Mr. Olson,

Please see attached for my comments on today's blog.

Thank you.

Rick Gatien

Mr. Olson,

I read with interest your August 11 blog concerning the formation of a charter commission for Canton.  As you know, I am a long-standing strong proponent of the formation of a charter commission.  I continue to believe that any charter which is proposed MUST contain ward representation for members of Council. Your blog cites “a fear that a charter commission may take away some if not all of the ability of Cantonians living in Wards 2,3,4,5 and 6 to have any representation on Council.”   Further, that Councilmember Fisher says one of the charter proponents advocates a Columbus plan whereby all members of Council are elected “at-large.”  Who is this person?

If a Charter Commission did propose a plan whereby Ward representation is changed by either actually or substantively eliminating ward boundaries, the proposed charter would very likely be defeated. It would make no sense to invest a year in the preparation of a document that makes good on the alleged fears of half the city’s population (fears expressed by some elected representatives).

Let me pass along some commentary from the Introduction to the “Manual for Newly Elected Charter Commission Members in Ohio” authored by Dr. James B. Tinnin and John E. Gotherman:

“… It will not surprise most charter commission members to find that not everyone is for a charter. It does surprise many to find out that so many persons are opposed to charters generally or to the particular charter being proposed. Take, as an example, the situation where the people vote to choose a charter commission by a 2-1 favorable vote. While the margin of the vote seems impressive, it is important to remember that one third of the votes were against a charter generally. The second election to approve the charter deals with a particular charter document. Specific issues with respect to the form of government, civil service, etc. will be argued and it is expected that some of those voters who supported choosing a commission will be opposed to the particular charter proposed by the commission. In order to win a majority of votes, with an assumed one third of the voters against charters generally, it will be necessary to win the vote of 76% of the two-thirds of the voters who voted for choosing a charter commission in the election to approve the charter. Of course, there are many variables and our examples will not apply in every case. But it has been the experience that many charters are approved by a very narrow margin, and, of course many proposed charters are rejected by the electors.”

I believe the issue will make it to the ballot and a proposed charter will pass if it is well-balanced and reflective of the views of both sides of the North/South geography of Canton.

Rick Gatien


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