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