Elections commission rejects Sabatino's allegations
Thursday, May 3, 2007
By SEAN CASEY
ThisWeek Staff Writer
The Ohio Elections Commission Thursday dismissed a complaint filed by Pickerington City Councilman Michael Sabatino over campaign literature regarding a proposed charter amendment.
In a unanimous decision, a four-member subcommittee found no probable cause to proceed with a full hearing on Sabatino's allegations that a flier distributed by the group Citizens for Lower Taxes contained false statements.
Sabatino submitted his complaint last week because of objections to the flier's opening statement, which reads, ''Here's why the majority of council members and other community leaders are urging you to Vote NO on 9.''
He said this assertion is wrong because he and two other members of the seven-member city council helped circulate a petition to put Issue 9, the proposed charter amendment, on the ballot. If passed by voters Tuesday, it would prohibit Pickerington City Council from waiving the city's rights to annex land and conform municipal boundaries.
A fourth council member, Cristie Hammond, told reporters she had no position on the matter.
''I'm sort of on the fence about it,'' Hammond said last week. ''I can see pros and cons either way, and I just couldn't whip up any enthusiasm either way on that.''
Furthermore, a pair of motions, one declaring council recommends voters adopt the issue and one declaring council recommends voters reject it, did appear on the agenda for council's March 20 meeting, but neither made it to the floor for an official vote.
These facts run counter to the flier's opening statement, Sabatino said.
However, Councilman Jeff Fix, who authored the flier in question and represented the Citizens for Lower Taxes group at Thursday's hearing, told the panel he had showed the flier to fellow council members Hammond, Heidi Riggs and Keith Smith before distributing it, and each signed off on it.
In testimony Thursday, Hammond confirmed this account to the panel.
Hammond's statements moved panel member William L. Ogg to ask Fix, ''This is a contest between council members?''
''It certainly seem that way, sir,'' Fix replied.
Fix and Hammond also told the elections commission panel that the council majority referred to in the flier was comprised of the same members who had adopted a joint economic development agreement in January. Council's 4-3 vote to approve that measure is the impetus for the initiative.
After very minimal discussion, the panel moved for dismissal.
After the hearing, when asked about the seemingly contradictory statements made to the elections commission and the press, Hammond responded, ''If you ask me, I'm voting against it, but I'm not personally involved in groups campaigning for or against it.''
Fix added that Sabatino never contacted Hammond to learn of her position on the matter and he should have before filing his complaint.
''It just goes to show that this is just a huge waste of everyone's time,'' Fix said.
''If you make a statement to a reporter, I would think it has some relevance to how you feel about something,'' Sabatino countered. ''You have one statement made to the press and another made under testimony.''
Fix said distribution of the flier ceased after he learned about the complaint. Following the panel's ruling, however, he said it may resume.
scasey@thisweeknews.com
Thursday, May 3, 2007
By SEAN CASEY
ThisWeek Staff Writer
The Ohio Elections Commission Thursday dismissed a complaint filed by Pickerington City Councilman Michael Sabatino over campaign literature regarding a proposed charter amendment.
In a unanimous decision, a four-member subcommittee found no probable cause to proceed with a full hearing on Sabatino's allegations that a flier distributed by the group Citizens for Lower Taxes contained false statements.
Sabatino submitted his complaint last week because of objections to the flier's opening statement, which reads, ''Here's why the majority of council members and other community leaders are urging you to Vote NO on 9.''
He said this assertion is wrong because he and two other members of the seven-member city council helped circulate a petition to put Issue 9, the proposed charter amendment, on the ballot. If passed by voters Tuesday, it would prohibit Pickerington City Council from waiving the city's rights to annex land and conform municipal boundaries.
A fourth council member, Cristie Hammond, told reporters she had no position on the matter.
''I'm sort of on the fence about it,'' Hammond said last week. ''I can see pros and cons either way, and I just couldn't whip up any enthusiasm either way on that.''
Furthermore, a pair of motions, one declaring council recommends voters adopt the issue and one declaring council recommends voters reject it, did appear on the agenda for council's March 20 meeting, but neither made it to the floor for an official vote.
These facts run counter to the flier's opening statement, Sabatino said.
However, Councilman Jeff Fix, who authored the flier in question and represented the Citizens for Lower Taxes group at Thursday's hearing, told the panel he had showed the flier to fellow council members Hammond, Heidi Riggs and Keith Smith before distributing it, and each signed off on it.
In testimony Thursday, Hammond confirmed this account to the panel.
Hammond's statements moved panel member William L. Ogg to ask Fix, ''This is a contest between council members?''
''It certainly seem that way, sir,'' Fix replied.
Fix and Hammond also told the elections commission panel that the council majority referred to in the flier was comprised of the same members who had adopted a joint economic development agreement in January. Council's 4-3 vote to approve that measure is the impetus for the initiative.
After very minimal discussion, the panel moved for dismissal.
After the hearing, when asked about the seemingly contradictory statements made to the elections commission and the press, Hammond responded, ''If you ask me, I'm voting against it, but I'm not personally involved in groups campaigning for or against it.''
Fix added that Sabatino never contacted Hammond to learn of her position on the matter and he should have before filing his complaint.
''It just goes to show that this is just a huge waste of everyone's time,'' Fix said.
''If you make a statement to a reporter, I would think it has some relevance to how you feel about something,'' Sabatino countered. ''You have one statement made to the press and another made under testimony.''
Fix said distribution of the flier ceased after he learned about the complaint. Following the panel's ruling, however, he said it may resume.
scasey@thisweeknews.com
