Reading the Tea Leaves

Last month, the Independent wrote an article pondering whether or not Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, would be seeking a 7th four year term as mayor in 2011. There was speculation that he would not be running again, as he cancelled his annual Golf Outing Fund Raiser, slated for this August. Mayor Cicchinelli is supposed to be announcing his decision sometime this month. As today is July 19th, we should be hearing his announcement shortly.

The Independent just published a schedule of the Mayor's annual town hall meetings. He has scheduled one 90 minute meeting in each of Massillon's six council wards (districts). The first meeting is slated to be held in Ward 6, Massillon's far West Side Ward. The town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 9 at 7:00PM at St. Barbara's Catholic Church Life Center Building, 2813 Lincoln Way West. The next meeting is the Ward 5 meeting, scheduled for Monday, August 23, also at 7:00PM at the Massillon Boys and Girls Club, 730 Duncan Street SW. The Ward 4 meeting is next, scheduled to take place on Monday, August 30, at 7:00PM at Friendship Baptist Church, 920 3rd Street SE.

We of course urge Massillon's residents to attend these meetings and share with our Mayor for Life our various concerns for the community. Perhaps we could ask him why our parks are in such poor shape, while our golf course is immaculate. Perhaps someone could ask him how he planned on plugging the million dollar budget gap this year, and the 1.5 million dollar budget hole next year. Oh wait... Auditor's problem. Maybe someone will want to know why he deserves an annual, unvoted pay raise every year. Perhaps he will show us his business plan for the restaurant we bought.

When reading the political tea leaves, it would seem odd for someone who planned on leaving office to schedule six 90 minute town hall sessions throughout the city. On the surface, it looks like the actions of a politician getting ready to run for office again. We could be wrong. We doubt we are. Mayor for Life means that you are the mayor for life. Besides, can anyone really imagine Frank Cicchinelli standing quietly on the sideline while someone else runs his city?