The following Guest Column was written by Sulu Kelley III
Third-party candidates are noted for not winning elections. Why, then, have I decided to run for Marion City Council as a Libertarian?
Because whatever problems the city government has, they have developed through the mismanagement by members of the two legacy parties. A key part of this mismanagement has been the flagrant and long-running disregard of state laws governing how Marion City Council may pass laws.
The minutes of City Council, which may be found at marionohio.org, will show that City Council commonly passes laws as emergencies, which do not require the standard three public readings, and that many laws without emergency clauses have still been passed without the required readings.
These practices are contrary to Ohio Revised Code 705.15, which stipulates that measures must have three public readings, unless an emergency clause is present, and ORC 731.30, which clearly states that emergency clauses are appropriate only when “necessary to the immediate preservation of the public peace, safety, or health.” These references may be looked up at codes.ohio.gov.
The Emergency Clause is used frequently by City Council. At least one current member of City Council has acknowledged in the minutes from July 10, 2000, that this is done so as to not visit a matter on three separate days.
Of course, there are times when the emergency option is appropriate and lawful, but to use these extraordinary measures as the common method of doing business is to exceed the authority which has been delegated to the Marion City Council, and to show disrespect for all Marion residents.
Transparency, openness, and the need for public comment are vital—and legally mandated—parts of the legislative process at any level of government. If our elected officials cannot support and abide by those principles, it is clearly time for a change.
That—and the desire to better our city by protecting the freedoms of all of our citizens, families, and businesses—is why I am your Libertarian candidate for Marion City Council.
I welcome your comments, questions, and support. You can follow my campaign at “Committee to Elect Sulu Kelley III” on Facebook.
Sincerely,
Sulu Kelley III
About Guest Columnist
