Rubber Stamp Reinforcements

Massillon's Mayor for Life is busily recruiting even more rubber stamps to serve on city council.

Frank Cicchinelli is tired of people like 3rd Ward Councilwoman Kathy Catazaro-Perry, 2nd Ward Councilman Gary Anderson, and 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend. These three members of council are known for thinking for themselves, and actually voting against some of the mayor for life's schemes. Schemes like "storm water utility fees," spending park dollars to buy a restaurant, and supporting his, excuse us, and supporting Auditor Ferrero's unbalanced budget plans.

Frank Cicchinelli is a problem solver, and he is working on getting a more compliant council.

Our Mayor for Life wants council members like Taxman Hersher, who throws political caution to the wind as he fronts the mayor's tax hikes.

Or Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, who is allegedly the Chairman of the Finance Committee on city council, but refuses to have serious discussions about the budget. His budget plan is to rubber stamp whatever Frank... excuse us... whatever Jayne Ferrero submits.

Or Council President, the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Glenn Gamber, who sees his job as making sure council does what the mayor wants. Running a fair and impartial meeting is not among the Loyal Enforcer's primary concerns.

Our Mayor for Life believes we need a change on city council.

Because as we all know.

You don't get to be mayor for life by having council members who think for themselves.

As we predicted some time ago, Frank Cicchinelli recruited Kevin Phillips to run against 2nd Ward Councilman Gary Anderson.

Ward 2 council challenger Kevin Phillips is such a shining light, he can't even make it to the Board of Elections and obtain his own nominating petitions. He needs help. He needs someone to hold his hand.

He needs the mayor for life.

According to one of our faithful readers, not only did Frank Cicchinelli accompany Kevin Phillips to the Board of Elections when Phillips went to obtain his candidate petition, he accompanied Phillips when he returned to file his petition.

Phillips couldn't even go to the elections board all by himself like a grown up candidate.

We don't imagine Kevin Phillips will be exerting a whole lot of independence as a councilman.

Kevin Phillips may as well have the words "Rubber Stamp" printed on his forehead.

As Kathy Catazaro-Perry is running for council at large, her 3rd Ward council seat is now open.

Our Mayor for Life got himself a candidate for that ward, too.

If anyone thought Ron Pribich resigned from the Park Board because he was having a crisis of conscience, and decided that it was inappropriate for him to continue to serve, guess again.

Mrs. Ron Pribich is now running for 3rd Ward Council. According to the Board of Elections web site, she filed yesterday.

We are guessing Ron Pribich bailed on the Park Board so he wouldn't negatively impact his wife's chances.

Probably too late for that.

We are guessing Mrs. Ron Pribich shares our mayor's enthusiasm for the Legends of Massillon Golf Course and its ill-fated nine hole expansion.

After all, her husband Ron was part of a group that sold Frank the land.

When Frank Cicchinelli finally pulls the trigger, and starts selling our parks, how will Mrs. Ron Pribich vote?

And finally, it also looks like our beloved mayor has recruited a candidate to run against 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend. Jackie Carter has pulled petitions to run in the 4th Ward.

Every two years Frank Cicchinelli tries to unseat Tony Townsend in the 4th Ward. Every two years he fails. We assume he'll try harder this time.

Yes, this is just the remedy we need for our city's ills.

More rubber stamping mayoral lackeys.

Our city may still have problems, but no one on council will be allowed to talk about them.

And this is yet one more example of why Frank Cicchinelli is, and will forever be;

Mayor for Life