Yes, you are innocent until proven guilty but a few pieces of information that are important to know about charges that former Newark Mayor and current At Large Council Candidate Frank Stare solicited sex from a woman he picked up on October 12.

I know Doug Sasson, Newark Law Director.  He is a cautious, judicious man.  If he smelled something rotten in the charges he would not have filed charges.

I know Scott Fulton, Director of Licking County Municipal Court Probation.  He is a straight shooter and not a wild-eyed partisan.  If he didn't detect a problem in Stare's evolving story, he would have said so.

I know Frank Stare.  In my dealings with him, I have found him to have only a passing acquaintance with the truth.  He was on television this evening claiming that while he may not be the "smartest fish in the sea," he certainly isn't stupid enough to pick up and solicit sex from a woman in a truck with his campaign signs on the side.  But I assure you, I can name several Newark residents who witnessed him hitting on women in area bars while he was both Mayor of Newark and married.

If you don't want to judge Stare on these allegations next Tuesday, think about the other good reasons not to put him on Council:  Here and here.