Rasor for Stow

I almost forgot to mention: Matt Riehl and I will hold our monthly meeting with residents this evening at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the second floor conference room.

We will be happy to hear from you!

I had a great time at the Fourth of July Parade today in Stow. I am very grateful for the warm reception, as well as the chance to meet many proud readers of this blog.

Independence Day is a special time, and it’s good to share camaraderie over pride for our nation. Many residents were decked out in festive clothing. The kids, as always, were happy just to get their hands on some candy.

As you have probably noticed, this Web site has been redesigned. The other pages on the site will be completed in the coming weeks.

I want to thank Kiel Fleming for his great work. Seriously, this guy is a stud Web designer and programmer, and he has only gotten better every year since we graduated from the University of Akron in 2007. If you want to give your business (or your candidacy) a fresh look, don’t hesitate to contact him (kiel@seeingidesign.com).

If you have a Twitter or Facebook account, you can post one of my blog messages in your status. I would appreciate that, as we attempt to reach more and more Stow residents. The Facebook and Twitter logos are at the bottom of each post.

Today also marks the day when I will resume regularly knocking on doors in our city. I will be humbly asking for residents to elect me for another term, and I will also gladly share what I know about the other candidates. Wouldn’t it be great if you knew each of your representatives was hard-working, independently minded, and looking out of the long-term growth and prosperity of the city?

The GOBN, meanwhile, would ask: Wouldn’t it be great if every member of council just shut up and voted how we want them to vote?

Without the Good Ole Boy Network running the show, we hope to provide honesty, independence and forward thinking. With your help, that will start January 1, 2012. Use the “CONTACT ME” button above and I’ll tell you how to get involved!

On Monday, Stow will hold its Fourth of July parade. Thankfully, the Good Ole Boy Network has finally lifted its ban on non-incumbents expressing which office they are running for.

If you read this blog from its inception two years ago, I pressured the GOBN to lift its unconstitutional ban. Click here to read my dialogue with Tom Stephan.

What was unconstitutional about it? Ron Alexander, for instance, was permitted to have a sign that said “Ron Alexander, City Council At-Large.” As a challenger, I was not allowed to have a sign that read “Mike Rasor For City Council At-Large.” They were ready to forcibly remove me from the parade if I didn’t apply duct tape over the words “For City Council At Large.”

It was your typical Good Ole Boy Network games. But that is now over. I am happy that challengers are now on equal footing — regardless of whether they are seeking to take my seat on council. What’s right is right, no matter what side of the fence you’re standing on.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. It’s one of the reasons we celebrate Independence Day. We are a nation that may disagree vehemently with the words that come out of someone’s mouth, but will also fight to the death for the right of the opposing side to say them.

In contrast, there is only one principle for people in the GOBN: Preserve the GOBN.

Despite that, I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. And if you find the opportunity, let your neighbors, friends, and family know that the clique-like mentality at city hall is on the way out and that money will soon be spent in a way that benefits the residents as a whole, not just the Good Ole Boys.

Today, the Board of Elections certified the petitions of every Stow candidate who submitted them.

I also just finalized my door-knocking strategy for the upcoming election. If I didn’t make it to your door last election, I hope to make it there this time.

I plan to tell voters not only about myself, but also about other candidates. I got a chance to meet some residents over the weekend. Of course, the mayor’s election has been a hot topic. The race features three experienced businessmen and Sara Drew. Over and over, I am hearing people say: “Anybody but Drew.”

Below are some notes from tonight’s council meeting:

PRAYER — It was my turn to say the prayer. I always take it as an honor to pray before the meeting. During my prayer, I asked that we follow God’s plan to treat people how you’d like to be treated and that we take time to give a cold cup of water to a stranger.

HILE ROAD ISSUE — Before the meeting, in the 11th hour, we solved the problem with the Hunter’s ditch. The city will install a pipe for the 12 feet closest to their driveway. Behind the scenes, the city’s law director Brian Reali (whom I greatly respect) and I had a debate of whether council could approve an expenditure less than $15,000. I argued that the answer is “yes,” and Brian said “no.”

The bottom line was, it was going to be messy if council approved the legislation tonight. The mayor would continue to fight against the Hunters and the property owners on Hile.

Fortunately, Matt Riehl facilitated an agreement between the city and Mr. and Mrs. Hunter that everyone can be happy with. Matt has done a lot of these sorts of things behind the scenes, and through his Roads & Safety Committee. He has solved several problems and blocked some bad legislation during his term.

I had to laugh when the administration tried to credit John Pribonic for the compromise. Pribonic was silent during the meetings and not involved in any of the negotiations, but the administration had to save face in some way, I guess.

