By Mark R. Weaver
In less than 90 days, Ohio will vote on a state constitutional amendment proposed by a hyper-partisan front group posing as "citizens not politicians." Ironically, it’s being shoved ahead by politicians − nearly all from one political party and bankrolled with more than $25 million of the darkest of dark money. This power play is fueled by Democrats tired of being repeatedly rejected by Ohio voters.
If this vandalization of our state’s governing charter is approved, Ohio legislative maps would no longer be drawn by elected officials directly accountable to voters. Instead, retired politicians − whom voters can’t choose − would partner with a private for-profit company to help draw legislative lines. When I was Ohio’s Deputy Attorney General, I co-authored Ohio’s Sunshine Law Manual. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that private companies taking over government work rarely adds sunshine to the effort.
Over the years, I served as a political advisor to leaders on both sides of this issue, and they are people of goodwill. But I’ve also taught election law at the University of Akron, and I see the danger this Trojan Horse will bring to Ohio.
Unlike the past, when Ohioans voted out those who drew legislative lines, under the proposed system, voters would be blocked from challenging the lines. The ploy even obstructs civil rights activists who are outraged about racist or otherwise illegal decisions made by the mapmakers from bringing their concerns to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Unlike the past, when Ohioans voted out those who drew legislative lines, under the proposed system, voters would be blocked from challenging the lines. The ploy even obstructs civil rights activists who are outraged about racist or otherwise illegal decisions made by the mapmakers from bringing their concerns to the Ohio Supreme Court.
In this most divisive era, the Ohio proposal would further divide us. With the overarching goal of electing more Democrats, those drawing lines will split neighbor from neighbor, fragment communities of interest, and impede people from getting involved in government.
Why is a proposal that would be laughed off the set of Shark Tank as impractical being advanced now? Political history reveals a nefarious scheme at play.
After each 10-year census, the party in power redraws Ohio’s legislative maps to reflect population shifts. The Democrats drew the maps in the 1970s, holding nearly two-thirds of the Ohio House. After the donkeys redrew legislative maps again in 1980s, Democrats maintained roughly 60% of the House seats for that decade.
Ohio voters asked Republicans to draw the maps in 1990 and 2000. But then something interesting and relevant to today happened. In the 2006 election, Ohio Democrats retook the House − even under the Republican-drawn maps.
Did you catch that? The minority party won seats with lines the majority party had drawn. How did they do it? The way campaigns are always won − with stronger candidates and better issues. Don’t let slick ads fueled by out-of-state demagoguesmislead you − good candidates running on relevant issues that engender broad support can win no matter who draws district lines.
Over the last several years, Ohio voters have adjudged Republicans to be the party of good governance and prudent policy, and that conclusion is wholly unrelated to legislative district lines. That’s because, for the past 15 years, every single state election for statewide office has gone to the candidate running as a Republican. Even Donald Trump twice won the Buckeye State with a healthy 8% margin or better. Lately, it seems like Ohio Republicans are the dazzling Harlem Globetrotters, and the Democrats are the hapless Washington Generals.
After years of such pathetic performance, Ohio Democrats didn’t look inward for the cause. Rather, they groused about the legislative lines. Partially in response, Ohio voters passed two state constitutional amendments to reform the redistricting process in 2015 and 2018. But − even under these reforms − like a teacher handing out failing grades, voters continued to reject Ohio Democrat candidates.
Undoubtedly, there are some Democrats who deserve a chance to lead. But their party’s policy positions have tilted far to the left and away from the values most Ohioans share. Instead of moderating their ideas or recruiting better candidates, Ohio Democrats want to change the rules so they can finally win.
Recently, Gov. Mike DeWine laid out a masterful case against this nonsense. Backers of the issue lowered the level of discourse by claiming the governor somehow needs someone to explain the issue to him.
Despite that incivility, the issue’s backers recognize that, in red state Ohio, they’ll need Republican votes to sell this scheme. That’s why they added a few token Republicans to the face of it. All the better to concoct a phony image of bipartisanship.
But taping a few feathers to a brick doesn’t make it a bird. And − like this proposed amendment − it still won’t fly.