WeDemandAVote.com Announces 34,014 Signatures!

WeDemandAVote.Com, a coalition of 7 Hamilton County Based Groups opposed to the 1/2 cent Sales Tax Increase imposed by Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper has announced that their signature total is now 34,014. Approximately 28,750 signatures are required to place the referendum petition on the Sales Tax Increase on the ballot in November.

Campaign Coordinator Daniel Regenold announced that over 8,700 people signed the petitions on July 4, 2007 alone. “Our main goal has been to explain to voters that this is not about the jail, it’s all about Democracy and making your vote count. The voters deserve a chance to take a good look at this $900 million tax increase before it goes into effect.”

Regenold stressed the importance of the group continuing to get many more petition signatures to provide a cushion against signatures that might be thrown out during the checking process. To sign a petition go to www.WeDemandAVote.com and click “Locations” or call us at 513-544-9014. The campaign for signatures ends July 13, 2007.

For media opportunities call Dan Regenold at 513-544-9014.

Sickening

This past weekend showed just how desperate, and dirty, the county commissions and sheriffs office is in keeping the people from voting on whether their sales tax will go up.

On Saturday, people from WeDemandAVote.com were on hand at the Hyde Park Blast collecting signatures to put the issue on the ballot. For the first time, we had encountered people passing out literature encouraging people not to sign our petitions. Instead of just passing out their literature, they selected a petitioner to follow. Following so closely that they were rarely ever more than 4 feet away from a petitioner! Their intention was to hand literature to each and every person that we asked for a signature from, however, when a stranger is following you like that for over an hour (they stayed near me when I was on my cell phone talking to my wife), it is no longer free speech, but it becomes harassment and political bullying!

I certainly respect their right to protest, however tactics like this borderlines on stalking.

How safe would a female petitioner feel if she were being followed by a strange man?

It is sad to see that they don’t think the people should vote on a significant tax and spending package like this, but it is sickening to see our elected officials harassing their political opponents like this.

Josh Weitzman
Libertarian Party of Ohio Southwest Region Chair