Commission Members and Mission
In November 2014, Columbus voters overwhelmingly approved a series of ballot issues which amended the Columbus City Charter. Included among the changes was a mandate to establish the Citizens’ Commission on Elected Official Compensation to review and recommend the salary for each elective officer of the city, with the underlying goal of increasing citizen engagement and adding an additional layer of accountability to the process of setting future pay rates for elected officials in Columbus.
The five person commission has been charged with reviewing compensation for the mayor, city council, city attorney, and auditor and will make salary recommendations including an annual cost of living adjustment which shall not exceed the average increase in the consumer price index over the last four years.
Commission members include:
- Fred Ransier, Chair, Partner, Vorys Sater Seymour and
Pease
- Joel Diaz, Chief Marketing & Community
Affairs Office, Equitas Health
- Qiana Williams, Human Resources Director,
OhioHealth
- Diana Givand, Associate, Dinsmore & Shohl,
LLP
- Robert J. Weiler, Sr., Chair of the Board, The Robert
Weiler Company
Under the Columbus City Charter, setting elected official salaries will still require a public vote of City Council. Council may accept and enact the Commission’s recommendations in whole or in part, but no salary amount may exceed the Commission’s recommendations.