Rasor for Stow

I received my first public endorsement today. Dan Horrigan, the Summit County Clerk of Courts, publicly stated his support for my candidacy for city council at-large. I am very honored that a well-respected leader such as Horrigan would make such a statement.

Horrigan was my Government and AP Economics teacher at Stow-Munroe Falls High School. He has kept in touch over the years, as he moved into the world of politics. He told me he is excited to see an energetic, intelligent Stow resident seek to serve his community.

Also, I met a lot of residents today. For the first time, I wore a jacket. Contrast that to July, when I was dying to wear shorts. Once again, people were happy to chat despite the dreary weather. It was good to hear everyone’s concerns. I look forward to addressing them in January.

Check back on the Web site tomorrow. Through a public records request, I received a letter that clearly illustrates where city council went wrong on the courthouse issue.

It was great to meet residents for four hours yesterday afternoon. It was windy and a little cold, but the people were warm, and I appreciate everyone’s support. I will finish that precinct on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.

In an attempt to rebut what I wrote last week, Marvin Mills wrote a letter to the Stow Sentry. Unintentionally, the former corporate secretary of Fox Den Fairways Inc. supported my entire premise: that the shareholders did not want to sell the golf course to a developer.

Here is what Mills wrote in this week’s paper:

After months of discussion, the board of directors realized the 138 acres of open space, green grass and many beautiful trees would soon be gone forever — there had to be other options.

Here is what he told the Akron Beacon Journal in 2005 (not a direct quote):

While stockholders are opposed to eliminating the course, the idea of selling it did strike them as appealing.

Both quotes support the truth that shareholders eventually decided they would not sell to a developer. It may have been appealing at one point, but it was not on the menu when Stow made its offer.

So what is Mills’ motive? He wants to defend the Good Ole Boys Network’s decision to give his shareholders a sweetheart deal. In the process, city council attached a leech to the budget that will continue to drain the city until 2032, when the loan is paid off out of the city’s capital budget.

In his letter, Mills, a Tallmadge resident, adds this:

In this political season, it seems there are some who would advocate leasing or even selling Fox Den for short-term gains. I urge the citizens of Stow to keep this beautiful gem in your city for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. Mills, what do you care if we lease Fox Den? It will remain a golf course. Why would you care if we sold Fox Den, with the deed restriction that all future owners maintain its status as a golf course? It will remain a golf course. You wrote this letter for one reason: to defend the Good Ole Boys Network.

You are approaching this problem from the perspective of someone who stood to personally benefit from the deal. You are not a Stow resident. You don’t have to deal with the fallout. I’m not surprised that the Good Ole Boys Network aligned itself with your interests, because, for the better part of two decades, city council has protected its friends at all costs, while ignoring the taxpayers and the city’s budgetary concerns.

Today’s football game was probably the most productive yet. People were very happy to see new faces running for council. I also knocked on doors for a couple hours, and multiple people said it’s time for a change.

In fact, I can only think of two households out of the 1,700 that I have knocked on where someone said he or she plans to vote for the three incumbents. One house was yesterday. Another was the Monday before the primary.

The key is for the three challengers to get their message out and meet as many people as they can. The people who hear our message are persuaded. You almost have to be friends with the three incumbents to think they’re doing a good job. Keep working, Brian and Elgie!

It was very nice to meet residents today. There were many people with a positive outlook for the city once its leadership changes. I agree. Stow is great, but the upside is even higher if it finds visionary leaders who care about the taxpayers.

Today, I finished knocking on doors in my second precinct in two weeks. As I said, I have really picked up the pace. I started knocking on doors in a third precinct today, as well.

I also attended the city council meeting, and there is nothing really to report. I’m glad that council has stopped with their open campaigning during meetings. It was unfortunate that they believed city time was a good outlet to do that.

I have three positive things to say about our city council, however:

1) I would like to commend Jim Costello, the Ward 2 councilman, who stays above the fray. He does not participate in cheap shots. Rather, he operates in the meetings with a stately demeanor. I don’t know for sure if he’s planning to run for mayor, but he would do a fine job at it.

2) Mary Bednar gave a nice prayer. It spoke of asking help with patience. It was a heart-warming sentiment.

3) The mayor said the city is tightening up its plans for a holiday celebration. Also, the city has not filled 11 full-time vacancies. I applaud doing with fewer employees, to the extent that we aren’t talking about police officers. Further, Stow Municipal Court has reduced some salaries to lower the burden on Stow.

I spent four hours knocking on doors today. Contrary to weather reports, it rained very little in the afternoon. There are certain days that I dedicate to campaigning, and when it rains on those days, it’s very disappointing. Today was not disappointing. I met a lot of interested citizens.

Tomorrow, I will finish walking my second precinct since the primary election. My goal is to walk seven precincts and personally speak with 500 people between the primary and general elections. That will put me in good position, by my estimate, to take first place.

