Tuesday, Nov. 3, is the general election in Ohio. Several local and state issues are on the ballot. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In the Village of Bluffton there are races for mayor and council.
• The ballot for Village of Bluffton is below.
• Richland Township voters' ballot is also below (minus Beaverdam and Bluffton candidates).
• Beaverdam voters' ballot is below (minus Buffton candidates)
All voters in Allen County will vote on three levies:
• Allen County Children's Services
• Mental Health and Recovery Services Board
• Allen County Senior Citizens Services
All voters in Allen County will vote on the three state issues.
VILLAGE OF BLUFFTON
For Mayor
(Vote for not more than 1)
• Judy M. Augsburger
• Jerry Cupples
• David R. Steiner
Republican
For Member of Council
(Vote for not more than 2)
• Sean M. Burrell
• Richard L. Johnson
Republican
• Joseph W. Sehlhorst
For Richland Township Fiscal Officer
• Jim Weaver
BLUFFTON EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
(Two candidates for two seats)
• Jeremy P. Scoles
• Renee L. Smith
VILLAGE OF BEAVERDAM
For Mayor
(Vote for not more than 1)
• Roberta J. Beemer
• Greg Smith
For Member of Council
(Vote for not more than 2)
• Teresa Cameron
• Franklin L. Gillette, Jr
• Barbara Gossard
• Tom Gossard
TOWNSHIP OF RICHLAND
For Township Trustee
• Donald K. Brauen
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL)
ALLEN COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Allen County, Ohio for the purpose of supplementing the general fund for the support of Children Services and the care and placement of children, at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 5 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
FOR THE TAX LEVY
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL)
MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES BOARD
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 5 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of 10 years, commencing in 2015, first due in calendar year 2016.
FOR THE TAX LEVY
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL AND INCREASE)
ALLEN COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS SERVICES
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage
A renewal of 0.5 mill and an increase of 0.5 mill to constitute a tax for the benefit of Allen County for the purpose of providing and maintaining Senior Citizens Services or facilities specifically through the Allen County Council on Aging, Inc.; Delphos Senior Citizens, Inc.; Senior Citizens Association, Inc. of Bluffton, Ohio; and Senior Citizens Services, Inc., of Allen County, Ohio at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 10 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
FOR THE TAX LEVY
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY
ALLEN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
For Judge of Municipal Court
Tammie K. Hursh
For Clerk of Municipal Court
Jim Link
MONROE TOWNSHIP EAST - VOTERS (BLUFFTON SCHOOL DISTRICT)
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL) MONROE TOWNSHIP
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Monroe Township, Allen County, Ohio for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings, or sites therefore, or sources of water supply and materials therefore, or the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire alarm telegraph, or the payment of permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting companies to operate the same, including the payment of the firefighter employers’ contribution required under section 742.34 of the Revised Code, or the purchase of ambulance equipment, or the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 10 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.
FOR THE TAX LEVY
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY
STATE ISSUES
Issue One
Creates a bipartisan, public process for drawing legislative districts
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly
To enact new Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Article XI and to repeal Sections1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, 13, 14, and 15 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.
The proposed amendment would:
• End the partisan process for drawing Ohio House and Senate districts, and replace it with a bipartisan process with the goal of having district boundaries that are more compact and politically competitive.
• Ensure a transparent process by requiring public meetings, public display of maps, and a public letter explaining any plan the Commission adopts by a simple majority vote.
• Establish the bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission, composed of 7 members including the Governor, the Auditor of State, the Secretary of State, and 4 members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the General Assembly.
• Require a bipartisan majority vote of 4 members in order to adopt any final district plan, and prevent deadlock by limiting the length of time any plan adopted without bipartisan support is effective.
If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.
SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?
YES
NO
Issue Two
Anti-monopoly amendment; protects the initiative process from being used for personal economic benefit
Proposed Constitutional
Amendment
Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly
Proposing to amend Section 1e of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.
The proposed amendment would:
• Prohibit any petitioner from using the Ohio Constitution to grant a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel for their exclusive financial benefit or to establish a preferential tax status.
• Prohibitanypetitionerfromusingthe Ohio Constitution to grant a commercial interest, right, or license that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities.
• Require the bipartisan Ohio Ballot Board to determine if a proposed constitutional amendment violates the prohibitions above, and if it does, present two separate ballot questions to voters. Both ballot questions must receive a majority yes vote before the proposed amendment could take effect.
• Prohibit from taking effect any proposed constitutional amendment appearing on the November 3, 2015 General Election ballot that creates a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel for the sale, distribution, or other use of any federal Schedule I controlled substance.
• The Ohio Supreme Court has original, exclusive jurisdiction in any action related to the proposal.
If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.
SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?
YES
NO
Issue Three
Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Proposed by Initiative Petition
To add Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.
The proposed amendment would:
• Endow exclusive rights for commercial marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction to self-designated landowners who own ten predetermined parcels of land in Butler, Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Delaware, Stark, and Summit Counties. One additional growth facility may be allowed for in four years only if existing facilities cannot meet consumer demand.
• Permit retail sale of recreational marijuana at approximately 1,100 locations statewide. Such retail establishments must have a state license that may be obtained only if the electors of the precinct where the store will be located approve the use of the location for such purpose at a local option election.
• Legalize the production of marijuana-infused products, including edible products, concentrates, sprays, ointments and tinctures by marijuana product manufacturing facilities.
• Allow each person, 21 years of age or older, to grow, cultivate, use, possess, and share up to eight ounces of usable homegrown marijuana plus four flowering marijuana plants if the person holds a valid state license. Allow each person, 21 years of age or older, to purchase, possess, transport, use, and share up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use. Authorize the use of medical marijuana by any person, regardless of age, who has a certification for a debilitating medical condition.
• Prohibit marijuana establishments within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, public library, public or chartered elementary or secondary school, state-licensed day-care center, or public playground, however: after a certain date, a new day-care, library, etc., cannot force a preexisting marijuana establishment to relocate by opening a new location within 1,000 feet of the business.
• Prohibit any local or state law, including zoning laws, from being applied to prohibit the development or operation of marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction facilities, retail marijuana stores, and medical marijuana dispensaries unless the area is zoned exclusively residential as of January 1, 2015 or as of the date that an application for a license is first filed for a marijuana establishment.
• Create a special tax rate limited to15% on gross revenue of each marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction facility and marijuana product manufacturing facility and a special tax rate limited to 5% on gross revenue of each retail marijuana store. Revenues from the tax go to a municipal and township government fund, a strong county fund, and the marijuana control commission fund.
• Create a marijuana incubator in Cuyahoga County to promote growth and development of the marijuana industry and locate marijuana testing facilities near colleges and universities in Athens, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Mahoning, Scioto and Wood Counties, at a minimum.
• Limit the ability of the legislature and local governments from regulating the manufacture, sales, distribution and use of marijuana and marijuana products. Create a new state government agency called the marijuana control commission (with limited authority) to regulate the industry, comprised of seven Ohio residents appointed by the Governor, including a physician, a law enforcement officer, an administrative law attorney, a patient advocate, a resident experienced in owning, developing, managing and operating businesses, a resident with experience in the legal marijuana industry, and a member of the public.
SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?
YES
NO
