Redistricting, Redistricting, and More Redistricting

Stop the rush to have a primary without maps - it just costs the taxpayer more money if the redistricting commission's legal issues are not resolved.

Dear GOP Representatives and Senators,

I know, I get it, as a legislator you don’t want to be told what to do and it probably burns your craw that after three attempts, Maureen O’Connor is still siding with the Democrats on redistricting. With that being said, it wasn't too long ago when the GOP party leaders told us that we were not conservative Republicans if we did not vote for Maureen. Oh, how times change. I can’t speak to her action and I refuse to hate her for having a disagreement. Remember you are the leaders that sold us on her conservative credentials.

Make no mistake - I do not want any liberal and socialist policies that expand government to be put in place. I am an erstwhile “original intent” conservative Republican. While the Democrats have been somewhat open about their motives, there are many Republicans within the Ohio Republican Party that are secretive and disingenuous. At the slightest hint of a disagreement these provocateurs set about mocking, manipulating, maligning, and mudslinging any dissenting opinions in their support of the establishment. That is normally a clear sign that they are doing something that they shouldn’t.

Conservative and free market policies of limited regulation, low taxation, robust competition and the freedom of choice in the marketplace - are the tools that have best allowed Ohioans to pursue their dreams. When these tools are impugned, reduced, or eliminated, Ohioans suffer.

Likewise, political monopolies reduce competition and choice within the marketplace of ideas and solutions. Furthermore, when political parties attempt to game the system and put their thumb on the scales to reduce competition within their own party - we all lose in spectacular fashion. Does this mean I listen to Democrat solutions with glee? Absolutely not, I want Democrats to have a voice so that more people can hear some of the crazy socialist stuff they are promoting.

Ohio’s direct primaries were originally held in late July or August, depending upon the year. This helped to provide for robust competition more closely to the general election. This allowed candidates to have the time to have greater access and inform more people where they stood on the issues. The reach for new candidates is greater and easier in the multitude of fairs, festivals, and parades that Republicans participate in. While some say that an August primary would be much more divisive to the party - we would join over 20 other states with a late primary that have successful parties. So it is hard to imagine why a late primary would prove to be so deleterious. A later date helps to give all candidates access to Republican summer picnics and rallies - to better challenge the incumbents. We should embrace this type of competition as a party - not reject it. Additionally, I personally fail to see how a later primary would benefit Democrats over Republicans.

It really appears as if the GOP leadership pushed so hard and fast to silence competition within their own party. Using the Democrats as a scapegoat just seems to be a ploy to prevent proportional competition.

While Statewide officers didn’t have that much to lose because they encompass the entirety of the State - State House and State Senate competitors as well as those running for newly formed Congressional districts that had major changes - really were not going to have a fair shot or level playing field because the districts have changed dramatically three times in a row. Those challenging incumbents would have a very short window to reach the base of the party in the newly formed districts. This goes for the State Central Committee challengers as well.

Please consider the history of our primaries from 1906 to 1931 and compare it to from 1931 to the present day. Progressives changed the primary in many States to reduce the competition that FDR would have in getting elected.

It was Progressives, that first changed our late primary to an early primary as a way to stifle competition in the primary. A lack of competition allowed a pathway for the special interests to have a financial incentive to influence the elections.

We have already spent a boatload of taxpayer dollars on printing up ballots that are not accurate and sending them out, This rush to force a May primary has helped to add to confusion and expense to our primary that was unnecessary. The conservative thing to do would be to move the primary to the later date.

I would like to point out that the latest possible date to have an election is Tuesday August 9th - which is 90 days before the general election on November 8th. Might I suggest having the primary on Saturday July 30th or on Saturday August 6th - so that employed taxpayers can more easily vote in the primary. This would allow you to reset the deadline for filing petitions to run date to mid June and start early voting soon after. This should also help time to settle political wrangling as if you set a new date and fail to resolve your issues - the public will lose faith in your credibility. Please put off the Primary dates as late as possible because the Democrats are using your rush without maps to make Republicans look fooling and ill-tempered.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter!

Sincerely,

The Forgotten Ohioan