BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- The group fighting to defeat Issue 10 on Nov. 3 has raised about nine times more in campaign money than its opponent.
According to campaign financial reports filed Thursday, Citizens for All of Mason has raised $19,500 in its bid to defeat Issue 10. That measure, known as the School Roads Safety Ordinance, would halt the city's $7 million plan to widen Tylersville, Stitt and Western Row roads to four lanes. It also would restrict the city's ability to widen any road bordering within three-quarters of a mile of school property.
Concerned Citizens of Mason, the group that launched a petition drive to land the measure on the ballot, has raised $2,214 in its bid to win voters' support.
"If we wanted to, we could have raised $100,000 to fight this issue, but we quit accepting donations after the second week of our campaign," said Carl Boltz, treasurer of Citizens for All of Mason. "The fact that they were able to raise so little doesn't surprise me."
The campaign reports reveal that in slightly more than two months of campaigning, Citizens for All of Mason had spent $11,685, while Concerned Citizens had spent $575.
"The fact that they are outspending us doesn't come as a surprise, but it is a concern," said Bill Ehrstine, president of Concerned Citizens. "We are being outspent because they are receiving a number of contributions from big businesses, while we are relying on individuals to help us with our cause."
Heading into the last week of campaigning, Concerned Citizens has $1,638 left to spend, while Citizens for all of Mason has roughly $8,000. But leaders of Concerned Citizens said they are not discouraged. "We have a lot of people out there knocking on doors and working to support this, which we hope will offset the imbalance of money," Mr. Ehrstine said. "There have been a lot of campaigns that have been successful without relying on money alone."
Obtaining donations has not been a problem for Concerned Citizens, which recorded more than 90 individual donors, according to the campaign finance report. The average amount of each donation was $25 to $30.
"People are clearly willing to give to us; it's just they don't have much to give," Mr. Ehrstine said. "Receiving a $1,000 donation from a business is a far cry from taking a $10 check from somebody." Citizens for All of Mason's finance report shows the group had a number of resident donors, but received huge financial contributions from area businesses.
Among some of the biggest donors: the Cintas Corp. of Mason, $3,500; Al Neyer Construction of Cincinnati, $3,500; Ashley Ward Inc. of Mason, $1,500; and Springlawn Inc. of Glendale, $1,500. There were six other corporate donors who contributed $1,000. "This just confirms what I've believed all along, that Issue 10 is being (challenged) by business interests outside the city," Mr. Ehrstine said. "And their agenda is obvious; they want the wider road to accommodate their businesses."
Mr. Boltz said businesses have as much as residents -- if not more -- invested in the future of Issue 10.
"The impact of this ordinance affects residents, but it is magnified for businesses who have millions of dollars invested in this community," he said. "They have a significant investment in the continued success of Mason."
