Fool Me Once

It's official. Glenn Gamber, Massillon's City Council President, and faithful ally of our former mayor, The Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli, is 'retiring' as Council President, effective December 28th.

This isn't Gamber's first attempt at 'retirement.'

In 2003, Republican Donnie Peters ran against then Massillon Ward 5 Councilman Glenn Gamber. Massillon's Ward 5, on the Southwest side of Massillon, is overwhelmingly Democratic. Donnie Peters almost upsets Glenn, and Glenn holds on to win by a mere 8 votes. As Donnie Peters gears up for a rematch in 2005, Glenn Gamber decided he has had enough of politics.

Glenn Gamber announces that he is 'retiring' from politics, and won't be seeking re-election.

Curiously enough, at the candidate filing deadline, Glenn files petitions to run for Massillon Council President. This was odd, because Massillon already had a Democratic Council President, Dennis Harwig. Was Glenn, who didn't think he could beat a Republican in an overwhelming Democratic ward, now thinking he could beat the sitting council president?

No.

Team Cicchinelli are fine chess players and were looking two moves down the board.

Dennis Harwig was magically appointed City Income Tax Investigator subsequent to Glenn Gamber filing to run against Harwig for council president. Harwig then vacates his council president's position when he takes his new job, allowing Glenn to win the Democratic Primary unopposed, and be appointed to the remainder of Harwig's term.

Through these political machinations, Glenn Gamber was able to continue his political career and be Massillon City Council President, effectively serving as Mayor Cicchinelli's Loyal Enforcer on Massillon City Council.

While we acknowledge that Glenn is leaving his position as council president, we don't believe he is leaving elected office.

We believe Glenn Gamber will retire from public service, take his pension and, more importantly, his retiree health insurance, and run for another city office.

To double dip.

Earning a pension, health care benefits, and drawing a salary when he chooses his next office.

He 'retired' once before.

We don't think he's actually going any where.

We do believe the next move on the chess board has already been decided upon.