To the editor:
As an Ohio University professor who taught Social Welfare History and Policy until mid-2020, I explained to students that key dangers to our democracy are money in politics, disinformation, and gerrymandering. My passion opposing gerrymandering led me to advocate for the proposed Citizens Not Politicians (CNP) amendment (Issue 1) to the Ohio Constitution. Given the disinformation being spread by State leaders who desperately want to cling to undeserved power gained through gerrymandered districts, it’s important to state the facts.
- The entire goal of CNP is to end gerrymandering. Any statement to the contrary is disinformation — including what’s in the false ballot language. From CNP Section 6: “(B) To ban partisan gerrymandering and prohibit the use of redistricting plans that favor one political party and disfavor others, the statewide proportion of districts in each redistricting plan that favors each political party shall correspond closely to the statewide partisan preferences of the voters of Ohio.”
- The 15 CNP commissioners would NOT be bureaucrats with lifetime appointments and they CAN be fired. The proposed commissioners would serve essentially as consultants rather than bureaucrats. Their re-districting work would last for about 6 months. A new commission would be created every decade except for next year. If they misbehave, they would be investigated and removed. Under the current system, politicians cannot be fired and created districts that make it almost impossible for them to lose in the next election. These politicians created district maps that the Ohio Supreme Court deemed unconstitutionally gerrymandered 7 times.
- The CNP system would NOT cost taxpayers more than the current system. All commissioners on any Ohio commission get paid $125 a day for any day that they actually work. Having volunteer commissioners would result in only wealthy people being able to afford to serve. During this recent redistricting effort, taxpayers spent $7 million and ended with unconstitutional gerrymandered maps. The new system is estimated to cost between $3 to 5 million.
- The Process will be transparent on Camera. Every potential commissioner would be scrupulously investigated and selected by 4 retired judges. None of these people would be elected officials or their family members or lobbyists. There would be five Republicans, five Democrats and five Independents. Every step in the process would be on camera. With every move being public, it’s hard to do wrong. When politicians decide their districts it’s a conflict of interest because they can (and have) created districts that almost guarantee keeping their own jobs. It’s like the fox guarding the hen house. When they know they will win, they stop being a servant of the people and act on their own behalf. That’s how Householder became corrupt and was convicted of a $6million bribery charge. Even after he was indicted, no one ran against him. That shows how powerful gerrymandering is. There is no accountability.
Don’t be fooled by disinformation. If Ohio leaders believed that they were being honest public servants, they would welcome this amendment. Vote Yes to End Gerrymandering. Vote No to keep the same corrupt system. Please read the facts and Vote Yes on Issue 1. This links to the actual language of the amendment: https://www.citizensnotpoliticians.org/petition/.
Solveig Spjeldnes
Athens, Ohio