This ditch issue was just another example of how the city of Stow government is backwards. It’s unfortunate that you have to be friends with the clique to get a square deal.

CEMETERY VOTE — I voted “no” on the proposal to raise cemetery rates on residents. We heard on Monday that other cities put a greater cost on non-residents. Now the administration wants to raise rates on our residents by several hundred percent in some cases. That’s just another back-door tax–a fee increase that the Good Ole Boy Network doesn’t think you’ll notice. I won’t stand for that. This city has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. The fee increase passed by a 5-2 count.

City council won’t meet against until July 11 with committee meetings.

The Planning Committee passed through ordinances to approve a daycare center and the pumpkin sales at the church on the corner of Kent and Darrow.

The Roads & Safety Committee met to discuss ditching again. I have not received so many calls about a given issue in my two years on council. People are unhappy with the way that they are being treated by the city when it comes to their ditches. The residents from Hile attended, as well as residents from three other parts of town.

By a 3-1 vote, the committee passed along the ordinance to install a pipe on the Hunters’ property. Jim Costello was the only “no” vote. On Thursday, the entire council will vote on this — although the administration is now arguing that council has no authority to approve expenditures less than $15,000.

In a way, it’s a good discussion. I just wish the administration would have been so diligent on the financial discussions involving the court house, the golf course, the lobbyist, etc. These decisions have drained our tax dollars, and went through with just a “trust us” from the administration.

But in another way, it’s pathetic. Mayor Fritschel will do anything in her power to prevent us from solving this problem. It’s no different than her tact in any other proposal I have made in the past 18 months. They go to great lengths to fight my proposals, while the same proposal out of Sara Drew’s mouth would have gained their unwavering support. That’s the Good Ole Boy Network for you. And that’s the clique-like mentality that we are going to finish off for good in November.

The Finance Committee also met and approved several expenditures, grant proposals and bids.

City Council will meet to vote on these ordinances at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

I apologize for overlooking one candidate who filed: Pete Ricchiuti for city council in Ward Two.

Pete reached out to me several months ago about running, but I did not know whether he would. Pete is an intelligent young man with military experience, and he will provide a serious challenge to Jim Costello in Ward Two.

The post below is edited accordingly.

Today was the deadline for candidates to file their petitions, consisting of fifty signatures, with the Board of Elections.

Twenty candidates are running for Stow’s ten elected positions. Two candidates are unopposed. Fourteen candidates will have a primary. The list is below in alphabetical order:

Mayor – Scott Buck, Brian Burgess, Sara Drew, Larry Kinnan
Finance Director – John Baranek (unopposed)
Law Director – Brian Reali (unopposed)
Council At-Large – Bob Adaska, Brian D’Antonio, Donald Daugherty, Dan Mazzolla, John Pribonic, Mike Rasor, and Denise Tonelli
Council Ward One – David Licate, Matt Riehl
Council Ward Two – Jim Costello, Pete Ricchiuti
Council Ward Three – Joseph Lane, Brian Lowdermilk, Annie Hanson
Council Ward Four – Mary Bednar, Joe Hickin

There will be a primary for mayor, At-Large council and Ward Three council. There will be only two finalists for mayor and Ward Three. The primary in my race will knock out one of the seven.

I was glad today when I learned that I will have a primary election. It will motivate me even more to get out and meet residents during the summer.

The primary election is Sept. 13. The general election is Nov. 8.

I will be happy to share what I know about any of the candidates. And I’ll be happy to meet with any of the candidates whom I do not know.

Yesterday, I filed my petitions to run for re-election to council at-large.

It would be my honor to serve the residents of Stow for another term. I intend to campaign with the same vigor that helped me win in 2009.

However, this campaign won’t be all about me. It will be about informing voters of the great importance of our mayor’s race and the stark contrast between Sara Drew and the businesspeople who are running.

This city needs independent thinkers, not sheep. With that said, I don’t intend to endorse a group of candidates with similar political views as mine. But I will be sure to inform each voter I meet of which candidates actually add value to our government.

City council will meet again next week, starting with the Monday committee meetings at 5:30 p.m.

It was great to meet Stow residents today. I am more optimistic than ever that we are going to finally purge this government of people who cannot or will not think for themselves and who only seek to serve their friends.

Speaking of which, John Pribonic announced he will run at-large. It will be a crowded race, so it’s my hope and belief that at least two conscientious, independent-minded people will connect with enough Stow voters to beat him.

Pribonic has already stated his support for a residential-inspection program that would raise your taxes, reduce your privacy, and increase government spending. We simply cannot allow that.