Suppose the Board of Elections declared your vote for Mount Vernon City Council won’t count this fall. Would you care?
The fact is, as things stand now, your vote on Nov. 4 for City Council won’t matter! We don’t have to wait to know who the winners will be, we already know.
For the second election in a row, there aren’t any contested Council races. There are eight positions, three at-large seats, four ward seats and Council President.
Only one valid petition was submitted for each of seven of those positions. They will be “elected” automatically.
Since no petition was filed for the 3rd ward, that seat will be filled by appointment. Whose interests will these “anointed” individuals represent, and who will they serve and answer to if they don’t need our votes to hold a seat on Council?
For voters, “no choice” means “no voice;” and no voice means we don’t matter!
Is not having a choice really a problem? Won’t our representatives do what we want anyway?
In 2024, despite unprecedented public opposition, City Council followed the Mayor’s lead (he was unopposed in his last “election”) and passed the Edgewood Road Improvement Project; and also rezoned almost 40 acres of land on Vernonview Drive that would have put 226 multi-family rental units in the middle of existing single-family residences.
When voters were given a choice last November, both of those projects were rejected and defeated in public referendums by almost 2 to 1. Clearly, the people didn’t want the projects, but Council approved them.
Why?
Furthermore, City Council, at the Mayor’s urging, expanded both the size and cost of city government by creating a significant number of new department positions. To whose benefit? Has it resulted in improved public services or lower taxes or user fees?
Choice forces government to be responsive to the public.
The problem is, when it comes to City Council this November, the public doesn’t have a choice!
Fortunately, this problem can be fixed. According to the Board of Elections, 71.5% of the City’s registered voters are non-partisan (independents), meaning they do not have a declared affiliation with either political party.
Generally, the Board of Elections classifies registered voters as “non-partisans” (independents) if they have not voted in a political party primary in the prior two years. Candidates affiliated with a political party had to file their petitions in February.
“Non-partisan”/independents, however, regardless of their personal political beliefs or opinions, have until 4:00 p.m. on May 5 to file a petition that only requires 25 signatures to run for City Council on the November ballot, whether in the ward where they live, or, as long as they live in the City, for an at-large seat or for Council President. Consider running.
Contact the Board of Elections 740-393-6716 for additional information.
The need is great, but so is the opportunity. Ask yourself, if not me, who? If not now, when?
You can make a difference!
Bruce Malek
Mount Vernon, Ohio
