Tuesday, May 04, 1999
Mayor issue resolved today
Voters also to weigh school issues, levies
BY HOWARD WILKINSON and DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If Tristate voters don't go to the polls today, they won't be able to blame the weather.
Mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s will be the order of the day.
At the top of the list in Hamilton County are a Cincinnati charter amendment, Issue 4, that would give the city direct election of its mayor, and a police communications levy, Issue 3, that voters throughout the county will decide.
Voters in other Tristate communities will decide a children's services levy (Butler County), nine school questions and a handful of local issues.
Bruce Taylor, director of Hamilton County Board of Elections, would not predict how many of the county's 572,286 registered voters will go to the polls.
“I can't even guess, because there's nothing to compare this to,” Mr. Taylor said.
Based on recent primary elections in odd-numbered years, a turnout of 25 percent to 30 percent would be typical.
In addition to establishing direct election of Cincinnati's mayor, Issue 4 would also give the mayor:
• Veto power over council legislation, subject to override.
• Power to appoint council committee chairs.
• Power to initiate hiring and firing of the city manager, with consent of council.
Coming Together for Cincinnati, the pro-Issue 4 campaign committee, says a stronger mayor would give the city the political leadership and accountability it lacks.
Citizens Against Issue 4, headed by Democratic Councilman Tyrone Yates, has argued that the plan puts too much power in the hands of one elected official.
While Cincinnati voters are deciding the future form of city government, voters throughout Hamilton County will decide if they want to tax themselves to the tune of $63.7 million over four years to pay for a new emergency communication system.
The 1.06-mill special levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $31 per year.
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Mayor issue resolved today
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