Headlines: Former Democrat lawmakers join Issue 1 opposition

by Joe D. "Buck" Ruth

6:00am Thursday, September 12, 2024

A pair of Democrats and former lawmakers, one from Ohio and one from Michigan, on Sept. 9 introduced their organization, Black Equity and Redistricting Fund, and openly opposed state Issue 1 on the fall ballot.

Issue 1 is billed by its misleading proponents as a way to eliminate gerrymandering of legislative district maps in Ohio. Yet what the constitutional amendment would actually do is cause a level of gerrymandering that could obliterate our gun rights. (Read our thorough explanation about why it would be bad for Ohio's Second Amendment supporters.)

According to Gongwer News Service, former Ohio Rep. John Barnes of Cleveland, who had alleged racism in a 2014 defamation lawsuit against the Ohio Democratic Party, called Issue 1 "ideological vigilantism."

Barnes said Issue 1 would lead to the end of accountability for congressional and legislative mapmakers in Ohio.

"The system that we have in place is appropriate because it's fair," he is quoted in the Gongwer article. "It's reflective of one thing — one person, one vote."

Barnes is further quoted by WOSU Public Media:

“This is a scheme, a scheme that is designed to undermine democracy under the guise of reform, of gerrymandering. ...

"No one, hardly anyone that I know believes in gerrymandering. But we also don't believe in a unilateral shift, a process that's going to take the opportunity away from people," Barnes said. “This is likened to ideological vigilantism. It's a process of people who are trying to hijack the Ohio system, the Ohio voter system, for an obvious outcome that is inconsistent with democracy."

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a former Michigan representative, said the proposed Ohio Citizen Redistricting Commission would be "worse than ours in Michigan," referring to the state's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. She also said it would take away the ability to sue.

"I was appalled to learn that Issue 1 won't even afford the people an opportunity for due process," she is quoted in the Gongwer article. "How do you enshrine in the Constitution legislation that will take away a citizen's voice and then say it's citizens, not politicians? That's foolishness. Ray Charles could see that."

Per the Gongwer article:

Gay-Dagnogo blamed Michigan's redistricting commission, which that state's voters approved via constitutional amendment in 2018, for the current lack of Black Democrats in Michigan's congressional delegation. She predicted similar results for Ohio if Issue 1 is approved.

"Those three Black congressional seats that you so enjoy here?" she said. "You won't have them."

Gay-Dagnogo said citizen-led redistricting panels are hamstrung by a lack of knowledge of the mapmaking process, as well as constitutional and legislative requirements.

"You know what you end up with? A shitshow," she said. "Because that's what we ended up with in Michigan."

Another Democrat and former lawmaker from Columbus weighed in on the inexperience of an appointed commission of mapmakers.

Per the WOSU article:

Former representative Bernadine Kennedy-Kent said appointing political novices to lead the map-drawing process will lead to disaster.

"If you just put people in there, just put people in there who don't have the knowledge, who are not accountable, then you really do take away the voters rights," Kennedy-Kent said. ...

That was echoed by a former state lawmaker from Michigan who was invited to speak about that state's similar redistricting overhaul, passed by voters in 2016.

"I have to go on record and say initially, I supported blindly," said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, now a member of the Detroit School Board. "And so I know that many of the members here in Ohio have probably without any thought said, 'well, these are our allies. These are people that we typically run with. These are people that typically get to our fundraisers. So sure, I'll come on board and support it.' But what they don't realize is the outcome will mean diminished black leadership. And that's where we draw the line."

Don't be fooled by the propaganda that Issue 1 supporters are pushing. It is NOT about fairness and eliminating gerrymandering. It IS about establishing gerrymandering and ensuring the election of progressive candidates — which is why Issue 1 has the endorsements of so many progressive organizations.

Your gun rights are on the ballot this fall. Please vote NO on Issue 1!