Firefighters say pro-Issue 2 TV ad is deceitful

Mahoning Valley firefighters and We Are Ohio are complaining that a pro-state Issue 2 organization improperly used footage on the latter’s television commercials.

Area firefighters are to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. at the Youngstown Fallen Firefighters Memorial, across the street from the downtown Youngstown fire station, to object to the commercial.

Marlene Quinn of Cincinnati spoke against Issue 2 in a We Are Ohio commercial, praising firefighters for saving her great-granddaughter from a fire. Building a Better Ohio, a pro-Issue 2 group, began airing TV commercials Tuesday with Quinn, without her permission. The commercials make it sound as if Quinn supports Issue 2 when she doesn’t.

“I think it’s dishonest and downright deceitful that they would use footage of me to try to play tricks and fool voters,” she said.

If Issue 2 is approved on the Nov. 8 ballot, it would restrict collective-bargaining rights for public workers, including firefighters.