- Background blog on alternatives available to bypass council,
- Blog of Tuesday which has videos:
- Of the vote,
- Of the debate before the vote, and
- Mack and Smuckler responses to the vote
OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF CANTON, OHIO
"Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people." President Abraham Lincoln made this observation during his address at Gettysburg. These words are just as true today as they were 150 years ago.
The concept of Charter Government is the embodiment of democracy in its purest sense. Our Ohio Constitution guarantees the Citizens of Canton the unalienable right to decide, for themselves, whether the City of Canton should adopt its own Constitution - a City Charter. Doing so can replace the inefficacies of our current statutory form of government, which is written by legislators in Columbus. If it is the will of the people, 15 elected Cantonians can draft our City Charter, reflecting the unique goals and needs of our City. After a draft is created, the Citizens of Canton may approve, or reject, the adoption of this proposed City Charter. This Constitutionally guaranteed process ensures our form of government can be written by the Citizens of Canton, for the Citizens of Canton.
Recently, your City Council deferred on whether to place the City Charter issue before the voters in November of 2014. Underlying this action by your Council was a clear understanding - this decision does not deprive the Citizens of this important City Charter Constitutional right. Pursuant to our Ohio Constitution, the Citizens of Canton have the right to decide for themselves if they wish to vote on the City Charter issue This is accomplished through the submission of a petition containing 762 valid signatures of voting Cantonians. Because this is an issue of such fundamental democratic importance, your City Council deferred to the people's exerase of this Constitutional right.
The right to petition your government is equally as important as your right to vote. It is therefore with great pride that the undersigned support and endorse the efforts of the Committee formed to accomplish this petition process The community leaders and civic activists serving on the Committee are:
Hon. Richard Reinbold (Ret), Chairman
Pamela Oster
Terry Prater
Rhoderick Simpson
Julie Sparks
Pamela Oster
Terry Prater
Rhoderick Simpson
Julie Sparks
We hope that you will join us in supporting this Committee and their petitioners as they visit our friends and neighbors throughout the City The goal of this Committee is singular - to place the issue of City Charter before you, the Canton City voter, on May 5, 2015. Should 762 valid signatures be obtained by December of 2014, the voters shall have their voices heard on this important issue There is little question that this goal can be achieved - and exceeded. And if so, the voters shall decide.
In Your Service,
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