SUMMARY: If vacancies are able filled in the manner proposed within this legislation, then literally hundreds of seats in many counties could be stuffed with hand picked cronies who do not represent the people in the jurisdiction to which they are appointed.
Call to Action: We are asking you to reach out to your legislatures and
1) Ask them to remove this part of the budget
2) Attend the hearing in support of those testifying against this legislation
Fellow Patriots,
It has come to my attention that legislation has been introduced to change the way county central committee vacancies are filled. It has been inserted into the massive state budget bill, House Bill 33, a 5000-page monstrosity, and has passed the House. We need to get this language removed before the Senate version of the budget is passed and goes to a conference committee in early June.
Finance Hearing Room
Here is the entire text of HB 33: hb33_02_PH (state.oh.us)
The central text in question is as follows:
(2) Each member of a controlling committee shall be a resident and qualified elector of this state and, except as otherwise provided in division (A)(3) of this section, shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district, ward, or precinct that the member is elected to represent. All 46009 46010 46011 46012 46013 (3) A county controlling committee may adopt a bylaw specifying that a person who is appointed to fill a vacancy on the committee under section 3517.05 of the Revised Code is not required to be a resident of the precinct the person is to represent, so long as the person is a resident of the township or municipal corporation in which the precinct is located. A member of a county controlling committee who is appointed pursuant to such a bylaw shall have the same duties and privileges as a member of the committee who resides in the precinct the member represents. A county controlling committee that adopts such a bylaw shall file a copy of its updated constitution and bylaws with the board of elections. 46014 46015 46016 46017 46018 46019 46020 46021 46022 46023 46024 46025
My short version response to hearing about this was as follows:
This proposed language not only contradicts and nullifies existing Ohio law, but fundamentally alters the way County Central Committees are constituted by taking the choice out of the hands of the electors (voters) of a party to directly choose a person from their geographical jurisdiction (precinct, city ward, or township) to represent them to the County Party, and places in the hands of party bosses to select people who do not reside in the jurisdiction they are to represent.
If vacancies could be filled in this proposed manner, then Literally hundreds of seats in many counties could be stuffed with hand picked cronies who do not represent the people in the jurisdiction to which they are appointed.
For example, if there is a vacancy in any one of Columbus’s 87 wards, some one who lives and works downtown (Ward 8) for the political and legal establishment can be appointed to fill the central Committee seat for a ward in Clintonville, the Hilltop, the Southside, etc.
In any case, the fundamental tenet of direct representation is overthrown.
Furthermore, this proposal contradicts the existing state law which requires the list of members of controlling committees be filed with the Secretary of State. Again, this appears to be an attempt of local party bosses seeking to keep a tight rein over the processes governing party business in their counties.
Attached below is a more in-depth analysis which I have submitted and will verbally give as testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 30 at 2 PM. (See attached doc, Filling Vacancies on County Central Committees) Please consider attending this hearing in support of those who will be testifying. If you are interested in testifying, please contact me. You will need to submit a witness form in advance. And we can coordinate our testimony. You can also contact Sen. Dolan’s office if you are interested in testifying.
Please call the members of this Committee and ask them to remove this language from the Budget bill.
Also pass along the word to all Senate Members and House Members, Party Officials, County Central Committee Members, State Central Committee Members, and activists across Ohio. All political power is inherent in the people. (Ohio Constitution) Let’s make sure it is!
Joe Healy
Click here to read Joe Healy’s testimony/ Filling Vacancies on CCC
Click here to read Committee Notice
Click here to read ORC Sections
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