Recently, Shelby (Ohio) City Council took up the matter of an ordinance change (02-2022) required under City law to adjust ward boundaries within Shelby. This change is required due to a change in the 2020 census data. Briefly, the law states each council ward, “…contain as nearly as practical an equal number of inhabitants.”
For context, here is the breakdown of the current inhabitants by ward (differences shown are overall difference):
Here’s what the proposed new Ordinance looks like:
A significant change and much more equitable and practical solution for the citizens in each ward. Here’s how the vote went after the first reading:
A second reading is scheduled during the January 18, 2022 City Council meeting.
The following excerpts are taken from the Mansfield News Journal (source below):
“Martin, who represents the city's largest ward, said there may be an "easy peasy" way to correct the size of wards three and four, but he preferred council members take a look at individual households through the city and see which ones may be the best fit for each ward.” "What's wrong with easy peasy?" Gates asked him.” "Well, namely, it would put me into your ward," Martin answered.” "Not necessarily," Gates said.”
“Most of the council members liked the idea, including Roub, who said: "We could finish this in two minutes if we could come to an agreement on this." “Martin, though, was not in favor of the idea, which would take his ward from being the largest and make it the smallest.”
The article has a lot of helpful details and we encourage you to read it in full.
Let’s look at what a ward is and why they are set up:
“In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town for administrative and representative purposes, especially for purposes of an election; an electoral district of a city council or town board, created for the purpose of providing more direct representation, from which a single councilman is elected.”
So, from the definition of ward and Councilman Martin’s response, he is against “providing more direct representation.” He is also against the law requiring each Ward, “…contain as nearly as practical an equal number of inhabitants.” In fact, his only reason for being against it was “…would take his ward from being the largest and make it the smallest.”
To be clear, Ward 4 which Councilman Martin represents would go from having 270 more residents than the next closest ward to having just 11 fewer than the next smallest ward. Instead of believing in equal representation democracy, Mr. Martin is more concerned with the bragging rights of having the “largest” ward.
This is what Councilman Martin wants the wards of Shelby to look like:
Printed in March 1812 … The caricature satirizes the bizarre shape of the district as a dragon-like "monster", and Federalist newspaper editors and others at the time likened it to a salamander. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering
This is what happens when dishonest politicians hold public office. Mr. Martin stated, “he preferred council members take a look at individual households through the city and see which ones may be the best fit for each ward.” Mr. Martin doesn’t want an “easy peasy” way to correct the ward 3 and 4 sizes; he wants gerrymandering.
Here’s how we know. He stated he, “preferred council members take a look at individual households through the city and see which ones may be the best fit for each ward.” He wants to spend Council’s time and Shelby’s money “taking a look at individual households in Shelby to see which ones may be the best fit for each ward.”
That’s not how Council Wards work!
“More direct representation”, which is why council wards are set up, would not be the case if Nathan “look(ed) at individual households through the city” and cherry pick which ones he wanted in his ward. He represents the 4th Ward – they don’t represent him. Councilman Martin’s solution is very simple and clear – he wants to gerrymander Shelby wards to retain his power, not represent the citizens of Shelby. The solution presented at the recent Council meeting was simple, fair and straightforward. But Nathan didn’t like it.
When a politician doesn’t get their way and are unwilling to compromise, they want to carve up election districts to suit their selfish wants. Not only do his words confirm this, his “nay” vote verifies it. This is the classic, “I’m going to pick my ball up and go home” strategy.
This is a local example of why so many citizens are fed up and disgusted with politicians. Even on the local level, some politician’s think the rules don’t apply to them and when things don’t go their way, they change the rules. We citizens – their constituents – don’t get that luxury; we get the chaos and mess they create.
Councilman Martin likes to complain about his and other people’s rights and how strongly he believes in the Constitution. Yet, here he is ignorant of Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States which states:
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made … and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.”
In other words, the census is required by the Constitution and law every ten years to determine representation of a given area based on population. Shouldn’t a history major (Councilman Martin) and an elected official (Councilman Martin) know and understand this constitutional clause?
Doesn’t Shelby have other, more pressing issues to deal with besides Councilman Martin’s embarrassing foot-dragging just to retain power? As Councilman Roub stated, "We could finish this in two minutes if we could come to an agreement on this." Two minutes!
Councilman Martin is embarrassing himself and the citizens of Shelby. At the next readings of the proposed Ordinance, Councilman Martin needs to put his constituents first and vote “yea” to approve the change. Otherwise he gives us, his constituents, another reason to provide him Term Limits at the next election.
Check out our blog at https://robertbobrobertsjr.wixsite.com/website where you can read the following articles:
Welcome to our Site
Let’s Get to Know Nathan Martin – Part One
Carpetbagger? Welfare Recipient? Uncommitted? Who is Nathan Martin?
Nathan the Unprincipled Swindler and Con Artist
Nathan Martin: A short memory, January 6, 2021 and more untruthfulness
Nathan Martin doesn’t respect the Constitution, the Law, Democracy or you. He’s only out for himself.
As always, if we are wrong, mistaken, lack the correct facts or anything else that gets in the way of providing verifiable facts and honesty, please let us know and we will fix it right away.
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