Communiqué
Multi-county “Democracy Day Conference” Schedule for Shade, Ohio
By: Tom Hodson
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A “Democracy Day Conference” will take place in Shade, Ohio on Saturday, June 13 to discuss issues facing people living in Athens and Meigs counties. There also will be discussion of the possible enactment of “county charters” for the two counties.
County charters will give people living in rural areas the opportunity to have initiatives and referenda on ballots, according to organizer Dr. Richard McGinn. He claims that the right to petition government to do the citizens’ bidding now is restricted to people living in cities within Ohio.
A county charter also would let citizens empower their county commissioners to oppose using county water resources for fracking and from allowing fracking waste to be disposed of within the counties.
The Shade Democracy Day is titled “Toward County Government: of, by, and for the People.”
The day will be divided into two segments.
“The morning theme is INTERPRETING THE PRESENT RE: ENERGY POLICY AND ACTIONS…The afternoon theme is ENVISIONING THE FUTURE (UNDER A CHARTER FORM OF GOVERNMENT),” says McGinn.
The conference is open to people of any political persuasion, according to McGinn.
“We want people with varying points of view who will engage in civil discourse, discussion and debate,” he said.
McGinn talked with WOUB’s Tom Hodson about the conference and the petition efforts to gain charter county governments in Athens and Meigs counties.
The conference is free and open to all members of the public. It will be held at the Shade Community Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.