Be careful what you wish for!

In November of 2002, Massillon City Council finalized a general obligation bond on the golf course, for $7,281,000 and change. This took the old debt from the original 18 hole course, rolled it in with the nine hole expansion, which was over budget, and created one really big loan that the city administration knew it could never pay back. What to do, What to do? Our Mayor decides to unload this white elephant on to the parks and recreation board. That way, the parks would be stuck with this mountain of debt, which will not be paid off until 2032. We are not kidding. 2032. The parks board would have to use the income tax that the voters approved for parks and recreation to pay golf course expenses. This of course would, and did, drain the parks department. The Mayor's rubber stamp council cheerfully approved this scheme the week before Christmas, when most folks weren't paying real close attention. As was discussed earlier, it was a 7-2 vote. The two Republicans voted no. Ward 3 Councilwoman Claudette Istnick was extremely vocal in her opposition to this scheme. She stood up to the Mayor. She argued with the Mayor. Mayor Cicchinelli, never one to tolerate dissent, or independence, or competence on his council, decided it was time to go shopping for a new Third Ward Council Woman. Seven out of nine votes may be a super majority, but having two dissenters was unacceptable to Massillon's Mayor for Life.

He recruited Kathy Catazaro-Perry. Seriously. He recruited her. Cicchinelli and his aide de camps, John Kurtzman and John Ferrero (now county prosecutor), talked Kathy Catazaro-Perry into running for council against Claudette Istnick. Catazaro-Perry worked her tail off and beat Istnick fairly comfortably. Sadly though, the good times between Kathy and the Mayor were short lived. Kathy developed an independent streak. She wouldn't follow the Mayor's marching orders, and then she did the unforgivable. She made up her own mind on the issues. This strained their relationship beyond repair.

The good old boys were not happy. Kathy was a hard worker who had bigger... more testicular fortitude than any of the men on council. No member of city council has stood up for the people of our city over the special interests more than Kathy Catazaro-Perry has. She thinks for herself. Agree with her, don't agree with her, at least she is her own person.

For this, the taxpayers of Massillon would like to sincerely thank Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for getting Kathy Catazaro-Perry involved in city politics. We salute you, Mayor, for an excellent decision!