November 2, 2020
“Today we affirm a new commitment to live out our nation’s
promise through civility, courage, compassion and character.” -- George W.
Bush, 43rd President of the United States
“A government of, by and for the people requires that people
talk to people, that we can agree to disagree but do so in civility…” -- Donna
Brazile, veteran Democratic political strategist, adjunct professor, author,
and syndicated columnist
Neighbors,
As we head into the final day of this election, I again want
to encourage everyone to vote if you haven’t already. As citizens of this great
country we must all exercise our right to vote, the cornerstone of democracy.
Our vote is our voice.
Governor DeWine and I hail from different parties, and we
voted for different candidates in the presidential election. What we have in
common is the confidence in our election system, commitment to honoring the
results and continuing to work together to move Columbus and Ohio forward,
regardless of the outcome.
I know some people are a little uneasy about the safety of
voting. Rest assured that city, county and state officials are working
tirelessly to ensure our election process in Ohio is orderly and transparent
with bi-partisan cooperation. It is our expectation that all citizens will be
able to vote safely and without incident.
We respect the right for both parties to support their
candidates, but let me be clear: We will not tolerate intimidation or violence.
The Columbus Division of Police, along with the Franklin County Sheriff’s
Office, have been working hard to assure polling places are safe, and that any
gatherings that may occur remain peaceful. If you experience election
irregularities at a polling site, call 877-767-6446 or email
[email protected].
We all have a role to play in this election, so I am calling
on everyone to commit to civility, peace and mutual respect for our shared
rights and responsibilities as citizens. This is our country. This is our city.
Let’s live up to the democracy we have built.