much for Stark County over their combined 35 years, more or less, in the statehouse.

But they haven't.

Despite being in the super-majority for many of their years in the Legislature. On their watch, in concert with their super-majority/simple majority partisans, Ohio's economy has fallen off a cliff, public education has not been fixed and many other problems fester lost in the milieu the higher priorities. And Ohio continues its march downward.

Schuring even had the gall to pretend he was going to get Ohio's troubles with education remedied by offering a faux constitutional amendment as a publicity stunt prelude to his race against John Boccieri for the Regula vacated 16th District Congressional seat. Schuring absolutely had to know that his gambit was exactly that - a gambit, with no chance at all of getting his proposal out of the Legislature even in the favorable environment of the Legislature being controlled by his fellow Republicans.

It is more than a touch ironic that THE Stark County victim of term limits has, in his role of Stark County Democratic Party chairman, has consistently rolled over for both Schuring and Oelslager. Under Maier's leadership, Stark County Democrats did not field any candidate at all against Oelsager this November 4th. Moreover, the party under Maier has never gone all out to achieve "real" term limits by defeating Schuring and Oelslager at the polls.

When the general public sees these political machinations, they become more and more jaundiced with the political process. That's why one increasingly hears that there is not "a dime's worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats."

While the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes that there are significant philosophical differences, The Report doesn't fault the voting public for failing to see these differences in the overwhelming light of individual politicians focusing on their own self-preservation over the public good.

So look for it again in 2010, the hypocritical Schuring and Oelslager playing "musical chairs" with an accommodating twist (two players, two chairs - isn't there just to be one?).

Isn't it time to break up the Schuring/Oelslager charade on complying with term limits? Doesn't Stark County, indeed, need - as never before - fresh perspective, energized and effective representation in Columbus?

DISCUSSION: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH "THE REP?" HUGE NEWS IN AEP (OHIO POWER) RATE INCREASE REQUEST BUT NOTHING IN THE REP?

Courtesy of an e-mail by STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) reader Kevin Ellis of Louisville, The Report graphic is an Akron Beacon Journal piece today giving the outline of an PUCO recommendation that the AEP request for a 52% electric rate increases over the next three years be pared down to 29%.

Ellis remains opposed to any increase as evidenced by his e-mail to the PUCO, to wit:

REFERENCE: OCC 150251104

Hi Again Brian Vogt,

I would imagine that the OCC is well aware of this 11/10/08 "PUCO STAFF RECOMMENDATION" but those of us sitting in the bleachers most definitely are not impressed!! WE NEED A HOME RUN or A TOUCHDOWN!!

Shares of General Motors selling at less than THREE DOLLARS and PUCO thinks that a 29% AEP increase is FAIR?? GIVE ME A BREAK!!

Kevin R. Ellis

Louisville OH

330-875-0676

Note that the PUCO report is carried by the Akron Beacon Journal whose readers most likely get serviced by First Energy (Ohio Edison) not AEP (Ohio Power) which serves most of Stark County.

Yet Stark County's largest newspaper - The Repository - has nothing of the PUCO recommendation as of 11:00 a.m. this morning on it online edition.

The Repository went the better part of the a week before paying any attention to the original AEP request of a 52% residential and 62% business increase which was the subject of a local hearing held at Glennwood Middle School located within the city of Canton on October 16th.

So what is up with The Rep? Probably the hottest story in Stark County in terms of its potential adverse economic effect on Stark Countians, and, The Rep keeps getting scooped by the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT and the Summit County based Akron Beacon Journal?

Have an opinion on the requested increase? Vote in the poll set up below.

DISCUSSION: "JANE VIGNOS," WILL SHE LEAVE A "+" MARK ON STARK COUNTY?

Now that her successor has been elected and less that two months remain in her term, the question becomes: what will be the "Jane Vignos legacy as a county official?"

After Rick Campbell was elected Stark County recorder, Stark County Democratic Party chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. went to great pains to slam Jane Vignos (Campbell's predecessor in office) whenever he was called upon to introduce Campbell at a political event?

The slam?

As recorder, Vignos (if you believe Maier) nearly caused the destruction of recorded historical documents that bore the signature of the likes of Thomas Jefferson.

Who to the rescue? Need it be said? Of course, Rick Campbell.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has always been skeptical of Maier's assertion. Weren't these blasts just a matter of Maier's hamming it up to the Democratic base precisely in order to fire up the troops?

What The Report focuses on today is information to the effect that Jane Vignos is working against the combining of the Stark County Engineer/Sanitary Engineer even though Sanitary Engineer Armogida is apparently on board with the idea.

If true, this would not be a positive note on which Vignos ends her public office career.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that Vignos opposes the merger of the County/Sanitary engineers because it will create a large base from which Stark County Engineer Mike Rehfus can raise mega bucks in political fundraising.

Such is a strange argument. First, Mike Rehfus does not need the money because he seems to always run unopposed (something The Report is not particularly fond of even though it appear Rehfus is a first-rate county official). In fact, he was just re-elected over, guess who? Unopposed. Second, Mike Rehfus has never been a big hitter in the Stark County Democratic Party. Probably because he has as many Repubiicans on his staff as Democrats. Refus tells The Report is only intested in hiring the best and does not screen perspective employees for their politics.

Also, some in the Stark County Democratic Party think that Rehfus and former Stark County Democratic Party chairman Roy Guitierrez and formerly a Rehfus employee as legal counsel worked together to put a candidate (who eventually switched to run opposite Mike Stevens) against former commissioner Gayle Jackson in the Democratic primary the last time Jackson ran.

