On Thursday, Oct. 24, The Athens Messenger published a letter to the editor about Ohio Issue 1 and the confusion surrounding the anti-gerrymandering citizen-initiated amendment.
Imagine my surprise when I read the following in that letter: “(Former Athens NEWS Editor) Terry Smith wrote an op-ed saying ‘vote no’ on Issue 1 to end gerrymandering.”
As someone who fervently supports a YES vote on Issue 1, I was stunned to read my name being fraudulently used in this manner, purportedly advocating against a measure that I support with every cell in my body. I not only never wrote any such letter or op-ed, until now I haven’t written any op-eds for this election cycle (though I should have).
Any confusion over Issue 1 is 100% the fault of Republican leaders in the Ohio Legislature and executive branch (foremost Secretary of State and consummate political hack Frank LaRose) who are running with an Orwellian, Bizarro World interpretation of Issue 1.
They’re arguing that the anti-gerrymandering ballot issue, a measure that would create a bipartisan, non-politician citizen panel to draw congressional and state legislative districts, actually would create gerrymandering, which is the exact opposite of the truth. LaRose was responsible for the ballot language for Issue 1 that voters will see that perpetuates that lie.