Canton small business owner builds website to inform employees about presidential election

CANTON, Ohio - Mike Kappel, who owns Patriot Software in Canton, had enough when he spoke to several people that did not seem to know the differences between the parties.

Particularly, he was concerned about his own 60 employees.

 "I want my employees to be educated voters," he said, from his office, which he affectionately called the “Bat Cave”.

His computer desk is raised sitting on blocks. He said he has been sitting for far too long and he has four computer screens that he can go back and forth from, like a kid peddling a bike.

"I just wanted to make a balanced factual website," he said.

The site is located on SmallBusinessHires.com . If you scroll down the page, you'll find a high-lighted sentence that reads, " The Differences between Democrats and Republicans ."

There you will find different issues like taxes, health care and the size of government. Within the highlighted issues, you'll also find several links to newspaper articles, government websites and other online sources that detail each parties position on the issues. 

"The two parties are 180 degrees apart," said Kappel. "I'm not a political activist and I'm not a public speaker. I know small business and I know that this election matters to small business and all the employees of small business."

Kappel is not a fan of Affordable Care Act, or as he calls it, Obamacare. He said if fully enacted it will cost him about $86,000 a year, or $4,922 per employee or "double his rent." He said he doesn't mind giving all his employees health care, but he feels it's the wrong plan for small business.

One thing you won't find him doing, unlike some recent CEOs, like Arthur Allen of ASG told his employees in an email, "If we fail as a nation to make the right choice on November 6th, and we lose our independence as a company, I don’t want to hear any complaints regarding the fallout that will most likely come."

He almost threatened their jobs if they didn't vote Republican. Kappel said he would never do such a thing he only wants his employees informed.

"I'm not walking around asking them which way they are voting," he said. The employees at his company we talked with seem to agree.

"I actually respect the opinion of Mike," said Erin Rechel. When asked if his opinion will influence her vote, she said, "No."

Another employee felt the same way.

"I think it's excellent because it enabled me to understand the issues and understand the numbers that can be confusing and complex," said Amanda Moore.

But there was an employee who did not share the same feelings as some of the others.

"It becomes hard to stand up and speak out on issues when you are the only one within the company who feels the same," said an anonymous employee, who feels the site is misleading and slanted with a republican view.