Voting is a right and the ultimate expression of our freedom. As the voice of the business community, the Greater Akron Chamber encourages our members to promote the importance of voting to their employees and to educate them on the ballot issues. Please visit the Government Affairs Page of the Greater Akron Chamber web site or click here for more educational information on issues and candidates on the ballot this November 3.

STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

Issue 1 - State Issued Bonds to Provide Compensation to Veterans is a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize the state to issue up to two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of bonds to provide compensation and retirement funds to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. Proposed by the Ohio General Assembly by joint resolution. There are no known opponents.

Issue 2 – Ohio Livestock Care is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the state to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The Board would set standards for animal care that will maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food and protect Ohio farms and families. The thirteen-member board will be bipartisan and include representatives of family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, agriculture educators and the humane society. Supported by the Ohio Livestock Coalition, www.ohiolivestock.org; Opposed by The Humane Society of the United States, http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/ballot_initiatives/ohio_issue_2.html.

Issue 3 – Permitting One Casino Each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo and Distribute to All Counties a Tax on the Casinos is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow one casino each in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. Levy a fixed tax of 33% of gross casino revenue received by each casino operator of the four casino facilities. Over half of the revenues would be split amongst the 88 counties of Ohio, another portion would go to public school districts, a smaller portion used in state job training purposes and oversight gaming commissions. Supported by Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, www.yesonissue3.com; Opposed by Vote No Casino Committee, www.votenocasinos.com and TruthPAC, www.truthpac.org.

SUMMIT COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE

Issue 4 – Proposed Charter Amendment – To transfer and consolidate the powers and duties of the County Engineer to the county executive, who shall have on staff a supervising engineer and sufficient registered professional engineers and registered professional surveyors necessary to exercise the powers and perform duties of county engineers to provide that no election shall be held for the county engineer in 2012 and to, effective January 1, 2013, abolish the office of the engineer.

CITY OF AKRON BALLOT ISSUE

Issue 5 – Proposed Charter Amendment – To amend the City Charter to require that recall petitions be signed by twenty (20) percent of qualified electors who were registered to vote at the last preceding general municipal election for the office subject to recall.

This information is compiled as an educational service by the Greater Akron Chamber. It should not be construed as legal or political advice or an endorsement unless otherwise stated. It is not meant to be inclusive of all issues and information on the November 2009 general election ballot.