Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Group behind redistricting ballot issue catches up on campaign

The group that’s backing a proposed change to Ohio’s constitution over redistricting is putting ads on the air statewide…..three weeks after the group opposing the change first put their spots out. Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports. Voter’s First, the group that wants Ohioans to approve a ballot measure that would change the way congressional and legislative district lines are drawn, is putting an ad on television stations statewide.  Brian Rothenberg, spokesman for the group, says he knows his proposed citizen’s initiative plan is being outspent by issue two opponents but he still thinks the issue could win at the ballot box.

Rothenberg – There’s still a large amount of undecided voters.  They’ve never moved from that top tier area.  It’s actually got the most undecided voters in the state of Ohio.  And now we are going toe to toe with these folks.  And when you look at the fact that our progressive base, I know the Democratic party has endorsed this in many counties, those folks are ahead on early voting when you look at the presidential election information.  It actually says that we might be in a stronger position than anybody thought we were and here we are with two weeks to go and we’ve got an excellent opportunity to win.

The Ohio Democratic Party….and unions that are advocating on behalf of Democratic candidates and causes….are urging voters to vote for the new plan.  Rothenberg won’t say how much his group intends to spend on the new ads…or who is paying for them. This is part of the new ad Rothenberg’s group is airing.

(Ad clip)

LaParo – Well, I think the ad is extremely deceptive.

That’s Carlo LaParo with Protect your Vote, the group that’s opposing the constitutional change.  He says the ad doesn’t explain that some politicians and lobbyists would still be allowed to serve on the board that would draw the lines if voters would approve the plan.  But he doesn’t think that’s likely to happen anyway.

LaParo The more voters hear about this deeply flawed and convoluted proposal, the less they like it.

LaParo notes most every newspaper in the state has written editorials against the proposed amendment and he adds many interest groups are also against it.

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.