Board of Elections Strikes Down Summers Ballot Hoax

[Brian Essi]

The Cuyahoga Board of Elections acted swiftly to strike down and rewrite bogus ballot question language for the charter amendment issue that Summers/Butler slipped into and ordinance City Council passed just Monday. By Thursday, it was over---and the supporters of the charter amendment never had to lift a finger--the Board of Elections saw through the Summers hoax all on its own.

What a great example of how our government has a system of checks and balances that can get things right.

The Board's action means that Summers lost an initial, but important battle that Summers hoped would distract from his abysmal record as the election season heats up.

But make no mistake about it, Summers has not given up his war against the people of Lakewood and the underserved in our community.

[cameron karslake]

That move was pretty low, even for Summers. He seemed like such a stand up type of guy too. Just goes to show, you can't judge a book by it cover. It's what's inside that counts, and it looks pretty ugly in there. How much lower he will go is anyone's guess.

Kudos to the BOE!

[Michael Deneen]

Yet another Summers scheme backfires.
Pretty much the story of the past nine months.



I love Sideshow Bob, so I greatly appreciate City Hall giving me so many opportunities to post this link.

[Stan Austin]

Sadly, this is starting to feel familiar like the antics of the Lawther/Sinagra/Harbarger era.

[Brian Essi]

Tampering with the ballot box is a felony.

Using the power of public office in a corrupt manner to tamper with the writing of the ballot to achieve one's personal agenda should be a felony too.

[Lori Allen _]

Brian,
I could not agree with you more. I believe that Summers has many friends in the Cuyahoga County Government System. I would not be at all surprised were he to be allowed to tamper with the ballot box!

[marklingm]

Just so it doesn't get lost, Brian Essi provided the following helpful Q&A to Dan Alaimo on the "Council Should Support the Charter Amendment" thread:

I've been out of the loop for a couple of days and return to this forum to find a hailstorm of controversy, and it's more than a bit confusing. Could someone explain it to me simply? When I last saw this discussion, Council had just approved the amendment for the ballot and City Hall was complaining about the wording. Although I found it written in legalese, after the 2nd or 3rd pass I understood it, and didn't see anything objectionable, although I think I understand the objections.
So:
* Who wrote the language in the amendment linked to by Cleveland.com?
* Was this the same as what the petitioners saw?
* Was this the same as what council approved?
* Will this be the same as what will appear on the ballot?
* Did anyone change the wording along the way? If so, what did Summers, Butler, et al, have to do with it?
* If the wording is problematic, can it be fixed by working with the elections board?

For the record: I'm a supporter of SLH and not a troll.

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/posting.php?mode=quote&f=7&p=97311

Dan,

Great questions.

Here are the answers as I know them:

*Who wrote the language in the amendment linked to by Cleveland.com?
Answer: An elections lawyer working with the folks who call themselves the Right to Vote Committee

* Was this the same as what the petitioners saw?
Answer: Yes--the Board of Elections verified the petitions with that language and the signatures.

* Was this the same as what council approved?
Answer: Yes as to the charter amendment language, but No as to the ballot question.

* Will this be the same as what will appear on the ballot?
Answer: Yes as to the charter amendment language, but No as to the ballot question that Council approved. The Board of Elections struck down what Butler and Summers proposed.

* Did anyone change the wording along the way? Yes If so, what did Summers, Butler, et al, have to do with it? They created a bogus ballot question to confuse the public and manufacture what you call a "hailstorm of controversy" and campaign issue to take the focus off of Summers' bad behavior and make SLH look bad."

* If the wording is problematic, can it be fixed by working with the elections board?
Answer: The Board of Elections has already reflected Summers/Butler's language and corrected the language


Here is copy of the Ballot question corrected by the Board of Elections that contains virtually identical language from the charter amendment on the petitions.

Proposed Charter Amendment
City of Lakewood

A majority affirmative vote is required for passage.
Shall the Second Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood be amended to create an automatic referendum, requiring an affirmative vote by a majority vote of the electors of the City of Lakewood at a general or special election for passage, on any ordinance adopted by council that would cause Lakewood Hospital to no longer be a full-time and full-service hospital and medical facility providing, without limitation, inpatient diagnostic, medical, surgical, and psychiatric care for a continuous period longer than twenty-four hours?
Yes
No

Update 9/2/15

I am told that that the Board of Elections has sent this down to the Secretary of State's Office in Columbus for it's approval which in not guaranteed. I am told that Summers and Butler may protest and continue to pursue their language that would give registered voters who do not vote the right to determine the outcome of the vote--which would be, as Summers has said, "DIABOLICAL". If Summers and Butler are successful, it would be the first ballot question of its kind in the history of Ohio elections.

Please note that I was not involved in the creation or promotion of the charter amendment in any except that I did sign a petition when my doctor asked me to. I am NOT a member of SLH although I do support much of what they are fighting for.

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/posting.php?mode=quote&f=7&p=97313