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GOP feud in hands of voters on Tuesday

Summit Republicans to pick central committee members at polls. Win by Coughlin's slate could end Arshinkoff's stint as chairman

By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Friday, Feb 29, 2008

Fairlawn Mayor William Roth thinks Summit County Republican Chairman Alex Arshinkoff has done a good job in his nearly 30 years at the party's helm.

''I don't see any reason for change,'' Roth said.

Scott Sigel, a Republican elections board employee who has compared Arshinkoff to Fidel Castro, thinks otherwise.

''He's squandered party resources,'' Sigel said of Arshinkoff. ''He's failed to get Republicans re-elected to office. He's spent more energy culling favors for state and national candidates and let local candidates wither.''

Roth and Sigel will run against each other for the Fairlawn 2A seat on the county party's central committee Tuesday. This committee is at the center of a battle for control of the party that has been raging for several months.

State. Sen Kevin Coughlin is leading an attempt to oust Arshinkoff by gaining a majority on the central committee, which must meet to decide the party's leadership within 60 days of the election. Arshinkoff and the party's leaders are mounting a campaign to defend his position.

At stake is control of one of the most influential county Republican parties in Ohio. The party chairman makes key decisions, including how money should be spent and which candidates should get backed.

475 seats at stake

More than 600 people will compete for the 475 precinct-based seats on the central committee — positions voters normally have little interest in.

Of this, about 150 feature races pitting candidates filed by Coughlin against those filed by the party.

Coughlin claims to have additional support among the party's candidates, giving him the number he needs for a majority on the central committee. He provided the Beacon Journal
with the names of the candidates he filed but declined to name his crossover supporters.

''These people don't need to have a target on their heads,'' Coughlin said. ''Their support is confidential until the time of the organizational meeting.''

The party wouldn't provide the Beacon Journal with the names of the candidates it filed.

Some central committee candidates submitted their own petitions to get on the ballot and the candidates include many recognizable names.

Those running uncontested include State Auditor Mary Taylor (Green 1A), Akron Municipal Court Clerk Jim Laria (Akron 1O), and Roy Ray, a former state senator and Akron mayor (Bath Township J).

Contested races have several key matchups, including Coughlin challenging Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart in Falls 3B.

Party spearheads drive

The party has been educating voters on who their central committee candidates are, said Angela McMillen, the party's executive director.

''We're going to be getting their messages out,'' she said. ''We're helping to coordinate with them.''

Jack Morrison Jr., who is secretary of the party's executive board and a finance committee member, previously said the party planned to raise up to $350,000 to defend Arshinkoff.

McMillen declined to say how much has been spent. And the party won't be required to release it because central committee candidates aren't subject to campaign finance reporting laws.

The party is emphasizing Arshinkoff's accomplishments, McMillen said.

''Despite the fact that Kevin has made disparaging comments and untruths, we are not going to attack him,'' she said.

Deborah Owens Fink, a former longtime State Board of Education member, is one of the central committee candidates the party has helped. She said the party assisted her with a letter she sent to Republicans in her precinct — Bath Twp. F — outlining her experience.

 

Fink, a central committee member for eight years, doesn't think Coughlin has a chance.

''One of the reasons I'm glad to live in Summit County is because we have a very strong party,'' Fink said. ''There wouldn't be a party if it wasn't for the leadership of Alex.''

Coughlin aids candidates

Coughlin also is working to inform voters of his central committee candidates.

He's done a mailer on their behalf, along with a piece urging people to vote absentee. He said many candidates are making phone calls, sending out letters and going door-to-door.

''It really is local grass-roots politics at its finest,'' he said. ''They are out there, taking the initiative — making contact.''

Coughlin said the message is simple: ''Is Alex in or is he out?''

''Our candidate will vote to remove Alex and elect a new chairman,'' Coughlin said. ''The other candidate will vote to keep Alex where he is. We really feel that's all we have to say.''

Coughlin hasn't yet revealed his suggested chairman replacement, though many think he has Akron attorney Donald Varian in mind.

Varian, who considered, but decided against, running against Arshinkoff when he was first elected chairman, said the focus now is on taking over the central committee.

''We'll see whether it is a reality,'' he said. ''If it is, there will be a variety of people we will look at.''

Varian, who is challenging his friend and fellow attorney Ray Weber for his central committee seat in Bath Twp. B, said he hasn't ''ruled out'' trying for the chairman post.

Dueling Web sites

The party feud has mainly been fought on the Internet — on dueling Web sites — and through the mail. This will hold true in the next few days.

The party is taking issue with a mailer Coughlin sent out this week. Arshinkoff said a complaint will be filed with the Ohio Elections Commission about information he said is erroneous in the piece.

''This fellow has trouble with the truth,'' said Arshinkoff, who was irate about the mailer, which he got 10 calls about.

Coughlin defended his mailer as accurate, though acknowledging an incorrect date for a Beacon Journal article it cited.

The party will send a mailer today responding to Coughlin's piece.

''If he's going to lie about us, we're going to tell the truth about him,'' said Arshinkoff, who was unwilling to discuss any topics besides Coughlin's mailer.

Coughlin sent a letter Thursday to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner asking her to investigate phone calls made by Summit County elections board employees — while on the clock — to perspective central committee candidates. He also asked Brunner to appoint state observers at the county elections board to ensure accurate results of Tuesday's central committee races.

Both sides said they are confident going into the election.

Regardless of the outcome, Roth thinks this ''interfamily feud'' will be good for the party.

''Whatever happens on Tuesday, the party is big enough to reunite,'' said Roth, Fairlawn's mayor of 13 years. ''We have larger goals in November.''

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached
at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.

 

Fairlawn Mayor William Roth thinks Summit County Republican Chairman Alex Arshinkoff has done a good job in his nearly 30 years at the party's helm.

Get the full article here.


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