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David Skolnick

GOP neglects redistricting duty

It’s neglect of duty for Republicans in the state Legislature to let a Sept. 30 deadline pass to seek a bipartisan agreement on new congressional districts without even introducing a map. Looking ahead, there’s virtually no way Republicans and enough Democrats will agree on a congressional map. If the debacle that occurred in drawing the state legislative districts is any indication, Republicans aren’t interested in getting a 10-year bipartisan map for congressional districts. Instead, they’ll accept a four-year partisan map and hope the Ohio Supreme Court doesn’t require ...

Scholarship gimmick poor idea

Yet again, Gov. Mike DeWine finds himself in a difficult position when it comes to how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Those between the ages of 12 and 25 are not getting the COVID-19 vaccine to the levels of older Ohioans, resulting in younger people getting the virus and some hospitalized. DeWine’s fellow Republicans who control the state Legislature have no interest in letting him impose a mask mandate for more than 30 days without a fight, and the governor simply isn’t up for that battle. So, DeWine is back to the failed formula he implemented earlier this year: weekly ...

Republicans ignore map fairness

It was obvious Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Bob Cupp, both Lima Republicans, were driving the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s plan to ignore a vote-approved constitutional amendment to draw fair state legislative districts. They seemed content to forego bipartisan support on 10-year maps. Instead they drew four-year legislative maps that don’t reflect voting trends in Ohio, which was a major item the commission was supposed to consider. Despite the concerns expressed by the three other Republicans on the seven-member board — Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary ...

Dems struggle to find candidates

Democrats likely will have a difficult time next year in Ohio statewide races with defeating Republicans, but with a lack of announced candidates in several races, they’re only making it that much more challenging. The Democratic Party’s statewide track record over the past three decades hasn’t been good. The party’s last big year was 2006, when it swept all of executive branch races except state auditor, and Sherrod Brown soundly defeated incumbent Republican Mike DeWine for U.S. Senate. Since then, Richard Cordray won a 2008 race for attorney general, filling Marc ...

State dives into mask limits

Like many other COVID-19 pandemic issues, mandatory face masks for students at schools is causing a divide. The number of cases is hitting new highs on a routine basis with Ohio not seeing anything like this since January. We’re heading in the wrong direction. Many remain unvaccinated. Kids under the age of 12 can’t get a vaccine so while at school they’re not that protected from the virus. They also can be carriers who bring it home to vulnerable adults. That’s why some school districts have mandated face masks for all. Others have chosen some sort of mask ...

Redistricting no-shows disturbing

When it was announced the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which is drawing new state legislative lines and possibly Ohio’s congressional seats, was traveling around the state for 10 public hearings, I had a question for each of its seven members: “Are you going to show up?” I asked a spokesperson for all seven, but heard from only three. The spokeswomen for Auditor Keith Faber, a Republican, and state Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron and co-chairman of the commission, told me they’d both be in Youngstown and at as many hearings as possible. Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s ...