Sassen running for judge while the Frank Stare case simmers

On October 30th, Frank Stare was charged with soliciting "sexual activity for hire," and the following day it was played on page one of the Advocate.

That was a week before voters picked three at-large council members. Stare's vote total was lowest among the four candidates.

So, was there a connection between the accusation and the loss of the election?

Likely the most authoritative opinion on that question made in public so far is Dave Paul's response to an Advocate follow-up story on the election entitled: "Stare's comeback fails in wake of charges" and here it is:

"There is no doubt that the charges cost Frank Stare the election. In two different polls conducted by the Democratic Party, Frank Stare received the second highest support. In both polls, Irene Kennedy had the greatest support, Frank Stare was second, followed by David Rhodes. Ryan Bubb finished last in both polls. Aside from the mayor's race (which both polls indicated was too close to call), the polls predicted the winners of the other races.

"I assume the Republicans had done their own polling, and they knew very well that they couldn't win the second at-large seat without an October surprise."

To appreciate the value of this comment one must know that Dave Paul is an assistant professor at Ohio State University-Newark with a PhD in political science. Here's a link to his spot on the web.

The October 31st Advocate report quoted Frank as saying:

"The charges are not true and (are) bizarre," Stare, a Democrat, told The Advocate in an interview at his home Tuesday afternoon. "This smacks of dirty politics, and this is not true. I did nothing wrong.

"I've made some political enemies. They'll do whatever they can to damage my reputation. I just hope people can see through these smear and fear tactics for what they are."

Could such political chicanery be attempted in Newark Ohio, and so quickly after January of this year when ...

... the North Carolina State Bar filed two rounds of ethics charges against District Attorney Mike Nifong of Durham County NC for his role in prosecuting three Duke lacrosse team members because they were falsely accused of raping a stripper, and later Nifong was disbarred, jailed, and the falsely accused men are now seeking $30 million in a civil rights lawsuit against the city?

Could it?

Stare's arraignment on the third-degree misdemeanor charge will be Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Licking County Municipal Court. The decision to charge Stare was made by Newark Law Director Doug Sassen, a Republican who, in today's Advocate, has announced his candidacy for domestic relations judge.

And the pot simmers.