The mayor of North Canton has advised the presidential campaigns of both parties that their candidates are welcome in town, but the cost of extra local police and support services will have to be paid up front.
According to Mayor David Held the city provided thousands of dollars in added security and logistical help for the Romney-Ryan campaign in 2012. The campaign said the Secret Service would take care of the bill. Then the Secret Service said it didn’t have a way to do that and referred the city back to the campaign.
So it has gone for four years.
And Held says the best way to avoid any similar problems in the future is a strict ‘pay-in-advance,’ policy.
“We felt it is important to secure payment that the payment is made ahead of time. In 2012, we had a bill for over $10,000. For a city our size, that’s pretty hefty. So, we want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Held, a Republican, says the rule applies to any candidate of any party.
