To no one's surprise, Massillon's once and future Mayor for Life, Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr., is running to reclaim what is rightfully his - the office of Mayor of Massillon.
A mere four years ago, he was knocked out in the Democratic Primary by 'that woman,' the Usurper from Perry Township, Kathy Catazaro-from-Perry.
Despite the fact that Cicchinelli left the City of Champions in desperate financial straits as he departed, unable to pay its bills and racked with debt, it was clear he would return.
He had to.
For what is Massillon without Frank Cicchinelli at the helm?
So it appears Our Dear Leader, our Once and Future Mayor for Life, is running as an Independent.
After a mere 38 years as a Democratic office older, he is shedding the shackles of the Democratic Party to declare his 'Independence.'
Perhaps, over the past 3 and 1/2 years wandering in the wilderness, contemplating his inevitable return to power, he re-examined his deeply held political ideology and determined that fidelity to the principles of the Democratic Party were principles he no longer subscribed to.
Or
He realized that under no circumstances would 50% of Massillon city voters ever vote for him to be mayor again.
Running as an Independent, he could avoid a Democratic primary against 'that woman,' a primary which he comfortably lost in 2011, and more than likely would have lost again.
So how to slip through the back door.
Running as an Independent, he could participate in a three way race with the Democratic nominee, the Republican nominee, and himself. While achieving 50% of the vote in Massillon was probably off the table for the Extraordinary One, getting 33% was more in his wheelhouse.
It is believed our Once and Future Mayor for Life was a Democrat only because the Democrats are the majority political party in Massillon.
It is well storied that in college, Cicchinelli was an ardent supporter of Republican Richard Nixon.
It would appear that his only overriding political conviction is adherence to whichever philosophy puts him back in the mayor's office.
Massillon Democrats may rightfully feel scorned, as they believe The Extraordinary One was merely using them for their votes.
Or maybe becoming 'Independent' wasn't a cold, political calculation designed to allow the former 38 year Democratic office holder the ability to slip through the back door of city government. Maybe he truly had a change of heart, a political conversion as he was blinded by the light of his new, 'Independent' convictions.
We believe that most of Massillon will believe the former.