A lot of Stowites believe the deception from the Good Ole Boys Network about the Fox Den purchase. Council has said since 2005 that they made this deal to avoid the course being razed to make way for housing development. I don’t blame people for believing their elected officials; I did, too.

The facts are contrary, however. To clear the air, once and for all, here is a passage from the Akron Beacon Journal, stating the intent of the shareholders from the perspective of Fox Den’s former corporate secretary Marvin Mills:

While stockholders are opposed to eliminating the course, the idea of selling it did strike them as appealing, he said.

“Stow Hopes to Buy Public Golf Course,” Dec. 9, 2005, Page B1

This is consistent with what I was told by another shareholder — that the corporation would never approve a sale to a developer. Also consider this: It would have made sense for the shareholders to say they would sell to a developer. If they told the city that they were interested in selling to a developer, such puffing certainly would have enhanced the sale price.

Four years later, the Fox Den purchase is a done deal. It cost taxpayers $700,000 in 2008. I am not crying over spilled milk. I am bringing this to your attention to point out how city council has operated in the past. They tell half-truths and make decisions without analyzing all data or coming up with creative solutions that are less burdensome on the taxpayers.

For example, if city council was so concerned about this mythical sale to a housing developer, council could have paid for a covenant with Fox Den Fairways Inc. that would ensure the golf course remains a golf course. It’s a simple contract, and I assure you, it would have been cheaper than $700,000 in 2008. That covenant would have followed the golf course to whoever purchased it from the corporation.

Instead of presenting such an idea, Janet D’Antonio voted “yes” on the sale. Ron Alexander abstained due to a potential conflict of interest, but he publicly supported the deal. Sara Drew was not on council then, but you can believe she would never vote in a way that is inconsistent with the rest of the Good Ole Boys Network. She never has.

We need members of council who will pursue the best outcome for the city. We need at-large councilmen who consider: Is this expenditure really necessary? Is it in the best interest of the people we represent? Can we do better?

Those are the three questions I will ask on every big-ticket item. As far as minor spending goes, it adds up quickly, too. My Efficiency Committee will probe each department to discover where we are paying for excess labor/overtime, where we are paying for unnecessary equipment and where we can improve procedures to better serve the citizens of Stow.

To answer my third question: Yes! Stow can do better. The movement begins on Nov. 3.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh found that Stow police officer Ted Bell acted appropriately when he shot a home intruder on Aug. 1.

City council should commend Officer Bell for the heroic measures he took by fearlessly entering a home in which he knew a gunman was lurking. He shot the young man, not out of aggression but out of self-defense, according to the prosecutor’s report. He protected the Church family, and in doing so, he put his own safety on the line.

This week, the city has met with the police union to ask for concessions. I think the police are justified in refusing them. This city is wasting so much money, and yet it is asking for the unions to go back on the salaries they negotiated at the bargaining table. It’s a shameful way to treat the people who protect us.

Is it possible that the unionized employees need to take a pay cut? Yes. But we should only explore that option after taking the sickle to city council salaries, elected official salaries and other highly paid employee salaries. We can stop buying $150,000 buses during a financial crisis, too.

It was great to meet everyone today. It rained, and my paperwork got a little wet, but it was worth it. I walked in tennis shoes today, rather than dress shoes. I have worn holes in two pairs of dress shoes, so it might be more economical to use Nikes. And a lot more comfortable!

In one week, I knocked on doors in an entire precinct. In the past, I would cover about 80 percent of a precinct and it would take a couple weeks. Doing so well in the primary was an energizing moment. I need to reach as many people face-to-face as possible.

Speaking of the primary, here is a photo of me under the rainbow that appeared shortly before polls closed on Sept. 8.

I normally like to relax on Sundays, but I keep spending Saturdays watching the Zips games. So I made it out today for a few hours to meet Stow residents. I had several lengthy conversations with residents, and they were very friendly.

It’s a common sentiment among Stowites that they are happy with the city, but not its leadership. It’s all a matter of priorities. The current city council has proven that it is out of touch with the desires of the people they represent.

Spending $350,000 on Parks & Rec vehicles in a time when the city is facing a severe financial crisis is a great example. Is it true that the Parks department has some vehicles that are old. It’s also true that the police department has multiple vehicles or their last legs. Thirteen police cruisers have more than 100,000 miles on them, according to a records request on Sept. 23.

If you MUST spend $350,000 on vehicles when you’re running a $594,000 deficit, shouldn’t we address the vehicles that keep us safe? Not if you ask Ron Alexander.

Here is what really makes people angry: Why wasn’t there a word of debate on this issue before the vote? Even if you’re in favor of buying a new tour bus, don’t you owe the taxpayers an explanation of why we’re buying that, rather than paving their roads this year?