Make sure you’re clear about the candidates and issues on the November 3rd ballot.
Our annual Voting Guide helps you put things in perspective. Before hitting the polls, survey comments from Toledo’s mayoral candidates and understand the issues for 20/20 political vision.
Click on a candidate to hear their stance on the issues that matter to Toledoans:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
You think you got issues?
Just catch a whiff o’ these!
Voters statewide will get a chance to reform the way Ohio state legislative districts are drawn-but not Congressional districts.
Voters will also get a chance to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational uses-unless the other issue passes, which would nullify it. Get it?
OK, here’s the details.
STATE ISSUE 1 is seeks to amend the Ohio Constitution, changing the way State House and State Senate districts are drawn. The districts are supposed to be decided every ten years, after the US Census determines population. Currently the 5-member group that draws the districts is composed of the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of State (all Republicans), plus one additional Republican and one Democrat. Decisions are made by simple majority, with no legal guidelines. This has resulted in districts drawn to ensure large majorities in both legislative houses for the Republicans.
State Issue 1 would create a “Bipartisan Redistricting Commission, which would be composed of 7 members, at least two of which would be from the minority party, which, at this time, would mean Democrats. More importantly, approving the district map would require at least one Democratic vote, meaning the 5 Republicans couldn’t push through a map that favors their party. Well, sorta. If the commission deadlocks until September, a simple 4-vote majority of Republicans would still draw the map. But it would only be effective through two rwo-year election cycles, then they’d have to try again.
The change would also give legal guidelines for drawing districts. They must be contiguous, compact, and must neither favor nor disfavor a political party. Sounds great, and it’s better than what we have. If it works as written. And we have to wonder, if it’s so great, why doesn’t it apply to US Congressional districts as well? One step at a time, perhaps.
STATE ISSUE 3 would change the Ohio Constitution to legalize marijuana in Ohio. Anyone over 21 could grow up to four plants, and possess, use and share their homegrown. Anyone of any age could use medical marijuana. It would set up a business incubator in the Cleveland area, establish research facilities near colleges across the state, and raise tax revenue for local and county governments. It would create a new state agency to regulate the marijuana industry. Over a thousand retail establishments could be set up across the state, with limitations on locating them near schools, day care centers, and the like.
For those opposed to prohibition, it sounds great, and better than what we have. Except for one little provision we forgot to mention. It would establish 10 growing facilities, and pre-determine exactly where they go and who owns them. The state government doesn’t like that one bit, even though the casino amendment which passed a few years back did essentially the same thing, with nary a peep from the politicos. The powers that be got really nervous that Issue 3 might pass. So they did two things.
First, they placed the word “monopoly” prominently in the ballot language.
Then they placed STATE ISSUE 2 on the ballot, and called it the “anti-monopoly” amendment. Issue 2 would not only prevent any ballot initiative that is deemed to create a monopoly, passage of Issue 2 would also nullify Issue 3 directly. So even if Issue 3 wins by a wide margin, it would be null and void if Issue 2 passes.
There are a few local issues on the ballot, including school levies in Oregon (Issue 9) and Ottawa Hills (Issue 10) and a senior center levy in Sylvania and Sylvania Township (Issue 5). One county-wide issue of note is ISSUE 11, a renewal levy for the Toledo Zoo. Not a new tax, it would renovate the old tunnel under the Anthony Wayne Trail, renovate and reimagine the Museum of Science, and provide new, interactive exhibits for the tigers and hippos. It would also allow for major repairs and renovations throughout the zoo. Sounds great, and better than what we have!