Over the years The Report has been involved in Stark County politics, Vignos has been widely viewed (a view bought by The Report initially) as a high partisan whose strong suit was not policy making nor making Stark County more fiscally responsible but keeping the faith with Stark County Republican politics.

The Report's view begin the change on her with Vignos fanning out over the Stark County political entities advocating for a centralized 9-1-1. A little disturbing factor on the 9-1-1 matter though - as a sidenote - Vignos has been quiet on this matter lately. Is she changing her position on this issue?

Also impressive was her strong stance in support fellow Commissioner Todd Bosley's resolution opposing AEP's 52%/62% (residential/industrial) electric rate increase request.

This is just to highlight a couple of a number of noteworthy positions that Vignos has taken recently that The Report thinks speak for Stark County's well-being.

So The Report implores Commissioner Vignos: Say, this (fighting the combining) is not true. Why would the commissioner want to leave office tarnished by making this silly fight?

Refus says a msjor benefit of a merger (other than the obvious administrative savings) will be his ability to bring at least a million or two in grants (after the merger) to what used to be the Stark County Sanitary Engineer. This is new money which has not historically been and would be clearly beneficial to Stark Countians.

The Report has learned that a study is in progress and should be complete by the end of November. Refus believes that whether or not Vignos chooses to support the merger, it will become a reality; perhaps, by the end of 2008.

The question: If Vignos does, as The Report's source suggests, fight the combining of the Stark County Engineer/Sanitary Engineer, won't she be spoiling her legacy?

DISCUSSION: ALLOWING AEP (OHIO POWER) TO INCREASE ITS RATES: COMMENT & VOTE

Search the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) for prior videos showing testimony by The Timken Company, Union Metal, Mayor Healy's administration, Citizen Kevin Ellis and others in the issue of whether or not the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio should allow Ohio Power Company to increase electric rates for its Stark County residential (52% over three years) and business users (62% over three years).

Vote in the poll posted below.

FROM STARK COUNTY POLITICAL PAST: COMPETITIORS HAVE BECOME ALLIES?

What a difference 13 years can make?

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) digging into the Stark County electoral past found this gem.

Most Stark County political observers understand that the famous Will Rogers quote: "I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!" is in full play in Stark County.

Right now Maier and Harmon are political pals - Maier being responsible for Harmon getting the appointment to succeed Gayle Jackson as county commissioner. But as the accompanying graphic shows, such has not always been the case.

And who knows what tomorrow holds?

DISCUSSION: DID LARRY DODEA "RUN IN VAIN" FOR STARK COUNTY SHERIFF?

For anyone who has run for political office - if properly done, it is a gigantic sacrifice to have done so.

Serious candidates make their case for their ideas or approaches to government.

All too many candidates are running just to run. Celeste DeHoff (candidate - 50th House District seems to have been such a candidate to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT [The Report]. DeHoff was totally deficient in grasping Ohio issues and having a prescription for what ails Ohio. While The Report does not agree with many of winner Todd Snitchler's ideas/approaches, he was a credible candidate who will have an agenda in Columbus. The Report will be monitoring his activities in Columbus and having him give an accounting as to how he is being effective to improve the lives of everyday people of the 50th District.

To give a Republican equal time, The Report singles out Jason Wise (Nancy Reinbold's opponent for clerk of courts). The Report was at an event on election evening and Wise, being there, criticized The Report face-to-face for describing him as being a "sacrificial lamb" candidate. Well, The Report stands by its assessment and does not consider Wise to be a good bet for the Stark County Republican Party to run for countywide office in the future.

What Stark County voters ought to be looking for in the candidates are ideas that should be embraced, even if advanced by a losing candidate. Quality losing candidate expend large amounts of time, effort and treasurer and advancing the public discourse.

For example, Larry Dordea who ran a competitive race against sitting Sheriff Tim Swanson, offered a number of ideas/approaches that Swanson should take an in-depth look at implementing. Stark Countians want the best ideas to be brought to bear on government processes.

One such idea from a prior post by the Report:

Dordea also says that Sheriff Swanson has not effectively used "asset forfeiture dollars" as a source of revenues to support the operations of the department. He promises to reconstitute the narcotics law enforcement group of the department and make it profitable to Stark County taxpayers by seizing and selling illicit drug-connected property.

Dordea is to be honored for making a race of it and presenting substantive ideas/approaches to improve the operations of the sheriff's department.

The Report will be pressing Swanson on considering Dordea's ideas/approaches and either implementing them in varying degrees or giving reasons why they are an improvement on current ways of operating the sheriff's department.

As much as Dordea would like to have won, being the public servant he has been (former Alliance police chief), he in running was contesting the office because he thought he had ides/approaches that could benefit Stark Countians.

Question: Does Swanson have an obligation (in the sense of benefiting the entire Stark County community) to take a thorough look at whether or not Larry Dordea's ideas/approaches will make Stark County a more secure community to live in?

To the sheriff: What about the "forfeiture of assets" factor? Do you need to re-examine this revenue generating idea in the light of budgeting problems?

DISCUSSION: STARK COUNTIANS: WHOM IS TO BLAME ON THE ECONOMY GOING SOUTH?

in today's Repository, Governor Ted Strickland is referred to as saying:

He [Strickland] says Ohio and other states now are paying the price of what he calls the irresponsible economic policies of the Bush administration.

As a Stark Countian, take the poll below, whom is to blame?