"I know this is an extraordinary request, but he (Frank Cicchinelli) is an extraordinary mayor."
- Safety-Service Director Mike "The Committee" Loudiana, in his request that Massillon Republicans temporarily switch their political party, and pull a Democratic ballot so that they could cast their vote for our extraordinary Mayor in the Democratic primary.
Massillon's Republican party is on the ropes. They have elected but one councilman and one judge.
Meanwhile, the Democrats hold the other eight council seats, the council presidency, the mayor, law director, treasurer, auditor, the clerk of courts, and the other judge's seat.
But this year looked like things would be different in Tiger Town.
This year, the Massillon GOP put up an actual slate of candidates.
And we even had our first Republican mayoral primary in 20 years.
We assumed this Republican resurgence would be led by, well, led by an actual Republican.
Someone like Nancy Halter, or Sarita Cunningham.
Apparently, Massillon Republicans have a new 'Spiritual Leader.'
Their own political dalai lama.
Some would call him extraordinary.
Others would call him bitter.
We call him Massillon's Mayor for 75 days.
Word on the street is that Frank Cicchinelli has thrown his lot in with the local Republicans this November.
It has been argued that he is bitter about his defeat in the mayoral primary, so he wishes to oppose those Democrats he blames for his defeat.
Others would argue that, politically speaking, the mayor is merely coming home.
The story has been often told how our future leader was a Republican in college, but affiliated with the Democrats because to achieve his dream of one day leading our fair city, he needed to be a member of the dominant political party in the city.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Now that our mayor is freed from the shackles of elected office, he can return to his GOP roots.
And Massillon Republicans can have a new leader.
A prophet to take them to the promised land of political triumph.
So, to the brand new Republican Team Cicchinelli, we offer you good luck!
It should be an extraordinary ride!
