Sheriff to spearhead ballot effort for Ohio immigration reformStaff Report Updated 12:08 PM Thursday, April 29, 2010
HAMILTON — Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announced today, April 29, he will spearhead efforts to have a statewide “citizens initiative” placed on the ballot for Ohio immigration reform.
Fearing recent letters he sent jointly with state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, to Ohio leaders won’t be enough to get immigration reform on the “fast track” for Ohio, Jones said he wants the voters to decide the issue in November.
Combs has indicated he agrees, and will also lend support and guidance to the initiative effort, according to Jones. Jones said he is taking this step because Gov. Ted Strickland has indicated he plans to block immigration reform legislation that is similar to a law recently passed in Arizona.
“Our federal government has let us down on immigration reform,” Jones said in a prepared statement. “I’m afraid our state legislature may not want to act on it either. Governor Strickland has already indicated he plans to veto any legislation similar to Arizona’s new immigration law that might make it to his desk. If the majority of voters in Ohio want it done, it’s probably going to have to be their initiative to be the driving force.”
Jones said he the acknowledges that to get any citizen initiative for immigration reform ready and placed on the ballot for November won’t be easy.
“There are lots of legal papers to file, thousands and thousands of signatures on petitions to collect, and you have to get the word out to everyone,” he said. “I also expect the effort will be highly contested by those who maybe just want to wait for the federal government to act. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
“There is no way I can personally do this,” Jones added. “But, I know there are firms out there who specialize in all aspects of these types of initiatives. They have all the resources available to accomplish this task. I have already made some preliminary contacts, and plan to do whatever I can to get this ball rolling. Ohioans themselves need to take the lead on immigration reform in Ohio.”
Strickland said on Wednesday, April 28, that he wouldn’t sign into law an immigration control measure like the one that just went into effect in Arizona.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
