No matter where you live in Ohio, you will soon be hearing an ad like this: "Issue 2 would change our constitution, creating a system of unelected commissioners who would influence who can represent us in the Capitol."
That ad is sponsored by a group called Protect Your Vote. The group, along with the Ohio Republican Party, wants to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment that, if passed, would create a commission to draw boundary lines for congressional and legislative races in the future. Carlo LaParo, a spokesman for Protect Your Vote, won’t say who is paying for the ads and how much they cost.
"Well we will report our contributors as required by law in October," she said.
Sandy Theis, a spokeswoman for Voters First, the group that’s backing the proposed constitutional amendment, questions Protect Your Vote's silence on donors.
"I think it’s interesting that they are not telling us who is paying for this one," she said.
Theis says the problem is that this ad is misleading voters. She says issue two would mandate a citizens group, not politicians, would draw the maps. And Theis says it would make districts more competitive. She says her side will also be airing ads this fall to explain the plan to voters.
