According to a faithful reader of the Massillon Review, Massillon Ward 5 Councilman Donnie Peters is not running for re-election this year. Apparantly Peters, a generous financial contributor to our former Mayor for Life, the Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli, has had enough.
Peters is the Chief Architect of City Council's proposed income tax hike, a tax Peters brought forward knowing it would never pass.
Peters' proposal would raise Massillon's income tax rate from 1.8 percent to 2.1 percent, but eliminating the 100% tax credit on the increase, even though, according to Peters;
"the credit reduction would have angered a third of the city’s voters.“Than you ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase,” (Donnie Peters, The Independent, September 5, 2012).
From a purely entertainment standpoint, the colorful Peters will certainly be missed.
Let us reminisce.
"Hey, Slagle, (expletive) you" (Donnie Peters, The Independent, July 29, 2008).
Although a Republican, Peters could usually be counted to vote with the Cicchinelli block on City Council.
Peters will be joined in "retirement" by another Cicchinelli supporter, the former mayor's loyal enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber.
As Council President, Gamber cracked the whip, and kept council in line, working feverishly to support our former mayor, and oppose our current mayor.
While people who park in the City's parking lot may be safer without Glenn Gamber, our former mayor and his allies will be down two loyalists.
Or will they?
Loyal Cicchinelli Aide-de-Camp, John Kurtzman, Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, appears to be putting together Cicchinelli 2.0 - The Next Generation.
John Kurtzman, who lives in Massillon, but works in Canton, pays no Massillon income tax as Chief Counsel to the Prosecutor.
While John Kurtzman campaigned for a higher county sales tax so his government office would receive more tax dollars;
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
John Kurtzman the resident of Massillon didn't believe he himself should pay income tax on his county salary;
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Ahh yes, the hungry children...
According to a reliable Massillon Review source, Kurtzman is bringing Massillon a new slate of candidates to replace those departing.
According to our faithful reader, John Kurtzman is helping with the return of Mike Loudiana, Frank Cicchinelli's former Safety Service Director.
Loudiana, now candidate for council in Ward 1, was Frank Cicchinelli's partner in city "management," and coined the term 'Extraordinary' when referring to Cicchinelli;
"...he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
- Former Safety Service Director Mike Loudiana
Ahh yes.
Extraordinary.
To replace the Ward 5 seat of Donnie Peters, it appears Kurtzman has recruited someone who works in his own office, an assistant prosecutor named Megan Starrett.
We just can't imagine either Loudiana or Starrett ever voting to reduce the city's 100% tax credit, and in the words of John Kurtzman, creating "a penalty on the unfortunate bread winners who are forced to work outside the city."
Like John Kurtzman.
We don't believe Team Cicchinelli is quite finished recruiting candidates either.
And isn't that what Massillon needs?
It is so clear to us that what our city needs is more council people loyal to our former mayor.
We are supremely confident Massillon residents will agree.
It should be an extraordinary campaign season this year.
