Both Cranley and Smitherman want power. They want to be a strong mayor. I really hope this isn't some type of fetish role-playing for either man, trying to be a modern day Boss Cox. I get they might like gilded age costumes, but that's just taking it too far. Steampunk Smitherman does sound like a good nickname, however.
The problem for them is that the Mayor has limited power. The mayor is not the boss of the city. The mayor has some power, but not total control of all City employees. Cranley wishes he had that, but knows unless he can somehow remove term limits (unlikely as the GOP likes them), he's only working for his legacy. Cranley's legacy rests solely on Republican Chris Smitherman. Yes, I called him a Republican. I am probably going to be called a racist for daring to call a duck a duck, but Smitherman's Twitter StormTroopers can bloviate all they want. I just hope they can figure out I am a real person. They've claimed I'm an pen name for elected officials or maybe they think I'm a Russian Bot, but here's hoping the kids can study up. Maybe even read the over 15 years worth of blog posts I've written, on my archive. I may not be a good writer, but I sure as Hell have been doing this long enough to know who the players are in Cincinnati politics. I've been around long enough to know that when you vote in the Republican primary, endorse Republican candidates, adopt Republican polices, campaign with Republicans, attack Republican enemies, and take Republican money, then I am going to call you a Republican. If Smitherman thinks he can't get elected mayor as a Republican, he should understand that lying about you policies and allegiances isn't going to work either. You can't compartmentalize like Yasir Arafat in Cincinnati. Don't mix messages with different audiences.
The funny twist in recent Enquirer coverage of the Mayor's Chaos comes from the resident hack political columnist Jason Williams. He is almost criticizing John Cranley. I say almost, as Williams still tried his best to blame Cranley's drama on what he's calling the 'urban progressives' and 'Progressive 5.' Not sure what he means by urban, as this is a city, but we do have a suburban mayor, so I'll presume Williams isn't a fan of people who like cities. He's certainly championing those against the City of Cincinnati. That would include Republican member of council Chris Smitherman. Williams, I guess, finally figured out he's not going to get a job in Cranley's administration, so now he's pushing the anti-city Manager form of government that Smitherman painfully desires. His lust for power borders on the psychotic and makes Cranley's penchant for sticking it to his political foes look like pin pricks in comparison. A character like Smitherman without a professional city manager to run the day operation would look like a small version of a Trump White House. Same kind of ego, but with more outward signs of psychosis.
Strong mayors are not a good idea in Cincinnati and not with those wanting it now. Former Ohio State Senator Eric Kearney stated well what I believe is the underlying problem with the position Cranley and Smitherman (with Williams) are putting forth:
The problem is with the way they are trying to govern. They want the government and the populace to bend to their will. That's not leadership, that is bullying. Leaders don't create controversy as a means to push forward as a political pretext to change the form of government. If there is a problem with the form of government, make the claim as to why, present facts, and be honest. If you just want to gain more power, then I say fuck off, we don't need mini-Trumps in Cincinnati.If something goes “wrong” in the federal government we do not blame the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments (and seek to change them). As well, we should not blame (and seek to change) the City Charter.— Eric H Kearney (@EricKearney) March 22, 2018
