Issue 4 Supporter VideoAn Open Letter To Cincinnati ResidentsIf you desire continued progress in our great city, you should vote Yes on Issue 4 for Cincinnati Council member 4 year terms.
This important change will save taxpayer money and triple the productivity of elected leaders, so they can focus on long-term strategic goals for our community. The cost for a citywide election is approximately $250,000, so eliminating one two year election saves a quarter million dollars every four years. If you detest endless election year campaign commercials, piles of direct mail stuffing your mailbox and phone calls from candidates asking for donations…you’ll be happy to know that the change to 4 year terms will also reduce campaign clutter by half. The biggest benefit for citizens, however, will be that with 4 years, council members will be able to concentrate on civic issues, take a longer view and resolve important complex matters they typically avoid now because of the short election cycle. Unfortunately, running for office every two years keeps politicians focused on raising money and getting elected. This change will also promote teamwork. The nine council members we elect in 2013, along with a new Mayor, will realize that they will have a four year responsibility to provide our citizens with positive civic results. The change does not benefit one party over another. However, it will even the playing field for nontraditional candidates like women and minorities, who typically have a more difficult time raising large amounts of campaign funds. The Cincinnati Enquirer, Business Courier and City Beat editorial staffs have written in support of four year council terms and many civic groups, such as the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, have endorsed it. Finally, you know the old Mark Twain saying about Cincinnati – that it is ten years behind the rest of the world…well it’s true in this case. Nationwide, four year terms for city leaders is a “best practice.” Leaders serve four year terms in every major city in Ohio, including Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. The cities Cincinnati benchmarks against to attract jobs, top talent and new business also have leaders serving four year terms, including Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Denver, Atlanta, Louisville and Pittsburgh. So, please join us in this important cause to bring Cincinnati into the 21st century. We are residents, business owners and civic and religious leaders who believe this non-partisan proposal will considerably improve our local government. Frankly, it’s Common Sense. |
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Longer terms, better council, Otto Budig, Enquirer, 11/2/2012
For better city government, vote yes on Issue 4, Enquirer, 11/1/2012 (Endorsement) Issue 4 - City Council Terms, Fox 19, 11/1/2012 CityBeat: Yes on Issue 4, CityBeat, 10/31/2012 (Endorsement) Supporters of Cincinnati Issue 4 hold press event, WVXU, 10/30/2012 Issue 4 debate continues, Fox 19, 10/30/2012 UC Professor Terry Grundy on Issue 4, UrbanCincy.com, 10/26/2012 Debate continues over Issue 4, Fox 19, 10/15/2012 Term lengths for city council up for debate, WLWT, 10/15/2012 Issue 4, The Cincinnati Herald, 10/13/2012 Newsmakers (Local 12), 9/30/2012 Debate continues on City Council term limits, Fox 19, 9/30/2012 Four year terms – better Cincinnati City Council, Business Courier, 9/28/2012 (Endorsement) Strange splits on city council 4-year term Enquirer, 9/22/2012 Cincinnati Voters to Decide on Four-Year Terms CityBeat, 8/8/2012 Four-year council terms would be a step forward Enquirer, 8/2/2012 City will vote on doubling council terms Enquirer, 8/2/2012 Council Considering Options For Four-Year Terms Enquirer, 3/7/2012 Change to four-year terms overdue Enquirer, 2/7/2012 Council, put nitpicking aside, get 4-year terms on ballot Enquirer, 9/8/2011 Council term change should go to voters Business Courier, 8/19/2011 Longer council terms advance Enquirer, 8/16/2011 Council term length debated Enquirer, 8/7/2011 Downloads |
Citizens for Common Sense
Citizens for Common Sense is a diverse group
of community leaders, citizens, business and religious leaders. We want to save taxpayer dollars and triple the productivity of city council with a change to 4 year terms. Vote Yes on Issue 4 for 4 Year Terms.
