Dave Betras - the ultimate lawyer and politician. Although I don't disagree with the fact that the structure of the local judicial branch of government must be studied, I am compelled to ask what Mr. Betras' reasons are for not wanting to have this vacancy filled. Is it that he is genuinely concerned with the taxpayers of Mahoning County, or that the position will be filled by a qualified person with an "R" behind their name. More political pandering for the "D's", HOORAY!!! Look at your leadership, Democratic Party.
Mr. Franko: Thank you for your informed pieces over the last year. I have been reading and commenting along the way. It is a sad state of affairs when someone believes that their suffrage is being infringed upon because of an endorsement. Mr. Marsico was not required to exit the race, he chose to do so on his own free will. The only reason that Mr. Ginnetti becomes the apparent winner is because no Republican possessing the qualifications for County Engineer dare run in this area as it becomes a waste of money and time. Unfortunately, "johnyoung" and most of the voting population in the county fail to realize this. It is not the MCDP's fault that the only electable candidates in Mahoning County have the surtitle of "D." It is solely a lack of competition and/or the ability to compete. Even so, Mr. Ginnetti is a fine man and intelligent engineer who brings private sector qualifications to the table, not the luggage of a career politician. If anyone disagrees, I invite them to personally speak with him and research his qualifications. Then again, research takes energy and perseverance. Election of the best person with public interests first begins here and now. Furthermore, @stonehead is correct, and is something I have been saying for many years, Mrs. Kenner runs the office. Marsico is just an elected face with a large salary. Maybe that’s what “johnyoung” should be complaining about, that his wishes as a constituent not being executed by whom he elected.
Again, many thanks for speaking the cloaked truth about waste in Mahoning County Government, as many others have been afraid to do the same.
COMMONNONSENSE, I'll address your response one point at a time. Jealous.. Of what? Spiteful.. towards whom? I have earned my engineering degree. A political machine defined by encouraging change?. No response needed. Yes Mr. Marsico earned and is deserved of his pension. The one he earned as a City employee, not the double dipping fortification of his last 12 years as County Engineer. He was only a contibutor to the inertia that the outgoing "machine" possessed. Believe that under his administration, the machine was alive and well. New faces, growth, and ideas will be conducive to forward progress. Not existing to collect a pension at the expense of others. I am thankful for public employees. However, they choose a life of scrutiny because their financial existence is reliant on that of others. It is their charge to be good stewards of our tax dollars. And to me, that is a large responsibility not to be taken lightly or advantage of.
May I ask what you define as the "political machine?" Marsico and Kenner, et al. were the epitome of the political machine. They've been dolling out handouts to local contractors as well as themselves for years. Not to mention that Marsico is 70+, and already had a fortified pension before taking office. In addition he has helped his cadre attain "private" salary and given them the ability to fortify their own pensions. I love the fact that last year, when he handed out his raises to his exempt employees he said that he was trying to "retain them" with the county because their compensation packages were not competitive with the private sector. Give me a break. You want to talk about "Golden Parachute." 105,000 +/- base for Kenner's credentials with a guaranteed pension, health, vehicle, and perks? I'd ask you to find me a PE/PS in the tri-metro area of Akron, Youngstown and Cleveland that brings in that package, only works 40 hrs a week at best and has no accountability (like the responsibility of company ownership). Keep voting people like these folks in office and you'll be wishing for SB5 as a Christmas present when the Chinese take over.
It's time for the 70+ year old carreer politician, double-dipping Engineer to take Wellington's advice and retire, and take his pension fortifying baggage (Kenner) with him. Pat Ginnetti is a great candidate, excellent engineer and qualified manager that would serve Mahoning County well. But then again, this Democratic Party is against all things change, as the good ol' boy, public handout-laiden network must remain in-tact. And the Vindicator is already calling it...
Now, with all of that savings, $146,000 / year in operating expense, does anyone think that the officials will reduce our "gold standard" sewage bills? I'm not gonna hold my breath. In fact, I'll expect to read in the headlines that the city and county have used the money for raises and benefits to the union patrons.
