Farm group opposes redistricting amendment

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s largest farm organization is opposing a fall ballot issue seeking to change the way Ohio draws congressional and legislative districts.

Ohio Farm Bureau trustees made the decision Friday. Executive vice president Jack Fisher said trustees feel the proposal fails to make government more transparent, ethical and accountable to rural voters. They called for conducting a thorough review aimed at improving the current system.

The redistricting proposal will appear as Issue 2 on the Nov. 6 ballot. It would shift power for drawing political maps from state elected officials to a citizen board.

The issue was prompted by complaints that Republicans who controlled the recent once-per-decade process gerrymandered lines in their party’s favor. The GOP says it drew fair lines.

The bureau represents 214,000 members statewide.