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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > March > 13
Friday, March 13, 2009
Lawmaker wants to change how legislative districts are drawn
State Sen. Kevin Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, who’s running for governor in 2010, wants to change how Ohio draws its legislative districts.
The goal, according to a press release on Friday, March 13, is to “bring more fairness and balance.”
Coughlin’s proposed constitutional amendment would replace the current five-member Apportionment Board with a seven-member board and require that five of the seven members agree on the redistricting plan. Such a plan appears aimed at promoting bipartisan agreement but wouldn’t guarantee it. The next time districts will be redrawn is after the 2010 census.
“This is a practical solution to the ongoing debate about redistricting in Ohio,” Coughlin said in the press release. “This critical decision should be made by those who were elected by the people as part of a fair and balanced process.”
The current five-member board includes the governor, auditor, secretary of state and a member of the legislature from each party. The party that controls two of the three executive offices controls the board and how the districts are drawn. Historically, districts have been drawn to favor the party controlling the board.
Under Coughlin’s plan, the board would include: the governor, auditor, secretary of state, House Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate President and Senate Minority Leader. If one party controlled all three executive offices on the board - governor, auditor and secretary of state - that party would have the votes to approve a plan without help from the other party.
If new districts were drawn this year, Democrats would have the upper hand with Gov. Ted Strickland and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Auditor Mary Taylor is a Republican. However, Brunner has said she plans to run for the U.S. Senate next year and Taylor is considering a U.S. Senate run.
Strickland is expected to run for re-election in 2010 when all statewide executive offices will be on the ballot.
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Mayor McLin, Montgomery County commissioners back Strickland rail plan
Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin and Montgomery County commissioners have signed on to Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan for restoring passenger rail service in Ohio, Strickland’s office announced on Friday, March 13.
Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland also was on the list of public officials giving their endorsement, according to a press release.
The two mayors and Montgomery County commissioners are Democrats like Strickland.
Strickland said in his State of the State address that he would work to restore passenger rail service to Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton for the first time since 1971,
The House has passed the Transportation budget that includes plans to revive the passenger service. House Republicans, however, objected to a provision that would give the Controlling Board, controlled 4-3 by Democrats, authority to continue work on the rail plan without further approval from the legislature.
The Ohio Rail Development Authority wants the legislature to help send a “strong signal” that Ohio is serious about competing for $9 billion in federal stimulus money for rail investments, the press release said.
