A few short weeks after he was first sworn in as a member of Massillon City Council, David Hersher knew something was wrong in Tigertown.
Taxes were too low.
In his first initiative as a councilman, David Hersher put forth a proposal to raise our sewer rates.
But higher sewer rates weren't David Hersher's only accomplishment.
He proposed the new "Storm Water Utility Fee," a brand new tax for city government.
It passed on a five to four vote.
Now, we have no illusion that Mr. Hersher was any thing more than the front man for the man behind the curtain, the Great and Powerful Oz, who dreamed up these new taxes.
Hersher, however, was only too happy to do the dirty work himself, and be the face of taxation in Massillon.
It was clear that the buck would stop with Councilman Hersher.
And he was good with it.
Unfortunately, Councilman Hersher began to earn a reputation as a serial taxer.
When someone saw Dave Hersher around town, they reflexively grabbed their wallet, for fear that Councilman Hersher was scheming up a new way to separate the citizenry from their money.
He earned the moniker 'Taxman' Hersher for his efforts.
And Taxman Hersher was a reliable rubber stamp for the once and future Mayor for Life.
Taxman Hersher voted to spend $199,000 to buy the restaurant at the Legends of Massillon Golf Course, Club Legends.
Taxman Hersher voted to spend Community Development Block Grant dollars to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn.
And Taxman Hersher always rubber stamped the mayor's unbalanced budgets.
When Paul Manson pitched Auditor Jayne Ferrero's tax increase scheme to city council last night, it was assumed that Taxman Hersher would jump on board and lead the support for yet another tax increase.
After all, one doesn't earn a name like 'Taxman' by being fiscally responsible.
He didn't.
The Massillon Review is shocked, just shocked, that Taxman Hersher did not support the increase of our city's income tax.
Perhaps he has realized that 'Taxman' is not a good nickname to have in politics.
Perhaps he is finding his own way in the wake of the defeat of the Mayor for 152 days.
Perhaps.
Any more votes like this and he may start to lose his nickname.
And a good nickname is hard to find.
