BOE declares democracy dead in county
Letter to the Editor
BOE declares democracy dead in county
To the Editor:
“Enough!” With that single exclamatory decree, at the Board of Elections meeting on Monday, July 10, Chairwoman Pam Miller, declared democracy in Medina County dead. The board’s decision to deny the petition of 6,494 Medina County voters in having a county charter issue placed on November’s ballot is a shameful disgrace and an insult to democracy and to our republic. The board’s decision is contrary to public interest, health, safety and the minimum execution of its duties – the definition of nonfeasance. The board’s failure to conduct public business in a clear, transparent and open fashion additionally exhibits a flagrant disregard of Ohio’s Sunshine Laws — inherently malfeasance. It became quite clear from the outset of the meeting the “fix was in.” There would be no county charter on our next Election Day ballot. No amount of persuasion, revelation of facts, figures and outcries from the public was going to change the closed-minded board members into properly executing their civic and public responsibilities and allow voters an up or down vote. Whether for or against any idea or policy, having the right to vote on it is the core of democracy. Pam Miller has arbitrarily mandated that the County Charter will not be placed on the ballot for a public vote. She has, in effect, declared the board to be legislative, judicial and administrative/executive branches of government. Chairwoman Miller has usurped the authority and rights of Medina County voters.
As the saying goes, things really go wrong when people fail to speak up against injustice. Chairwoman Miller hopes this is exactly what will happen — voters will remain docile and quiet. There is hope. One voice in the wilderness is that of board member John Welker, who voted “yes” to permit the issue to move forward. There is even further hope. The County Commissioners can use their own authority to sanction the issue and proclaim to the Board of Elections the county charter issue should be on the November ballot. We need a community governed by thoughtful, concerned and truly civic-minded leaders who are responsive to the electorate, their constituents, to “we the people.”
James J. Simonelli
Sharon Township
To the Editor:
“Enough!” With that single exclamatory decree, at the Board of Elections meeting on Monday, July 10, Chairwoman Pam Miller, declared democracy in Medina County dead. The board’s decision to deny the petition of 6,494 Medina County voters in having a county charter issue placed on November’s ballot is a shameful disgrace and an insult to democracy and to our republic. The board’s decision is contrary to public interest, health, safety and the minimum execution of its duties – the definition of nonfeasance. The board’s failure to conduct public business in a clear, transparent and open fashion additionally exhibits a flagrant disregard of Ohio’s Sunshine Laws — inherently malfeasance. It became quite clear from the outset of the meeting the “fix was in.” There would be no county charter on our next Election Day ballot. No amount of persuasion, revelation of facts, figures and outcries from the public was going to change the closed-minded board members into properly executing their civic and public responsibilities and allow voters an up or down vote. Whether for or against any idea or policy, having the right to vote on it is the core of democracy. Pam Miller has arbitrarily mandated that the County Charter will not be placed on the ballot for a public vote. She has, in effect, declared the board to be legislative, judicial and administrative/executive branches of government. Chairwoman Miller has usurped the authority and rights of Medina County voters.
As the saying goes, things really go wrong when people fail to speak up against injustice. Chairwoman Miller hopes this is exactly what will happen — voters will remain docile and quiet. There is hope. One voice in the wilderness is that of board member John Welker, who voted “yes” to permit the issue to move forward. There is even further hope. The County Commissioners can use their own authority to sanction the issue and proclaim to the Board of Elections the county charter issue should be on the November ballot. We need a community governed by thoughtful, concerned and truly civic-minded leaders who are responsive to the electorate, their constituents, to “we the people.”
James J. Simonelli
Sharon Township
