Saying Goodbye to Redistricting Reformer George Voinovich

By Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio

​All over the state, Ohioans are taking time to reflect on the life and legacy of George Voinovich.  A former Cleveland mayor, U.S. Senator and Governor Voinovich is remembered as a selfless public servant.

In 2015, George Voinovich described reform as "long overdue" and joined former Governors Dick Celeste, Ted Strickland and Bob Taft in support of Issue 1 and state legislative redistricting reform. 

In January of this year, Voinovich joined the call for fixing congressional map-making:

 "Last year, Ohio's voters went to the polls and declared that they were tired of state legislative districts being gerrymandered with only politics in mind.  As we wait for the legislature to take up the issue, Ohio's voters can once again take the lead by demanding a fairer process for redistricting Ohio's 16 congressional districts.
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I sincerely believe that one of the major problems confronting Congress is the fact that most districts are not balanced because of gerrymandering and therefore make it difficult for the member to compromise. The simplest way to get Washington moving again is to produce balanced congressional districts that force our elected officials to listen to both sides and compromise.”

All reform efforts are built on the leaders who came before us.  It's time for us to take the lead calling for congressional redistricting reform. Let Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger know that like former Governor and Senator Voinovich you support congressional redistricting reform.

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