Date:
DRAFT
Resolution No.
Title: Submitting to the Electors of Lucas County, Pursuant to Article Ten of the Ohio Constitution
and Chapters 302 and 307 of the Ohio Revised Code, The Question of “Shall a County Charter
Commission Be Chosen?”
Department/Agency: Commissioner Pete Gerken
Contact: Commissioner Pete Gerken
Summary/Background:
The Board of County Commissioners believes that a serious look at government reform is needed in
this time of dwindling resources and rapid technological changes. The Board wishes to engage the
community in a broad public conversation about the future of Lucas County and the structure of
county government vital to an active democratic process.
The Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code specifically authorize a Board of County
Commissioners to adopt a resolution requiring the question of choosing a charter commission to
frame a county charter to be submitted to the electors.
Should such a question pass by a majority of electors, a fifteen member county charter commission
will also be elected at that same election. To have a name placed on the ballot as a candidate for
member of the charter commission, a candidate must file petitions with the Board of Elections within
seventy-five (75) days of the general election, containing the signatures of at least one percent of the
electors of the county. An elected charter commission shall frame a charter for the county and shall,
by a majority vote, submit a charter to the electors to be voted upon at the next general election.
The Board believes that this process is open, transparent, and fundamentally democratic. It will
provide every resident of Lucas County the time and opportunity to discussion the most accountable
and efficient alternative form of county government for our community.
While other Ohio counties have pursued attempts at alternative county government reform, this
Board recognizes that each Ohio county is different, with its own unique challenges, and L