Leaders Say Citizens Not Politicians Amendment Needed to Ensure Fair Elections, Healthy Democracy and Improved Competitiveness

Eighty bipartisan Ohio business leaders released an open letter in support of the Citizens Not Politicians constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering in Ohio.

The amendment will create an independent redistricting commission so citizens, not politicians, will draw fair legislative districts using an open and transparent process.

“Business depends on a healthy, vibrant democracy – one that reflects the will of the citizenry and that establishes stable rule of law,” the open letter reads. “Building on successful best practices from other states, the Ohio proposal would ban partisan gerrymandering, prohibit consideration of individual incumbents or candidates when drawing maps, and ensure an open and transparent redistricting process with extensive and meaningful public input.”

According to the Princeton University Gerrymandering Project, Ohio has some of the most skewed maps in the country; the Project grades the current Ohio congressional maps a “D.”

“Extreme gerrymandering reflects poorly on this great state of ours,” said Richard Stoff, Senior Advisor to the Leadership Now Project and Ohio Business Roundtable co-founder and retired CEO, who organized the open letter. “I’m grateful to retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and her former colleague on the Court, Justice Yvette McGee Brown, for helping to lead this bold effort, and to the dozens of distinguished business and thought leaders from every corner our state who are lending their voices to build a far better, more economically competitive – and just – Ohio by protecting and strengthening our democracy.”

Among the 80 signatories* supporting the proposed constitutional amendment are:

• Jeni Britton, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
• Edward B. Foley, Ebersold Chair in Constitutional Law and Director, Election Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
• Thomas Hoaglin, Former Chairman and CEO, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.
• Gale V. King, Former Executive VP and Chief Administrative and Human Resource Officer, Nationwide Insurance Company; Chair, The Executive Leadership Council.
• Nancy Kramer, Chief Evangelist, IBM Consulting Americas; Founder, Chairman and former CEO, Resource/Ammirati.
• John E. Pepper, Former Chairman and CEO, The Procter & Gamble Company and Former Non-Executive Chairman, The Walt Disney Company.
• Charles (Chuck) Horowitz Ratner, Director, The Max Collaborative and former Board Chair and CEO, Forest City Enterprises

For a full list of signatories click here.

*The individuals listed here are signing as individuals, not as formal representatives of their respective organizations or business. Affiliations are included only for the purpose of identifying individuals.

About the Leadership Now Project
The Leadership Now Project is a membership organization of business and thought leaders committed to protecting and renewing American democracy. Through our members’ influence, expertise, and investment, we effect change in the short term while working to innovate for a thriving democracy in the long term.

Founded in 2017 by a group of Harvard Business School alumni, today Leadership Now Project has chapters in seven states, members across the country, and collaborates with faculty at more than a dozen colleges and universities. Learn more at www.leadershipnowproject.org.

About Citizens Not Politicians
Citizens Not Politicians is a coalition of people and organizations seeking to end gerrymandering in Ohio by removing politicians from the redistricting process and instead empowering Ohio citizens to draw fair and impartial legislative and congressional districts through an open and independent process. Read the amendment and learn more at CitizensNotPoliticians.org.