This was nothing but a public smear campain. Now you'll get the bozo Randy Smith in there. Nothing but a sore loser who had to get into office one way or another... I'm not saying what DeChristofaro did was right.. But a couple of hundred dollars worth of thank you cards????? Come on.. Get real! TRUMBULL COUNTY.. LISTEN UP! You had a darn good engineer taking care of your county. Re-establishing the relationships that Latell and Smith utterly ruined. Now you'll return to a sour relationship with ODOT and probably lose funding and projects that should otherwise rightfully be yours. NICE GOING!
"Citizen" This is a popular misconception about SB5. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE UNIONS! Granted, 95% of the motivation for SB5 came from the "Union" mentality. In addition, much of the bill is about limiting collective bargaining. However, it is about the massive amounts of government waste that are applied to salary, benefits and pension. These two jokers are perfect examples of the reasons for the birth of the bill and movement. And although they may not be union, local (county in this case) governments generally apply the contractural framework to management employees without a formal contract. So the "no contribution" retierment and very low contribution health care still applies to managment.
LostPatrol, I couldn't agree more. I had written a post when all of the County raises were made public. If the public would only educate themselves as to how the OPERS pension system works and how Mahoning County government has been milking it for years. These are the folks who have negotiated to have the entire pension contribution made by the County on their behalf. THAT MEANS THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE PAID 0% OUT OF POCKET FOR A LIFETIME PENSION. Let's just hope that a new Engineer gets elected in the next cycle so that Kenner and clan will retire and cease the public teat milking.
Just remember back a few months ago when Marsico gave Kenner and the others 19-21% raises. All the while Marsico is collecting his salary. Take a good look at the picture on the front page. See who's standing behind the podium? Thats who's running the MC Engineer's department. The guy with the white hair is just an extra. REMEMBER GOVERNMENT WASTE WHEN THE ELECTIONS COME AROUND!!!!!!!
Betras on replacing judge: Stop in the name of efficiency
Dave Betras - the ultimate lawyer and politician. Although I don't disagree with the fact that the structure of the local judicial branch of government must be studied, I am compelled to ask what Mr. Betras' reasons are for not wanting to have this vacancy filled. Is it that he is genuinely concerned with the taxpayers of Mahoning County, or that the position will be filled by a qualified person with an "R" behind their name. More political pandering for the "D's", HOORAY!!! Look at your leadership, Democratic Party.
May 24, 2012 at 8:36 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Marsico bows out; timing is perfect
Mr. Franko:
Thank you for your informed pieces over the last year. I have been reading and commenting along the way. It is a sad state of affairs when someone believes that their suffrage is being infringed upon because of an endorsement. Mr. Marsico was not required to exit the race, he chose to do so on his own free will. The only reason that Mr. Ginnetti becomes the apparent winner is because no Republican possessing the qualifications for County Engineer dare run in this area as it becomes a waste of money and time. Unfortunately, "johnyoung" and most of the voting population in the county fail to realize this. It is not the MCDP's fault that the only electable candidates in Mahoning County have the surtitle of "D." It is solely a lack of competition and/or the ability to compete. Even so, Mr. Ginnetti is a fine man and intelligent engineer who brings private sector qualifications to the table, not the luggage of a career politician. If anyone disagrees, I invite them to personally speak with him and research his qualifications. Then again, research takes energy and perseverance. Election of the best person with public interests first begins here and now. Furthermore, @stonehead is correct, and is something I have been saying for many years, Mrs. Kenner runs the office. Marsico is just an elected face with a large salary. Maybe that’s what “johnyoung” should be complaining about, that his wishes as a constituent not being executed by whom he elected.
Again, many thanks for speaking the cloaked truth about waste in Mahoning County Government, as many others have been afraid to do the same.
January 18, 2012 at 1:03 p.m. permalink suggest removal
County Engineer Marsico to withdraw from race
COMMONNONSENSE, I'll address your response one point at a time. Jealous.. Of what? Spiteful.. towards whom? I have earned my engineering degree. A political machine defined by encouraging change?. No response needed. Yes Mr. Marsico earned and is deserved of his pension. The one he earned as a City employee, not the double dipping fortification of his last 12 years as County Engineer. He was only a contibutor to the inertia that the outgoing "machine" possessed. Believe that under his administration, the machine was alive and well. New faces, growth, and ideas will be conducive to forward progress. Not existing to collect a pension at the expense of others. I am thankful for public employees. However, they choose a life of scrutiny because their financial existence is reliant on that of others. It is their charge to be good stewards of our tax dollars. And to me, that is a large responsibility not to be taken lightly or advantage of.
