I’m not quite sure how this happened- the Board of Elections told me only 4 had filed- and I was leaving at just before 4- and there was only one candidate filing- and he reportedly didn’t have enough signatures.
If you don’t remember Larry- I have a video from the last Mayoral campaign that’s indicative of his style: http://esrati.com/when-i-take-over-this-city-larry-e-ealey-for-mayor/1806/ [2] It begins with “When I take over this city…”
End UPDATE
I turned in my signatures at 3:45 today. 544 hard-earned signatures, knocking on probably 6x that many doors- going by the voter registration lists.
I had some help as well- more than I’ve asked for in the past. Unfortunately- a few people didn’t come through- and I don’t have the “insurance buffer” I would have liked. My fault for not working harder, longer.
Of course, the incumbents, Matt Joseph and Dean Lovelace will be on the ballot. Incumbents never face the same scrutiny of their petitions- despite often being circulated on city property, to city employees on the job, by other politicians and party people who draw a paycheck from the taxpayers.
I’ve protested these infractions before to deaf ears.
William Pace has been circulating petitions since last fall- and is on the ballot.
My neighbor, Mark Manovich, a lawyer with Robbins and Myers, turned in over 600- including about 120 that I and my girlfriend helped collect.
If all clear the process around Monday at noon- we have a primary- a stupid waste of money that actually reduces the voters’ choices at election time.
The petition process is odd- 500 signatures are required of Dayton registered voters- and the petition circulator must sign the petition as complete in front of a notary public, before turn-in. There is no verification process of the actual signers that the circulator can undertake, and asking people to see ID would be awkward. Note- the petition asks for “NAME” on the petition- not “SIGNATURE” and the Board of Elections throws names out that don’t have “legal signatures”- yet- when voters go to vote- they have you sign- looking directly at a printout of a “legal signature” along with presenting ID, which one would say makes it too easy to forge a signature given an example.
And while the petition is checked for proper filling out of all blanks – the “Ward” and “PCT” isn’t required to be filled out- probably because EVERYONE would fail the process. Either the petition is valid- and its requirements must be met- or it’s not- there shouldn’t be any ambiguity.
Considering 13 people picked up petitions and only 5 turned in- the process seems to be counter-productive at getting candidates to run.
According to the 2011 Pickup List. here are the possible future candidates
Christopher Newton Connder
Jeffrey M. Dalton
Larry E. Ealy
David Esrati
Robert D. Jones
Matthew F. Joseph
Daniel Kennedy
Timothy C. O’Bryant
William J. Pace
Willie Walker
Tojuan Williams-Minusnot on the list:
Mark Manovich
Dean Lovelace
Considering it’s been years since we had a primary- why hasn’t the commission suggested revisions in the two rounds of charter changes that have made it on the ballot?
The Charter [3] also has a guarantee that no one shall ever be recalled- no matter how bad their performance.
Such petition for the recall of any or all of the Mayor and the Commissioners or the City Manager shall be signed by at least 25 percent of the total number of registered voters in the municipality.
(Amendment adopted by voters 11-5-68)
Considering our voter rolls hold people for up to ten years after not voting- we have over 100,000 voters listed- despite rarely getting more than 30,000 at the ballot box. Other municipalities require a percentage of voters of the turnout from the last general election- a much more reasonable number.
The first legislation I’d introduce if elected would be to change the system of nomination and election. If it only takes 50 signatures to run for U.S. Congress- having the bar at 500 for Dayton City Commission is ludicrous. Note- a candidate in Moraine was ruled off the ballot after turning in 49 valid signatures.
We’d also ditch the requirement for a notary. And ditch the primary- and the separate elections for mayor and commissioners. I’d also move them to the same cycle as the federal government to reduce costs of elections.
To choose candidates- we’d move to Instant Runoff ballots [4] with a ranking system. The mayor would be chosen every two years by being the candidate who gets the most votes. The recall would be triggered with only 5% of the last general election’s turnout- and to put an issue on the ballot would only require 1% of the last general election’s turnout.
Last but not least, I’d make it illegal to raise funds for local elections and instead- send a mailing to every voting household giving equal space to each candidate. There is no reason to spend $110K or more on a position that is part-time and pays $45K a year (too much).
I’d also eliminate pension benefits for elected part-time officials, as well as health care. It is unfair for politicians to get better pay and benefits for a part-time position than other city part-time employees. That also means no city car, parking pass, cell phone or laptop- they are “part-time” employees with a staff that’s too big already.
However- for any of this to happen- my signatures need to be approved. We’ll know on Monday.
Thanks to all of you answered the door. I know it was late, dark, cold, wet- and a pain in the rear.
Hopefully- we can stop this nonsense next January.
David: It goes with out saying I would have been out there getting names, signatures, or autographs, or what ever they want to call it. I assure you I did not slip and fall; breaking two ribs to get out of pounding the streets for you. If there is anything else that I can offer you in your pursuit of becoming a City Commissioner, feel free to ask, after another week of healing. Susie, the woman that makes all of my dreams come true, said count her in as well.
i AM CONFUSED…YES, TRULY. How can two people be on the ballot if the list of candidates who pulled petitions doesn’t show their names? And I have heard that several other people actually have petitions out. But their names are not on your list.
Also, again, I don’t know the process but was today Mar. 4 the deadline? Where did I get the idea that the petitions didn’t need to be in until the end of March?
Would you please clarify?
Needless to say I was never planning on running for commission…… ;)
@Jenet-
You don’t have to “pull petitions” at the BOE- you can have someone else do it- or you can have a copy of the form from running before. The main reason they want you to pull from them is so they can tell what’s going on and start the party plotting early.
The petition deadline is 60 days before the primary date- which won’t happen if we don’t have more than 4 candidates.
The forms are filled out differently by different candidates- and accepted if they are from party endorsed candidates- and questioned from others.
The whole concept of a nominating committee is silly too- they are only good if the candidate dies before the primary date… strange process.
David, I’m sorry Wanda and I didn’t get over to sign your petition, they’ve had me up in Canada so much I deserve to be offered dual-citizenship. I doubt contacting my congressman to complain about it is pointless, maybe my member of parliament can help.
Glad to see they still love you at the DDN, David. Here’s what the DDN website says this morning….
Notice how they say mention something other than occupation for everyone but you? And they refer to you as a “blogger” like that’s something uncommon? And pat Pace on the back for attending nearly every Commission meeting since GL took office? Don’t you still go to Commission meetings? I really think you need to go to the new Cox building to kiss and make up with the DDN folks! LOL!!
Good luck getting on the ballot this year, David!!
DDN is disgusting, what a disservice they do for the entire city of Dayton. DPS is filled with the functionally illiterate “diversity” crowd that sets a horrible example for our kids. Dean Lovelace just wants to lower the bar even lower to hire even less qualified “diversity” candidates to ruin our police and fire even more. When will the city wake up to this brand of “libtard” hate and racism that hurts everyone in this city.
…..that was a pretty straightforward article by DDN writer Lucas Sullivan, dear David. Surprisingly non-snarky. No trace of the word “gadlfy.” Betcha’ Sullivan didn’t get the memo, and his posterior probably bears teeth-marks. If William Pace gets the nod, perhaps he’ll sing Verdi’s “La Donna Mobile” at his swearing in. That’s a real classically trained voice……..