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Don't let opponents bankrupt RON in court; Take next steps to support reform measures

Aug. 18, 2005 -More than half a million Ohioans signed Reform Ohio Now's petition—enough to get these common sense reforms on the ballot. But the real fight for change is just beginning, and the RON campaign needs your help, again, now more than ever.

Powerful interests are trying to tie up the reform efforts in court, bankrupt RON, and prevent Ohioans from voting on our reforms. They are planning to spend more than $10 million to stifle the voices of real Ohioans in the coming months.

Don't let them do it! Help raise enough funds to defend these reform amendments. Right now, the campaign needs two things to survive these attacks:

1. Please spread the word by using our Tell-A-Friend page—or simply forward this email. We'll need a rock-solid base of support in the coming months. Now is the time to let everyone in Ohio know what's going on—and help ensure that Ohioans get the chance to vote on our reforms.
   
   
2. Make a donation to Reform Ohio Now. For months, RON has poured every penny into supporting its volunteers and getting signatures. The opposition is fresh and out to bankrupt the effort, and we must protect those signatures with all the resources we have.
   

The people trying to stop RON are the same political insiders who have flooded our state with corruption. They want to protect the golf outings, the sweetheart deals, the massive campaign donations and gerrymandered districts that keep them in office without having to worry about the concerns of voters.

Former Ohio legislative leader Dick Finan is heading up the opposition. It's no surprise that he's against reform. While he was Senate President, he helped draw the unfair legislative districts that helped one party grab absolute power:

"We wanted to maximize the number of Republican congressmen,” he said. "I think the great bulk of them are very, very happy with their (new) districts." (Columbus Dispatch,1/25/02)

But this is not a partisan issue—it's an issue of fairness and accountability. Newspapers across the state have emphasized that these reforms don't favor Democrats or Republicans—they'll just keep any single party from becoming too powerful, because that's when corruption sets in.

Help protect this precious chance for a stronger democracy. Donate today. Then, tell your friends. We can't succeed without your help. Thanks again for all you do to keep Ohio moving, and for helping give real Ohioans a voice in this corrupt state.

See Related

The Reform Ohio Now website

Reform Ohio Now news release

OCSEA website article - Reform Ohio Now Coalition files half million signatures today

Press event photographs

Election-reform group files petitions; Signatures count well over minimum (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Aug. 10, 2005)