Saturday, September 13, 2008

Hey, Activists!  Seats Open on Cincinnati Election Commission!

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

In a recent letter issued from the Cincinnati Solicitor’s Office, it appears the City has cracked open both the definition of a political party and what it takes to sit on the Cincinnati Election Commission (CEC).  Earlier this year, I filed a complaint with the CEC, indicating that the word “organization” had no legal definition in Cincinnati’s Charter.  The fact suggested any “organization” that had endorsed a candidate receiving five percent of the vote qualified as a “political party” in the City of Cincinnati (which would mean that an “organization” could create a political party by just endorsing a likely winner, thereby increasing their fundraising limits next cycle—think the Lindner Party, for an example of potential abuse).  In trying to sidestep this potentially cumbersome situation, the City of Cincinnati issued a preliminary opinion on my complaint which may have unwittingly outlined membership in the CEC as now open to several organizations who do not even know they qualify as a “political party.”

In other words, any organization who endorsed a winning candidate may be able to join the CEC.  A cursory examination turns up the following groups which may now qualify as political parties:  AFL-CIO, Firefighters, Sierra Club, FOP, Sentinels, Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, and everybody’s favorite—COAST.

Check out the letter below:

Now that COAST is a political party, one of their members qualifies for a seat on the CEC—based on the language from the letter which states that membership on the CEC shall include one member from each party affiliated with a current member of Council or the Mayor.  So, unless the councilmembers wish to deny their affiliation with these groups that have endorsed them, it looks like a big crack just appeared in this weird system. 

Put another way, unless Chris Monzel wishes to deny his affiliation with COAST, it looks like Christopher Finney now gets a seat on the Cincinnati Elections Commission—should he so desire one.

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says:
13 Sep 2008  at  09:21 am | #

Citizens for the Cincinnati Beacon!  No Bs and you slice through the red tape.

says:
13 Sep 2008  at  12:11 pm | #

Finney supports PR.  Way to go Finney. Take your seat on the CEC!
Citizens Against Joe Deters
Next protest Monday September 14 @ 9am.
In front of Buzz radio station.Joe Deters will appear on the Lincoln Ware show. We will protest peacefully, and ask on camera for his resignation.


Vera Z says:
13 Sep 2008  at  12:53 pm | #

Does the Green Party have a seat on the CEC?  Vera Z

says:
13 Sep 2008  at  03:47 pm | #

To be on the CEC, one must have a current member of council affiliated with the party.  Though the Greens are now recognized as a political party by the City of Cincinnati, they do not get a seat on the CEC.

says:
13 Sep 2008  at  03:47 pm | #

Actually, now that you mention it, why shouldn’t any recognized political party have a seat on the CEC?

Vera Z says:
13 Sep 2008  at  10:32 pm | #

Go for it.  VZ

Freedom Fighters says:
13 Sep 2008  at  11:27 pm | #

.

They should if the Federal Government recognizes them !

They did get at least 5% of the vote last election ?

.

says:
14 Sep 2008  at  07:12 am | #

The Federal Government does not need to recognize a group for them to have “political party” status in the City of Cincinnati.

The Green and Libertarian Parties got 5% last election.

But so did the firefighters, the FOP, the Sentinels, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and CityBeat.  So did The Cincinnati Beacon, for that matter.  All these groups are now political parties, as best I can tell, so long as they desire it.

Dewey says:
14 Sep 2008  at  07:14 am | #

You guys could call yourselves the “Moonbat” party…

says:
26 Sep 2008  at  05:25 am | #

Jason: you use “MA” as a title?  Like “CEO”?  Should high school graduates sign their names with “HSD”?

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