Vindictive, Sociopathic Control Freak

Young Andrew Oser, grandson of developer Carl Oser, is thinking about throwing his hat in the ring for the opportunity to topple the King of Massillon, Mayor Frank Cicchinelli. This could really get interesting. While Cicchinelli is fairly unpopular at this point, Grandpa Carl may actually be less popular than Frank.

Young Andrew, while interviewing with the Independent, referred to our beloved Mayor for Life as a "Vindictive, Sociopathic Control Freak." We certainly won't argue with the vindictive part. Frank Cicchinelli's grudge against Carl Oser is so long, and runs so deep, that if Oser proposed to open a charity that gave away free food to the needy, Frank would have his stooges on the zoning board turn it down.

Heck, let's not forget that it was our Mayor for Life who appointed Kevin Smith, convicted Drug Lord, to the Zoning Board of Appeals. We are sure he was a good fit for city government, and it wasn't his status as a "friend of the program" football booster, or his poker playing prowess that earned him his appointment.

Young Andrew probably shouldn't have made that comment in his first interview with the newspaper. Young Andrew will not be viewed by anyone in the community as a serious alternative to the Mayor for Life. Young Andrew will be seen as merely a puppet for his extremely unpopular grandfather.

We don't know if Frank Cicchinelli is "sociopathic," but he certainly is paranoid. And in this instance stupid. Frank has already released the dogs of war on Young Andrew, dredging up nasty things from Young Andrew's past. We expected better from our Mayor for Life.

Not better behavior, but better political sense. The only person in Massillon who would be a weaker opponent than Young Andrew is Carl himself. Cicchinelli should be paying Young Andrew compliments, and encouraging his youthful zest for public service.

And praying heavily that Andrew Oser is actually his opponent next year.