Mich. businessman files petitions for part-time benefits for November ballot

YOUNGSTOWN

A Grand Rapids, Mich., businessman is spearheading a charter-amendment initiative in Youngstown to require employers to give part-time workers increased rights such as health care benefits and equal hourly wages as full-timers.

The goal of the proposal is to not only increase the rights of part-timers in the city, but also to get women – particularly unmarried lower to middle class – to vote in the Nov. 8 general election, said Bob Goodrich, executive director of Part-Timers Rights.

Goodrich said he chose Youngstown because it’s in Ohio, a key presidential swing state, and the number of valid signatures wasn’t very high. He said he also will target Cleveland with a similar initiative for the November ballot. Goodrich says he’s spent about $15,000 on the Youngstown proposal.

City Law Director Martin Hume has said the Youngstown charter requires valid signatures on amendments from at least 3 percent of the total votes in the last general election. That would be 378 valid signatures.

Goodrich contends he needs at least 10 percent, which would be 1,259 valid signatures.

Goodrich turned in petitions to the city clerk Tuesday with 3,935 signatures. The number of valid signatures on the 151 petitions ultimately will be determined by the Mahoning County Board of Elections.

Read more about the matter in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.