Probe sought into GOP mapmaking
Democrat decries secrecy in devising political districts
Already widely criticized for gerrymandering new congressional and legislative districts, Statehouse Republicans were threatened with an investigation yesterday into whether their line-drawing process violated laws.
State Rep. Dennis Murray, a Sandusky Democrat, asked two state-government watchdogs to launch a joint probe into what he labeled the “secretive” process used to draw 16 congressional districts, 99 Ohio House and 33 state Senate districts that will be in effect through this decade.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/14/probe-sought-into-gop-mapmaking.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/14/probe-sought-into-gop-mapmaking.html
One primary now likely, but when?
By Jim Siegel
House Republicans are now proposing to merge Ohio’s two primaries into a single one on May 22, but the Senate president says he wants the primary on March 6, the date currently set for state, local and U.S. Senate races.
And the question remains whether House Democrats would provide the votes needed to make one primary happen.
House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, said yesterday that there is a “very good likelihood” that Ohio will have only one primary in 2012, instead of the current setup, where the state is set to spend an extra $15 million to hold two primaries, in March and June.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/14/one-primary-now-likely-but-when.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/14/one-primary-now-likely-but-when.html
Ohio primary reunification bill heard today, could be voted on tomorrow
John Michael Spinelli
Columbus Government Examiner
December 14, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - On the penultimate session day of the year, a bill that would eliminates the requirement that Ohio conduct two primary elections in 2012 and consolidate next year's two primaries into one had its first hearing Tuesday in the State Government and Elections (SGE) Committee.
Introduced by SGE Committee Chairman Matt Huffman, an attorney, HB 391 repeals provisions of Sub. H.B. 318, which establish two primary elections in 2012, one in March and one in June. Instead, it requires a single primary to be held on May 22, 2012.
The bill also repeals an appropriation made in H.B. 318 to reimburse county boards of elections for the costs of the June primary, which are estimated to total approximately $15 million.
The Republican sponsor of a bill to consolidate Ohio's primaries defended provisions of the bill as well as his party's role in congressional redistricting Tuesday in the face of Democrats' questions regarding the legislation and the GOP's previous support for a two-date solution.
Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told the House State Government & Elections Committee on Tuesday that the bill was needed to help the state save $15 million associated with a second primary while allowing adequate time for congressional candidates to re-file and a referendum on legislation redrawing congressional districts (HB 319
The bill (HB 391 ) would set a single May 22 primary, with a March 8 filing deadline for congressional and presidential candidates as well as party convention delegates and alternates, Mr. Huffman said. The bill would not require candidates for local, state and the U.S. Senate to re-file. It also would not require local ballot issues to be re-filed.
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