House speaker says plan may avoid two primaries in 2012
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After months of partisan wrangling, Ohio Speaker William Batchelder has announced a plan to consolidate Ohio's two primary elections in 2012.
Batchelder said he hopes state lawmakers approve the plan before the end of the 2011 legislative calendar in order to avoid having two primaries.
As previously reported, under the present proposal, Ohio's presidential and U.S. House primaries would be in June, with local races and the U.S. Senate primary in March. The second primary would cost taxpayers $15 million.
Barring a compromise, Ohio's first primary would be March 6 and the second one on June 12.
The two elections were made necessary after protests over the Republican's new map of 16 congressional districts.
Secretary of State Jon Husted has certified that “Ohioans for Fair Districts,” the group seeking a referendum on House Bill 319, has met the initial 1,000-signature requirement needed to begin circulating petitions for the November 2012 ballot.
In a recent column by Ohio Rep. John Carey, R-Wellston, the longtime legislator maintains the "Ohio House was forced to approve House Bill 318, legislation that creates a June primary. This action was precipitated by a referendum launched by the Ohio Democratic Party to put the drawing of U.S. congressional districts on hold.
"What this referendum would mean, however, is that Ohio will be in violation of federal law on Dec. 7, since candidates will not have districts in which to file. In an effort to avoid legal chaos and keep the State of Ohio in compliance with federal law, Speaker Batchelder negotiated diligently with House Democrats to make adjustments to the redistricting map to address targeted concerns.
In an Associated Press report this week, "Members of a coalition of voter groups are working on an amendment to Ohio's constitution to take the map-drawing process out of politicians' hands – something they say would have avoided the quagmire the state is in today."
"I think they've demonstrated here this year they really can't be trusted with the process," said Jim Slagle with the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.
According to the AP, "Lima Republican Rep. Matt Huffman, a top Batchelder lieutenant, said he expects to see a bill to consolidate the primaries 'in the coming days.'"
Batchelder returned to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2007, having previously served in the Ohio House for 30 years. He currently is serving his third consecutive term and was elected by his colleagues to serve as House Speaker during the 129th General Assembly.
A lawyer, Batchelder represents the 69th House District.[[In-content Ad]]
Batchelder said he hopes state lawmakers approve the plan before the end of the 2011 legislative calendar in order to avoid having two primaries.
As previously reported, under the present proposal, Ohio's presidential and U.S. House primaries would be in June, with local races and the U.S. Senate primary in March. The second primary would cost taxpayers $15 million.
Barring a compromise, Ohio's first primary would be March 6 and the second one on June 12.
The two elections were made necessary after protests over the Republican's new map of 16 congressional districts.
Secretary of State Jon Husted has certified that “Ohioans for Fair Districts,” the group seeking a referendum on House Bill 319, has met the initial 1,000-signature requirement needed to begin circulating petitions for the November 2012 ballot.
In a recent column by Ohio Rep. John Carey, R-Wellston, the longtime legislator maintains the "Ohio House was forced to approve House Bill 318, legislation that creates a June primary. This action was precipitated by a referendum launched by the Ohio Democratic Party to put the drawing of U.S. congressional districts on hold.
"What this referendum would mean, however, is that Ohio will be in violation of federal law on Dec. 7, since candidates will not have districts in which to file. In an effort to avoid legal chaos and keep the State of Ohio in compliance with federal law, Speaker Batchelder negotiated diligently with House Democrats to make adjustments to the redistricting map to address targeted concerns.
In an Associated Press report this week, "Members of a coalition of voter groups are working on an amendment to Ohio's constitution to take the map-drawing process out of politicians' hands – something they say would have avoided the quagmire the state is in today."
"I think they've demonstrated here this year they really can't be trusted with the process," said Jim Slagle with the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.
According to the AP, "Lima Republican Rep. Matt Huffman, a top Batchelder lieutenant, said he expects to see a bill to consolidate the primaries 'in the coming days.'"
Batchelder returned to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2007, having previously served in the Ohio House for 30 years. He currently is serving his third consecutive term and was elected by his colleagues to serve as House Speaker during the 129th General Assembly.
A lawyer, Batchelder represents the 69th House District.[[In-content Ad]]