Ohio
It’s election day today in many states around the country. Even though it’s technically an off-election year there are still many initiatives and referenda on ballots in many states. Make sure to get out and vote today on the ballot measures in your state. Here’s Ballotpedia.org’s list of state-wide ballot measures being voted on today.
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Maine and Washington voters will weigh in on gay marriage today, as New Jersey seeks $400 million for land preservation and Ohio decides whether to allow casinos.
During an unusual address to council attendees Monday, Mayor Joe Sulzer took on community criticism for red-light cameras. During the public comment period of Monday’s regular city council meeting members of Citizens Against Photo Enforcement took to the microphone to ask for support for a ballot initiative that would ban red- light and speed cameras in the city. Many spoke out against a recent political mailer sent to homes on behalf of Redflex Inc. that provides red- light and speed cameras through a contract with City Council.
Chillicothe voters will have their say on red-light and speed-enforcement cameras Nov. 3, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled today. The length of time it took the city to ask for either removal of a ballot issue to ban red light and speed enforcement cameras or to get a quasi-judicial hearing from the board of elections on the issue cost the city in its appeal.
Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams went toe-to-toe today with Dan Gilbert debating the merits of the Issue 3 gambling initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot. Williams said he opposed the issue because it changed the state constitution to allow a near-monopoly for casinos. Williams debated Gilbert today at Cleveland City Club.
Buying in bulk can help you save money. It works with commodities such as toilet paper and sugar ”” and with electricity, too. On Nov. 3, residents who live in Massillon and the unincorporated areas of the county will decide whether their communities should pool together as a buying group to purchase electricity in bulk.
On Nov. 3 voters in Ohio will decide on Issue 3, a statewide ballot initiative to bring four first class casinos to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. Proposal backers Penn National Gaming Inc. and Rock Ventures, a holding company which oversees all investment activities of Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and founder of Quicken Loans, are getting the word out about Issue 3.
Cleveland’s City Council has come out in support of Issue 5, the November ballot initiative that would create a 15-person commission to recommend ideas for restructuring Cuyahoga County government. But a Monday evening vote on the matter showed how contentious the reform debate is and revealed rare fissures in a council known for its unanimous, rubberstamping ways.
Local farmers and agriculture supporters gathered at Wayne Upton’s horse farm in Frankfort Thursday evening were urged to spread the word about state Issue 2 to “city folk.” Farm Bureaus from three counties and state Rep. Ray Pryor conducted the public information session to help those in the agriculture industry learn more about Issue 2, a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would create an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to set rules for livestock treatment in the state of Ohio.
If Norton residents want to have a say over higher income taxes to pay for a water and sewer project, they will have to take it to the ballot themselves. An ordinance, approved by the council in May, requires those residents who work outside of the city to pay a half-percent income tax. Norton previously offered those residents who pay income tax elsewhere a 2 percent tax credit. The tax would raise an additional $560,000 annually for water and sewer projects.
Governor Ted Strickland’s proposal to incorporate slot machines at Ohio’s seven racetracks went to the Ohio Supreme Court Sept. 2. Let Ohio Vote, a ballot issue committee group, challenged Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. The initiative was developed to address a $3.2 billion budget shortfall. Carlo LaParo, spokesperson for Let Ohio Vote, said the organization is against the initiative because it denies people the right to referendum, which allows citizens to vote on the proposal.
A city traffic committee heard presentations Thursday afternoon from two firms which offer red-light camera technology, even as about a dozen protesters could be heard outside City Hall. Representatives from Phoenix-based Redflex Traffic Systems and Gatso USA of Massachusetts gave 30-minute PowerPoint presentations, and 15 minutes of question-and-answer came afterward.
Of the three issues on ballots across Ohio this November, one has motivated farmers and farm groups to action. Issue 2 is a proposed state constitutional amendment which would establish a state board to govern the care standards of livestock raised in the Buckeye State. Tuesday night at the annual meeting of the Van Wert County Farm Bureau, that issue was a major topic of discussion.
Another effort is under way to kill what critics call Ohio’s “death tax.” The state chapter of Americans for Prosperity is leading a push for an initiated statute to repeal Ohio’s estate tax, which is paid on residents’ estates that are valued at $338,333 or more after they die. The tax isn’t needed and causes individuals and businesses to relocate to other states that do not have an estate tax, said John F. Boyle Jr., president of the group’s Ohio chapter. “This drives jobs out of Ohio, bottom line,” he said.
A proposed charter amendment originally rejected by Council will end up on the November ballot after all, after one significant change was made to it. If approved by voters, the amendment would allow the Charter Review Commission to forward any proposed charter amendment to the ballot, unless it is rejected by five or more Councilors. Council voted 7-0 Aug. 25 to place the revised amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot. Council initially rejected a similar charter amendment 3-4 Aug. 12. At that time, the proposal did not allow Council to reject amendments with even a super majority vote.