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Boardman Civic Association hosts event highlighting November candidates and ballot issues
BOARDMAN
State Issue 3 to legalize marijuana in Ohio ignited some heated debate at an election forum in the township Monday night.
Township voters got the chance at the event at the Lariccia Family Center at Boardman Park to learn about the issues and candidates on the ballot Nov. 3.
The topic that drew some of the most questions and debate was State Issue 3, the proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that, if approved, would allow the production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Brian Kessler – a representative of ResponsibleOhio, the group behind the initiative – pitched the proposal as a safety measure.
“It’s already here. ... Let’s get it managed and regulated,” he said of the marijuana industry. “The reality is, everyone gets exposed to pot, whether they try it or not. ... I want it to be safe like beer.”
Submitted questions asked how ResponsibleOhio can justify marijuana legalization if the drug is viewed as a liability for employers and as a gateway to using other drugs.
Kessler rejected that idea, saying drug dealers offer users more-dangerous substances, an issue he says would be eliminated if marijuana is legalized.
Angela McClellan, executive director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Mahoning County, disagreed, saying society will pay the cost in the form of increased mental-health problems if the drug is legalized.
She also pointed to the part of the proposal that would allow one marijuana-retail store per 10,000 residents, meaning that four stores theoretically could open in the township.
“Is that what you want your community to look like?” she said.
Presentations at the event, organized by the Boardman Civic Association, also covered these issues: levy proposals from the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board, Mill Creek MetroParks, Boardman School District, Boardman Township and Boardman Township Park.
Candidates for two spots on the school board and one township trustee position also made their cases to the crowd.
The audience also heard from Jeff Barrone, Donald Riccitelli and Frank Zetts, candidates for two open school board seats.
Asked about proposals to consolidate schools and about open-enrollment, all three said they favor consolidating buildings and strongly oppose opening the district’s enrollment to nonresidents.
Incumbent Trustee Larry Moliterno and candidate James Villani also presented. The third candidate for that seat, Anthony DeFrank, was not present due to a previous engagement.
Moliterno and Villani were asked about a proposal to rebuild the main township fire station, how township officials can make up for decreasing revenue from the real-estate property tax and blight on the township’s north side.
Most of the levy proposals that township voters will see on the ballot are renewals. That includes proposals from MCBDD, the mental-health and recovery board, two from the school district, the township police department and Boardman Park.
Mill Creek MetroParks is asking for a 15-year renewal of a 1.75-mill levy, plus an additional 0.25 mills.
Aaron Young, executive director at Mill Creek MetroParks, was asked whether the park leadership plans further expansion into the township if the levy passes.
“I think before we look at expanding, we need to take care of what we have,” he said.