November 1, 2022
We're just one week away from
Election Day on Nov. 8. This is a pivotal election, one with the extraordinary
potential to alter the trajectory of our city, state and nation for decades to
come. Among the various candidates and items to consider on your ballot are
Issues 19-21. If approved by Columbus voters, these charter amendments will
improve the ballot initiative process, strengthen the city's workforce and
modernize public meetings and offices. I'll share more on all three amendments
in just a moment.
But first, I'd like to offer a
brief refresher on the City Charter and how these charter amendments came to
appear on the ballot:
What is the City Charter?
The Charter is our city’s
constitution. It sets the framework for the laws that are enacted by City Council
into the City Code. The original Charter was enacted in 1914 and has since been
amended many times. The Charter can only be amended by a vote of Columbus
residents.
Why is the City Charter being
amended at this time?
Until recently, charter review
commissions were appointed on an as-needed basis to review the Charter and to
make recommendations for amendments. In 2014, Columbus voters approved a charter
amendment requiring a review of the Charter every 10 years, beginning in 2022.
In January of this year, a Charter Review Commission was appointed and went on
to hold 13 public meetings, including two hearings for public comment during
which residents had the opportunity to present their own proposals. In July,
the commission submitted its recommendations to Columbus City Council. Council
accepted the commission’s recommendations in full and voted to place Issues
19-21 on the November general election ballot.
What exactly is included in each
charter amendment? See below for a complete breakdown:
Issue 19: Improving the
initiative process to place an issue on the ballot
Clearer, more open ballot issues: Issue
19 will prevent special interest groups from placing an issue on the ballot
without disclosing who will benefit financially and how much money they will
receive within the first three years if the issue were to be approved.
Simplify signature collection: Issue
19 will also expand the time allotted for signature gathering to two years and
add a 10-day curing period if the initial petition falls short of the required
signatures.
Issue 20: Hiring qualified,
diverse employees and updating job titles and responsibilities
Speed the hiring of qualified,
diverse city employees: Issue 20 will maintain the objective, skills-based
testing required to secure city employment but will allow for flexibility in
how test scores are ordered, or “banded,” to allow the city to hire qualified,
diverse candidates faster. Issue 20 does not eliminate Civil Service
Commission testing or lower standards to be hired by the city.
Align the Charter with state
law, updating job titles and responsibilities: Issue 20 will also update
the Charter to reflect changes in Ohio laws, clarify job classifications and
titles for certain employees, and expand the number of cabinet members who may
temporarily serve as acting mayor.
Issue 21: Modernizing public
meetings and offices
Increase access to public
meetings: Issue 21 will allow the city to hold meetings virtually in
limited circumstances as determined by ordinance of City Council.
Modernize the City Auditor’s
Office: Issue 21 will also allow the City Auditor to better utilize
modern technology to perform transactions and update the functions of the
office to align with state law.
Early voting is still underway,
so be sure to visit the Franklin County Board
of Elections for a complete list of dates, times and important reminders. And
should you decide to wait until Election Day to cast your vote, polling
locations will be open 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
No matter when you choose to vote
in this election, it is vital that we all make our voices heard. As long as we
each do our part, I have no doubt that we will become the very best city we can
be. When we work together, nothing is beyond our reach.