Wayne County voters to decide a number of issues on Election Day
Even though 2011 isn’t a presidential or mid-term congressional election year and no statewide offices are up for grabs, the Wayne County Board of Elections will be a very busy place on Election Day 2011.
That’s because when Wayne County voters arrive at the polls Nov. 8 they will be asked to decide the outcome of no less than 129 different ballot initiatives and local races for public office during the fall general election.
All Wayne County voters will have the opportunity for their voices to be heard at the ballot box on a countywide race for elected office and a countywide levy request.
Up for consideration by the electorate is a request by the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency for a .25 mil replacement levy to support its anti-drug enforcement efforts.
Challenger David Todaro also takes on incumbent Carol White Millhoan in the race for judge of the Wayne County Municipal Court.
Voters will also be asked to voice their opinions on a trio of statewide ballot issues.
According to information posted on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, a vote in favor of Issue 1 would increase the maximum age at which a person may be elected or appointed judge from 70 to 75.
Passage of Issue 1 would also eliminate the authority of the General Assembly to establish courts of conciliation and eliminate the authority of the governor to appoint a Supreme Court Commission.
Issue 2 deals with public employee collective bargaining. A vote in favor of Issue 2 would leave Senate Bill 5, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly earlier this year, in place.
Senate Bill 5 repeals and revises existing provisions and enacts new provisions of the Ohio Revised Code relating to laws concerning public employees including collective bargaining, salary schedules and compensation, layoff procedures and leave.
Issue 3 deals with health care. A vote in favor of Issue 2 would place language into Ohio’s constitution stating that in Ohio no law or rule may compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system.
A vote in favor of Issue 3 would also add constitutional language stating that in Ohio no law or rule may prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance or impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.
While a lot has been said about State Issues 1, 2 and 3 by those in favor and opposed to the issues, all three contain complex language on multiple specific items covered by each issue that simply can’t be reduced to the sound bites voters hear in TV and radio commercials.
To research each issue more fully, the office of the Ohio Secretary of State has placed extensive information on each of the three statewide ballot initiatives on its website, including the language that will appear on the ballot, the full text of the ballot initiative and official arguments for and against each issue.
To access this information, log on http://www.sos.state.oh.us and follow the Statewide Issues Information link at the bottom of the Ohio Secretary of State office home page.
In addition to these countywide and statewide races and ballot initiatives, the county’s voters will also be deciding a number of local races and issues.
Voters in 14 cities, towns and villages in Wayne County will be asked to select a mayor, while 13 municipalities will be electing members of their local city, town or village council.
Citizens in all of Wayne County’s 16 townships will be electing township trustees and fiscal officers for their respective townships as well.
Board of education seats in all 10 of the public school districts in Wayne County, as well as the East Holmes, West Holmes, Hillsdale, Tuslaw and Stark County districts are also up for grabs.
In addition to races for elected office, voters will also be asked to decide the fate of a wide variety of levy requests.
Two local school districts – East Holmes and Hillsdale – have levy requests on the ballot.
Twelve townships, villages and cities also have levy requests before the voters, including levies to support police, fire and ambulance services as well as levies to maintain local parks and cemeteries.
In addition to a handful of local options relating to liquor permits, the citizens of Norton will be asked to consider a series of seven amendments to the city’s charter.
For a full list of the races and issues to be decided on Election Day, log on the Wayne County Board of Elections website at http://www.votewayne.org.
That’s because when Wayne County voters arrive at the polls Nov. 8 they will be asked to decide the outcome of no less than 129 different ballot initiatives and local races for public office during the fall general election.
All Wayne County voters will have the opportunity for their voices to be heard at the ballot box on a countywide race for elected office and a countywide levy request.
Up for consideration by the electorate is a request by the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency for a .25 mil replacement levy to support its anti-drug enforcement efforts.
Challenger David Todaro also takes on incumbent Carol White Millhoan in the race for judge of the Wayne County Municipal Court.
Voters will also be asked to voice their opinions on a trio of statewide ballot issues.
According to information posted on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, a vote in favor of Issue 1 would increase the maximum age at which a person may be elected or appointed judge from 70 to 75.
Passage of Issue 1 would also eliminate the authority of the General Assembly to establish courts of conciliation and eliminate the authority of the governor to appoint a Supreme Court Commission.
Issue 2 deals with public employee collective bargaining. A vote in favor of Issue 2 would leave Senate Bill 5, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly earlier this year, in place.
Senate Bill 5 repeals and revises existing provisions and enacts new provisions of the Ohio Revised Code relating to laws concerning public employees including collective bargaining, salary schedules and compensation, layoff procedures and leave.
Issue 3 deals with health care. A vote in favor of Issue 2 would place language into Ohio’s constitution stating that in Ohio no law or rule may compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system.
A vote in favor of Issue 3 would also add constitutional language stating that in Ohio no law or rule may prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance or impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.
While a lot has been said about State Issues 1, 2 and 3 by those in favor and opposed to the issues, all three contain complex language on multiple specific items covered by each issue that simply can’t be reduced to the sound bites voters hear in TV and radio commercials.
To research each issue more fully, the office of the Ohio Secretary of State has placed extensive information on each of the three statewide ballot initiatives on its website, including the language that will appear on the ballot, the full text of the ballot initiative and official arguments for and against each issue.
To access this information, log on http://www.sos.state.oh.us and follow the Statewide Issues Information link at the bottom of the Ohio Secretary of State office home page.
In addition to these countywide and statewide races and ballot initiatives, the county’s voters will also be deciding a number of local races and issues.
Voters in 14 cities, towns and villages in Wayne County will be asked to select a mayor, while 13 municipalities will be electing members of their local city, town or village council.
Citizens in all of Wayne County’s 16 townships will be electing township trustees and fiscal officers for their respective townships as well.
Board of education seats in all 10 of the public school districts in Wayne County, as well as the East Holmes, West Holmes, Hillsdale, Tuslaw and Stark County districts are also up for grabs.
In addition to races for elected office, voters will also be asked to decide the fate of a wide variety of levy requests.
Two local school districts – East Holmes and Hillsdale – have levy requests on the ballot.
Twelve townships, villages and cities also have levy requests before the voters, including levies to support police, fire and ambulance services as well as levies to maintain local parks and cemeteries.
In addition to a handful of local options relating to liquor permits, the citizens of Norton will be asked to consider a series of seven amendments to the city’s charter.
For a full list of the races and issues to be decided on Election Day, log on the Wayne County Board of Elections website at http://www.votewayne.org.
Published: October 31, 2011
