Issue 2 would promote reasonable legislative districts

The voters of Ohio will be asked to respond yes or no to Issue 2 in the November election. This issue is a proposed Constitutional Amendment to end gerrymandering in the state of Ohio.

Gerrymandering, the process by which political parties in the state legislature draw legislative and congressional districts to favor their party, has been happening in Ohio since our state was founded. When Democrats control the General Assembly they draw boundaries to favor their interests. Likewise, when Republicans control the legislature they draw boundaries to favor their interests.

Now, through the initiative of a coalition of non-profits that includes the League of Women Voters, Ohio Citizen Action and Common Cause, Ohio more than 406,000 signatures were obtained from voters all across the state to put the question on the November ballot. It seeks approval of an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to correct the process of creating legislative districts to reflect the actual political landscape of Ohio instead of the view of one party.

The amendment would create a 12-person commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. Final legislative and congressional districts are to be those that most-closely meet four criteria: preserving whole communities; maximizing the number of competitive districts; balancing the number of districts leaning toward one party or another to closely match the state’s political leaning; and keeping districts compact. No map is to be adopted with intent to favor a political party, incumbent or potential candidate. At least seven votes would be required to approve the districts. All meetings and records would be public. If approved, new districts would be drawn for the 2014 election.

Any eligible Ohioan could apply to be a commission member. Specified elected office holders, candidates, political party officials, paid lobbyists and public employees and family members would be ineligible. A panel of 8 state appeals-court judges would accept applications and pick 42 potential members, divided evenly among Democrats, Republicans and Ohio voters unaffiliated with either major party. The Ohio House of Representatives speaker and minority leader would reduce the list to 24. From that pool, a random drawing would select 3 people from each party, and 3 unaffiliated members. Those 9 people would select the final 3 members, one from each major party and one unaffiliated member.

Passage of State Issue 2 will establish an impartial system that takes the power away from career politicians and gives people of Ohio a real voice in who will represent them in Columbus and Washington D.C. Politicians will come and go, but the passage of Issue 2 will help ensure that neither party can unfairly dominate state politics. It will provide a system that is open to the public, transparent and without partisan manipulation. When elections are fair and balance the people of Ohio win.

The League of Women Voters prides itself in promoting good government and fair elections that reflect the desires of the electorate — not one political party. Vote yes on Issue 2 to make this happen. Mary Jo Clark, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Oxford

Killing deer in Oxford causes unnecessary suffering

Why does our society often turn to violence as a way to eliminate a problem?

Even though last year’s killing of the deer significantly reduced the population, we have been notified that it will start up in the woods behind Robin Court. There are a few mothers and fawns left.

Are protecting the flowers so important that we are willing to shoot arrows into the mother deer while the babies grieve beside the body? Don’t kid yourself about the lack of suffering; it’s happening in the woods where there are no witnesses.

Bambi’s mother was right. “Beware, man is in the forest.” Di and Roger Princell, Oxford

PUSH benefits greatly from United Way of Oxford funding

People United for Self Help (PUSH) has long been supported in part by funding from the United Way of Oxford, Ohio and Vicinity. This funding allows PUSH to provide grants to low-income homeowners in the Talawanda School District.

In addition to the usual emergency and critical repairs, PUSH works with other local agencies and foundations to promote preventative repairs and maintenance that can minimize the effects of cold weather. Oxford is a very giving community. Working closely with Maureen Kranbuhl, executive director of United Way of Oxford and Vicinity, allows PUSH to coordinate efforts with other community resources, affording more assistance to a greater number of residents.

As the Annual Campaign for the United Way of Oxford continues, please consider donating to continue support of vital programs and agencies, such as PUSH. Sabrina Jewell, Chairperson of PUSH

Gail Brahier’s foresight has come to fruition

(Open letter to Gail Brahier, Director, Oxford Parks and Recreation)

As I entered the Community Park yesterday and was struck by the beauty of the trees near the driveway, I remembered that when my family first came to town about 12 years ago, this gloriously beautiful park didn’t even exist. At that time, you, Gail, were taking two or three large boards with artist’s renderings around to any community group who would listen to your vision of what was then a dream, of what we can all now experience more fully as a present reality.

I remembered being invited to a ground breaking when the area of the Community Park was all fields. Even though you had those pictures, as I stood there that day, I couldn’t fully comprehend how all the dirt and earth I was standing in would be transformed to better serve my household and the greater community. Then, on the day of dedication, to see the Old Timers baseball game and all the amenities of the new park was a joy. It was so much better than I could ever imagine.

Over the years, my family has enjoyed walking, bike riding, kite flying, skating, dog walking and playing ball at this fantastic facility. We often take out of town guests there to share with our visitors the wealth of opportunities those grounds offer. It’s wonderfully peaceful to enter the park and appreciate its natural appearance and beauty when its quiet and few of our neighbors are around and it’s equally great to see it draw people from as far away as Canada and New York State for soccer tournaments. The crowd for the Independence Day celebration and fireworks was tremendous.

Thank you, Gail, for your visionary foresight, for the competent way you maintain what we as a community hold in common, and for your on-going dedication in serving our city. Logan Dysart, Oxford