Redistricting, governor's race in this week's letters

Vote yes on Issue 1

On May 8th we have an opportunity to end the partisan gerrymandering of Ohio’s congressional districts. Issue 1 will amend the Ohio constitution, requiring that any plan to redraw congressional lines have bipartisan approval. Currently the legislature can pass a plan with a simple majority so the party in power can draw the map without minority input. Issue 1 will keep districts relatively compact, minimizing county splits and honoring the historical communities that make sense to voters. No more districts that zig and zag like our District 12 or that chop a single county, Summit, into four different districts. Issue 1 requires transparency in the redistricting process and opportunities for public input.

While a widening gap between the parties corrodes civil discourse and produces gridlock in Washington, witness this little miracle: both the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party endorse Issue 1. Republican lawmakers in the Assembly who helped draft the bill have posted videos online urging voters to say yes. The League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and the Ohio Environmental Council among many others are promoting it. In fact, there is no real organized opposition, attesting to the fact that many people in both parties had come to realize that gerrymandering is bad for Ohio and bad for democracy. While the gerrymandering problem has gone to the courts recently in some other states, Ohio has set the standard for hammering out a bipartisan legislative solution instead. Vote yes on Issue 1!

Rita Kipp
Granville
Kipp is also with the League of Women Voters in Licking County

More decorum needed in politics

Mid-term elections are upon us. I recently received several pieces of campaign literature paid for by a PAC which promoted their candidate and characterized the opponent as "lying #####". I do not support a specific candidate in this race, but it is saddening to see our political process denigrated further by conduct that mimics politicians that know no boundaries in their behavior or integrity. It is difficult to see how this literature exhibits honor or supports principled behavior.

In my opinion, if candidates support these actions in their campaigns I believe that it speaks volumes about their own character and integrity, and what they will and won't do to gain office.

Alan Masters
Granville

Bubb endorses DeWine for governor

The State of Ohio is third in the nation for number of regulations, following Illinois and New York. Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative (CSI) was set to lessen the burden of Ohio’s regulations. But due to the lackluster leadership of Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, CSI has not come close to accomplishing that mission. Business leaders across Ohio are looking for an administration that is committed to lessening the regulatory burden for Ohio’s industries. Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted have the best plan to relieve Ohio of these onerous rules and regulations, by promising to eliminate two regulations for every one in Ohio’s code. As Governor and Lt. Governor, DeWine and Husted will clean up the regulatory mess left behind by Mary Taylor. Mike DeWine has the pro-growth, pro-business, pro-jobs leadership our state needs to succeed.

Tim Bubb
Licking County Commissioner

Election letter deadline

Letters to the editor regarding the upcoming primary election must be submitted by noon on Wednesday, April 25. Letters can be emailed to advocate@newarkadvocate.com must be 250 words or less and include the author's name and contact information. The contact information will not be printed by The Advocate.