Have you ever wondered why our politicians fail time and again to enact popular, common sense policies? One key reason in Ohio is gerrymandering, which is cracking the foundations of our democracy. Instead of a system that lets voters pick the representatives that best exemplify their local values and priorities, politicians have rigged the game to protect themselves and reduce competition. It’s long past time to return to one simple, constitutional principle: voters choose their representatives, not the other way around.
We are Ohio Health Advocates for Democracy and we endorse the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to end gerrymandering in Ohio because we believe it will lead to a more representative government for the people of Ohio, which will lead to better public policy that supports the health and wellness of every Ohioan.
As healthcare workers from every corner of this state, we know that Ohio is stronger when we have a responsive and representative government that listens to our communities. Competitive districts lead to a competition between visions for the future, which is why they are essential for a society that works for all of us. As healthcare workers, we need a government responsive to evolving data and the best available science.
Gerrymandering undermines our democracy. It allows politicians and political parties to draw districts that hinders the ability of communities to elect candidates who reflect their values. Because of it, Ohio is nearly flunking democracy: the nonpartisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave our congressional maps a “D” for fairness.
It does not have to be like this. We can pass a constitutional amendment in November that will end gerrymandering in Ohio. The amendment is championed by the bipartisan Citizens Not Politicians, led by the retired Republican Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and former Democratic Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown. The amendment would:
- Take redistricting away from politicians and give it to an independent commission of Ohioans who are independents, Democrats, and Republicans;
- Ban politicians, party officials, and lobbyists from sitting on the redistricting committee;
- Ensure fair districts which ban preferential treatment to any political party or politician.
This approach works. Independent commissions in Michigan and Virginia have already created fair districts. Communities in those states are electing representatives from across the political spectrum who better reflect their values. Their elected officials have to earn their re-election by responding to their constituents, rather than skewing district lines to keep themselves in office.
As the temperature rises in our politics, we need a bipartisan effort of cooler heads to give Ohio back its representative democracy. As doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners we know a healthier Ohio means having effective and responsive politicians beholden to us and our communities.
Please help us make this happen. We ask all Ohioans to join the bipartisan work of Citizens Not Politicians, sign the petition to get this constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot, and vote for a healthier democracy in Ohio.
Adrian Schnall | Physician | Cleveland |
Alejandro Aragaki | Physician | Cincinnati |
Alex Garbarino | Physician | Cincinnati |
Alexandra Evans | Pharmacist | Morrow |
Alexandra Schoenberger | Physician | Cincinnati |
Alynna Schulert | Physician | Cincinnati |
Angela Webber | NP/PA | Hinckley |
Anita Shah | Physician | Cincinnati |
Anita Somani | Physician | Columbus |
Ann Reichsman | Physician | Cleveland Heights |
Anne S. Wise | Physician | Cleveland |
Barbara Daly | PhD, Nurse | University Hts |
Barbara Gripshover | Physician | Cleveland |
Bill Kamanda | Physician | Seaman |
Brooke Wolf | Physician | Cleveland |
Bryan Hambley | Physician | Loveland |
Cara Jacob | Physician | Cincinnati |
Carol Ann Roe | Nurse | Miamisburg |
Carolyn Chan | Physician | Cincinnati |
Cheryl E, Weinstein | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Christine Williams | NP/PA | Shaker Heights |
Claudia Greshler | Nurse | Columbus |
Constance Magoulias | Physician | Cleveland |
Daniel Lichtenstein | Physician | Cincinnati |
Davendra Sohal | Physician | Cincinnati |
David Hutt | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Diane Burgin | Physician | Cleveland |
Eileen Gordon | Nurse, NP/PA | Shaker Heights |
Emily Hudspeth | Nurse | Cincinnati |
Emma Kundracik | Medical Student | Cleveland |
Eric Vick | Physician | Springfield Township |
Erin Espinoza | Physician | Cincinnati |
Esther Post | Beachwood | |
Fatima Fadlalla | Physician | Cincinnati |
Ginny Russell | Physician | Cincinnati |
Hayden Smith | Physical Therapist | Hamilton |
Heather Boyd | Physician | Montgomery |
James Diekroger | Physician | Lakewood |
James M. Tighe | Nurse | Mantua |
James Misak | Physician | Cleveland |
Jana Hambley | Physician | Loveland |
Janice Lanier | Nurse | Westerville |
Jason Ernstberger | Pharmacist | Cincinnati |
Jen Chung | Physician | Cincinnati |
Jennifer McAllister | Physician | Cincinnati |
Jeri A. Milstead | Nurse | Dublin |
John Sedor | Physician | Cleveland |
Joy L. Roth | Physician | Cleveland |
Kali Chiriboga | Physician | Cincinnati |
Karen B. Mulloy | Physician | South Russell |
Kathleen Fagan | Physician | Brecksville |
Kathryn L Smith | NP/PA | Loveland |
Keith Luckett | Physician | Cincinnati |
Kenneth Frisof | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Kristin Hudock | Physician | Cincinnati |
Kristin R Baughman | Medical School Professor | Kent |
Laura Schapiro | Physician | Cleveland |
Lauren Beene | Physician | Cleveland |
Layne Gritti | Physician | Sagamore Hills |
Linda M. Tighe | Nurse | Mantua |
Linda Post | Physician | Beachwood |
Lisa Navracruz | Physician | Cleveland Heights |
Lisa Vigil Schattinger | Nurse | Shaker Heights |
Mamie Thant | Physician | Cincinnati |
Marcia Silver | Physician | Cleveland |
Margaret Smith | Nurse | University Heights |
Mark N Rood | Physician | Chagrin Falls |
Maureen Clark | Nurse | Granville |
Megan Harris | Physician | Cincinnati |
Melissa Wilson | Nurse PhD, APRN, CCNS | Miamisburg |
Meredith A. Weinstein | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Meron Sisay | NP/PA | West Chester |
Michael Ignatowski | Physician | Bentleyville |
Michael Lederman | Physician | Cleveland Heights |
Michelle Berlacher | Physician | Cincinnati |
Michelle Lisgaris | Physician | University Heights |
Misam Zawit | Physician | West Chester |
Nadia Meheret Robinson | NP/PA | Cleveland |
Nancy Li | Physician | Cleveland |
Naomi House | Nurse | Stow |
Nathan Stehouwer | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Neha Wadhwa | Physician | Cincinnati |
Neil Korman | Physician | Cleveland |
Nives Zimmermann | Physician | Cincinnati |
Olivia Rizzo | Physician | Cleveland |
Olugbenga Olowokure | Physician | Cincinnati |
Patricia Adler | Nurse | Cleveland |
Patricia Blochowiak | Physician | East Cleveland |
Patricia Colapietro | Physician | Milford |
Paul Shaniuk | Physician | Cleveland |
Paula K Anderson | Nurse | Westerville |
Rachel Azriel | Physician | Cincinnati |
Robert M. Kuhnhenn | Physician | Westlake |
Ruth Ludwick | RN, APRN, PhD | Kent |
Ruth Ludwick | Nurse | Kent |
Sandra Sauereisen | Physician | Cleveland |
Stephen R Kaufman | Physician | Shaker Heights |
Sulsal Haque | Physician | Cincinnati |
Susan Wherley | Physician | Cleveland |
Tyler Rutherford | Physician | Cincinnati |
Whitney Whitis | Physician | Cincinnati |
Yan Jiang | Physician | Cincinnati |
Zulfa Omer | Physician | Cincinnati |