Columbus City Council last night approved placing on the May ballot a measure adding two members to the seven-seat panel, with all members being elected from districts or wards by all local voters.
The measure devised by the city-appointed charter review committee last year comes one week after council rejected placing on the May ballot a citizen-driven measure creating a 13-member council with ten members elected by wards or districts. It also limits campaign contributions and makes other changes. Backers of that plan, a group called Everyday People for Positive Change, filed suit Monday in the Ohio Supreme Court to get it on the ballot. Group spokesperson David Harewood.
Community activist and group member Willis Brown says the city's plan maintains the current power structure.
And former council candidate Joe Motil says the city's plan will be costly for taxpayers.
Council members Mike Stinziano and Priscilla Tyson voted against placing the city's plan on the ballot without comment. Newly-minted council member Emmanual Remy says the voters should decide on the city's plan.
The activist group expects a court ruling in the next few weeks. If the court sides with the group, voters will see two plans on the ballot.
