Thursday, February 25, 1999
Strong-mayor plan still one vote shy of making ballot
Group pushing reform not giving in
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Supporters of direct election of the mayor are still one vote shy of the six votes they need on Cincinnati City Council to put the issue on the May primary ballot, but they have not given up hope.
Build Cincinnati, the bipartisan group pushing the charter reform, hoped to pick up the sixth vote needed before Wednesday's council session, and had pinned its hopes on Councilman Paul Booth.
But Mr. Booth said Wednesday he cannot support the plan, leaving Build Cincinnati organizers continuing to scramble.
“We will keep working,” said Build Cincinnati organizer Jeff Berding. “We have time. This is not over yet.”
Five council members — Democratic Mayor Roxanne Qualls; Republicans Charlie Winburn, Phil Heimlich and Jeanette Cissell; and Charterite Jim Tarbell — have signed off on a ballot issue that would create a separate election for Cincinnati's mayor and greatly enhance the mayor's power.
But the city charter requires six votes to place a charter amendment on the ballot.
After Wednesday's council meeting, the five signed a motion circulated by Ms. Qualls calling for special sessions next week at noon Tuesday and 8 a.m. Thursday, in addition to the regular Wednesday council meeting, so that an ordinance for a ballot issue can be given the required three readings in council sessions.
The proposed ballot issue includes a directly elected mayor who would not be a member of council, but who would have veto power over council legislation and the power to appoint the vice mayor and council committee chairs.
Ms. Qualls said supporters of the ballot issue will continue to try to persuade one of the other four council members — Mr. Booth and fellow Democrats Todd Portune, Minette Cooper and Tyrone Yates — to change his or her mind.
Mr. Yates and Ms. Cooper appear to be solidly against the plan. Mr. Portune said he is undecided.
After Wednesday's council meeting, Mr. Booth said he could not support the plan “because it would seem to take too much power away from council.”
Mr. Booth said he is also concerned that the direct-election plan “would make it more difficult for African-Americans to be elected mayor.”
The plan includes a nonpartisan primary in which anyone could run for mayor but only the top two vote-getters would face off in a November general election. In recent elections, African-American voters have made up about 35 percent to 40 percent of those who go to vote.
Mr. Winburn, who like Mr. Booth is an African-American, said he thinks the argument that blacks could not be elected mayor under the proposed system “is just plain wrong.”
“This is a race-neutral plan,” Mr. Winburn said. “I defy anyone to show me any scientific evidence that blacks could not be elected under this plan.”
Mr. Yates introduced his own plan Wednesday that would return the job of picking a mayor to city council itself, as was done before 1987. Since 1987, the mayor has been the top vote-getter in the council field race.
Rename Sabin? His wife hopes no
Dr. Sabin gave his name; he did not sell it
Indiana man arrested in church fires
Fire door saved church, marked suspect
School board vows to fight for Ten Commandments
Youngsters a tad fuzzy on their thou-shalts
Riverfront should be fun, people tell planning group
HAVE AN IDEA?
Convention center expansion has critic
Minister's spouse accuses ex-wife of pushing allegations
Passerby saves sinking motorist
State probe of gas explosion says CG&E violated regulations
Strong-mayor plan still one vote shy of making ballot
Bride, er, moose is wearing white
Bus drivers to return today
Crazy to be Cowboys
Hill gets record haul of Grammys
Grammy winners
Pilarczyk: Faith needs practice to stay vital
Convention center's unsung hero
Abandoned baby's mom faces more mental tests
Berry wrote he found peace
Biblical group shares its plans
Business aims to help schools as area grows
DNA clears dead man in killing
Fire at Scout camp considered suspect
Florence says 'no' to new hotel
Group adopts ship named for MU grad
Husband remains jailed in attack on wife
Lower profile pleases Boehner
Man found with teen faces court
Man who allegedly corrupted girl, 16, in jail
Parents, students back charter school
Portman's red-tape-cutting act OK'd
80-plus railroad track crossers cited
Senator joins push for safety wall
'Thunder' to hit Broadway
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren reduces welfare cost 87%
West Chester concept OK'd