January 10, 2012 at 11:36 p.m. permalink suggest removal
County Engineer Marsico to withdraw from race
UNCOMMON
May I ask what you define as the "political machine?" Marsico and Kenner, et al. were the epitome of the political machine. They've been dolling out handouts to local contractors as well as themselves for years. Not to mention that Marsico is 70+, and already had a fortified pension before taking office. In addition he has helped his cadre attain "private" salary and given them the ability to fortify their own pensions. I love the fact that last year, when he handed out his raises to his exempt employees he said that he was trying to "retain them" with the county because their compensation packages were not competitive with the private sector. Give me a break. You want to talk about "Golden Parachute." 105,000 +/- base for Kenner's credentials with a guaranteed pension, health, vehicle, and perks? I'd ask you to find me a PE/PS in the tri-metro area of Akron, Youngstown and Cleveland that brings in that package, only works 40 hrs a week at best and has no accountability (like the responsibility of company ownership). Keep voting people like these folks in office and you'll be wishing for SB5 as a Christmas present when the Chinese take over.
January 10, 2012 at 12:31 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Endorsements loom large
It's time for the 70+ year old carreer politician, double-dipping Engineer to take Wellington's advice and retire, and take his pension fortifying baggage (Kenner) with him. Pat Ginnetti is a great candidate, excellent engineer and qualified manager that would serve Mahoning County well. But then again, this Democratic Party is against all things change, as the good ol' boy, public handout-laiden network must remain in-tact. And the Vindicator is already calling it...
January 6, 2012 at 1:19 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Foul odor generates big bucks at Struthers treatment plant
Now, with all of that savings, $146,000 / year in operating expense, does anyone think that the officials will reduce our "gold standard" sewage bills? I'm not gonna hold my breath. In fact, I'll expect to read in the headlines that the city and county have used the money for raises and benefits to the union patrons.
October 15, 2011 at 2:36 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Ex-Trumbull engineer DeChristofaro is now a felon
This was nothing but a public smear campain. Now you'll get the bozo Randy Smith in there. Nothing but a sore loser who had to get into office one way or another... I'm not saying what DeChristofaro did was right.. But a couple of hundred dollars worth of thank you cards????? Come on.. Get real! TRUMBULL COUNTY.. LISTEN UP! You had a darn good engineer taking care of your county. Re-establishing the relationships that Latell and Smith utterly ruined. Now you'll return to a sour relationship with ODOT and probably lose funding and projects that should otherwise rightfully be yours. NICE GOING!
July 26, 2011 at 2:03 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Western Reserve Road project to begin after July 4 holiday
"Citizen" This is a popular misconception about SB5. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE UNIONS! Granted, 95% of the motivation for SB5 came from the "Union" mentality. In addition, much of the bill is about limiting collective bargaining. However, it is about the massive amounts of government waste that are applied to salary, benefits and pension. These two jokers are perfect examples of the reasons for the birth of the bill and movement. And although they may not be union, local (county in this case) governments generally apply the contractural framework to management employees without a formal contract. So the "no contribution" retierment and very low contribution health care still applies to managment.
June 27, 2011 at 8:28 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Western Reserve Road project to begin after July 4 holiday
LostPatrol, I couldn't agree more. I had written a post when all of the County raises were made public. If the public would only educate themselves as to how the OPERS pension system works and how Mahoning County government has been milking it for years. These are the folks who have negotiated to have the entire pension contribution made by the County on their behalf. THAT MEANS THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE PAID 0% OUT OF POCKET FOR A LIFETIME PENSION. Let's just hope that a new Engineer gets elected in the next cycle so that Kenner and clan will retire and cease the public teat milking.
June 25, 2011 at 5:45 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Western Reserve Road project to begin after July 4 holiday
Just remember back a few months ago when Marsico gave Kenner and the others 19-21% raises. All the while Marsico is collecting his salary. Take a good look at the picture on the front page. See who's standing behind the podium? Thats who's running the MC Engineer's department. The guy with the white hair is just an extra. REMEMBER GOVERNMENT WASTE WHEN THE ELECTIONS COME AROUND!!!!!!!
June 25, 2011 at 3:53 p.m. permalink suggest removal