COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Columbus voters will have a chance to change the makeup of Columbus City Council come August.
Monday night, council unanimously approved a ballot issue that, if passed, would change council from 7 at-large seats to 13 members. Ten of those members would represent districts, or “wards.”
Jonathan Beard is co-chairman of the group responsible for collecting the 19,000 valid signatures to get the issue on the ballot.
Represent Columbus started collecting those signatures in September 2015. Whitney Smith, a Republican candidate for 18th Ohio House District, is the group’s co-chair.
“We can’t expect those seven members to know the issues, people and opportunities in each of those neighborhoods. That’s just ludicrous and it’s time we recognize it.”
Columbus’ current form of government was created when the current charter was written in 1913. Since then, the city has grown to cover more than 200 square miles, with a population of more than 850,000 people.
Beard and Whitney said the success of their signature drive shows there is real interest in fair representation at council.
David Dean, a resident of Italian Village, agrees with giving more people a voice in how to run the city.
“The more the better,” said Dean. “Appointing people who have earned the job is a great change.”
Council President Zach Klein sent NBC4 the following statement:
“I believe that Columbus is on the right track, but there is still work to be done. We can only tackle our challenges, however, through the lens of what is going to benefit all of Columbus. We must continue to work with neighborhood leaders, businesses, area commissions, clergy, and residents to meet the needs of the City as a whole. It’s a collective and inclusive process that will yield the best result for our great city. I fear that pitting neighborhood against neighborhood will create winners and losers, and I want all of Columbus to win.”
Beard and a large group of community leaders are planning several information sessions throughout the summer to educate voters about why their vote on this issue is important for the future of Columbus.
“Our elections have become disconnected from the people. The people of Columbus deserve fair and competitive elections and that’s what we are here to do,” said Beard.
The special election is set for August 2, 2016.
Represent Columbus has several upcoming meetings:
May 26, 7 p.m. at Columbus Metropolitan Library-Franklinton Branch
June 2, 7 p.m. at Columbus Metropolitan Library-Livingston Branch
June 9, 7 p.m. at Columbus Metropolitan Library-Parsons Branch
June 13, 7 p.m at Columbus Metropolitan Library-South HighWhat others are clicking on:
