|
|
To urge candidates for statewide offices in the 2014 | 1 |
general election to participate in public debates | 2 |
with their opponents. | 3 |
WHEREAS, There are multiple qualified candidates on the | 4 |
ballot in the 2014 general election for Governor, Auditor of | 5 |
State, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer of | 6 |
State; and | 7 |
WHEREAS, Some qualifying candidates for statewide offices | 8 |
have refused to participate in any debates scheduled prior to the | 9 |
general election that will be held on November 4, 2014; and | 10 |
WHEREAS, Candidates for Governor of Ohio have publicly | 11 |
debated each other before every election since 1978; and | 12 |
WHEREAS, Public debates represent a civic and moral | 13 |
obligation for candidates to make their ideas and agenda for the | 14 |
direction of our state clear and known to the general public in a | 15 |
forum proposed by established, reputable organizations with a | 16 |
history of fostering debate and discussion that lends itself to | 17 |
greater scrutiny from the electorate; and | 18 |
WHEREAS, A social contract established with the ratification | 19 |
of the Declaration of Independence and the United States | 20 |
Constitution requires that the government's only true power is | 21 |
granted through the consent of the American People, who elect | 22 |
public officials to act on behalf of their best interests; and | 23 |
WHEREAS, The power of public officials is only a reflection | 24 |
of the power of the People; thusly the People should have every | 25 |
opportunity to adequately and appropriately evaluate and select | 26 |
their representatives based on their beliefs of what the best | 27 |
interests of the people include and require; and | 28 |
WHEREAS, A primary goal of the Ohio General Assembly should | 29 |
be to engage, inform, and encourage participation among Ohio | 30 |
voters; now therefore be it | 31 |
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of the State of Ohio | 32 |
urges candidates for statewide offices to agree to debates between | 33 |
themselves and other qualified candidates appearing on the ballot, | 34 |
which are to be held prior to the start of voting in the general | 35 |
election and broadcast on statewide television and via online | 36 |
streaming; and be it further | 37 |
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives | 38 |
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the news | 39 |
media of Ohio. | 40 |