Husted Talks Ballot Issues

With the November election right around the corner, Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, made an appearance in Newark Tuesday to talk about some of the key issues on the ballot.

Husted spoke at the Newark Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, in an effort to educate the community on some of the issues Ohio faces this November, while encouraging Ohioans to get out and vote. Husted said the public’s decision in this crucial election will ultimately impact the state.

“Issue one ends gerrymandering, right now we gerrymander legislative districts in a very partisan way, this would end the current system, create a new one that allows for, or requires bipartisan agreement on how we draw these districts,” Husted said. “Issue two is a Constitutional Amendment put forth by the General Assembly that would prevent the creation of private sector monopolies in the Ohio Constitution.”

Issue three, the legalization of marijuana is the most notable issue on the ballot, that Husted said would create a monopoly in Ohio.

“Issue three grants a monopoly for the purposes of producing and selling recreational and medicinal marijuana in Ohio, a group of 10 investors that call themselves ResponsibleOhio, created designated sites across the state of Ohio, which they own where this amendment would legalize marijuana, but give them exclusive right to grow it on the property that they own,” Husted said.

If issue two banning monopolies were to pass, Husted said it would have no effect on the four existing casinos in Ohio.