LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Husted’s motives are suspect

12/3/2012

Voters should be suspicious of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s proposal to change the way congressional and legislative districts are redrawn (“Ohio’s election machinery needs an overhaul,” op-ed column, Nov. 25). Blade Editor David Kushma is right on target in his call to reform an election system that is too prone to partisan manipulation.

But The Blade must conduct a deeper analysis before backing a reform that results in essentially the same outcome. In the past election, primarily because of bizarre redrawn boundaries, Republicans held Ohio’s congressional delegation even though more votes were cast statewide for Democratic congressional candidates.

Mr. Husted’s proposed reform still gives the majority party control of redistricting and leaves two minority party members in a weak adversarial role. Simply creating the appearance of a nonpartisan process, while leaving it squarely in the partisan arena, isn’t enough.

Given Mr. Husted’s blatant efforts to restrict access to the ballot box, multiple court challenges, and 11th-hour attempt to confuse provisional vote requirements, adopting his proposal is like inviting the fox to guard the henhouse.

SUSAN MATZ

Homerdale Avenue

 

Husted must think he works for GOP

Secretary Husted did everything he could to make it as difficult as possible to vote in our state.

He considered challenging a federal court order. He is paid by the state of Ohio, but it seems he believes he works for the Ohio Republican Party.

Shame on this partisan bureaucrat. We should be sure to remember Mr. Husted when he runs for re-election in 2014.

HAL SIMON

Maumee

 

Acts of terror to be called such

The killing of four American diplomats in Libya was not the result of an anti-Muslim video created in the United States, and the deaths of 13 military personnel at Fort Hood in 2009 were not a case of workplace violence (“Coverage of killings in Libya angers some readers,” Nov. 4). Why does the Obama Administration refuse to call these acts what they are: acts of terror? How can members of the administration who had anything to do with this inaccurate labeling of events sleep at night?

KEN BOROWICZ

Springfield Township

 

Run Komen event on a Saturday

In response to the Oct. 23 Readers’ Forum letters “Komen event a form of worship” and “Churches should adjust start times”: Cancer survivors in my family take part in the Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure. I support them.

People should not have to choose between this breast-cancer awareness event and church. Perhaps this event and others like it could be held on Saturday. Sunday has been set aside as a day of worship.

AUDREY STEWARD

Amesbury Road