Voters in Oberlin and across Ohio went to the polls last Tuesday to vote in a number of elections and referendums. Over 95 percent of the votes in Ohio are counted, according to The New York Times, but the results are still unofficial as some absentee ballots have still not been received.
Issue 1, which will add an amendment to the state constitution protecting the right to abortion, received 56.6 percent of the vote. Issue 2, which will permit the regulated sale and taxation of marijuana, received 57.0 percent of the vote. Both of these ballot measures were also supported by the majority of Lorain County voters. Issue 1 received 62 percent of the vote in Lorain County, while Issue 2 received 59 percent of the vote. Both Issue 1 and 2 will go into effect Dec. 7, 30 days after the election.
In Lorain County, Issue 20, which proposed expanding the County Commission from three at-large to seven commissioners each representing one county district, failed with a large majority voting No. Issue 20 faced opposition from local unions and the Lorain County Democratic Party, which alleged that it would enable gerrymandering and interfere with the role of county-wide elected officials. Voters also approved two tax levys. Issue 21, which approved an additional tax benefiting the Lorain County 911 operation system, passed by a slim margin, and Issue 23, which renewed a tax to fund the maintenance and development of Lorain County parks, passed by a large margin. A third levy, Issue 22, failed with a slim majority of voters choosing No. If it had passed, Issue 22 would have implemented an additional tax funding the Lorain County Crime Lab and Coroner.
Oberlin City Council elections were also held. Councilmembers Eboni Johnson, OC ’97; Michael McFarlin; Ray English; and Kristin Peterson, OC ’72, all won reelection. Libni López; Jessa New OC ’01; and Joe Waltzer, OC ’98, will join them on Council. Incumbent councilmembers Bryan Burgess and Elizabeth Meadows lost reelection. Joseph Peek and Frieda Fuchs also lost. Kendall Stanley and Janet Garrett won seats on the Oberlin School District Board of Education. Garrett ran as a write-in candidate.
