TOM JACKSON Staff writer
Redistricting in Ohio could bring big changes that might make Congressional races more competitive next year and loosen the grip Republicans have in the state.
Drawing new lines for U.S. House districts happens every 10 years after each census, but this year will be different.
The new district map will have to be approved by a bipartisan vote of Ohio lawmakers, or an appointed commission will do the work.
A new map must be ready in time for next year’s elections.
The requirement that they be approved by a bipartisan vote is new, designed to diminish the practice of gerrymandering.
Dear Editor,
As an unfortunate result of term limits, Dec. 31, 2020, marked the completion of the tenure of Bellaire native, Ohio state Rep. Jack Cera, serving the 96th Ohio House District, which includes Jefferson, Monroe and parts of Belmont counties, a most impressive legislative career appears to be coming to a close.
Representative Cera was appointed to his current tenure in office to replace Lou Gentile, who was earlier appointed to the Ohio Senate seat, which had been vacated by Jason Wilson, on Dec. 14, 2011.
Previously, Rep. Cera had very capably served the area in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1983 until 1996, and in between his tenures in Columbus, he notably served in the positions of Director of Belmont County’s Workforce Development Program, and as the Executive Director of the Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority, respectively.
There were many efforts to change Ohio election laws in 2020, but few succeeded
Steve Weinstein.
and last updated 2020-12-22 10:08:16-05
COLUMBUS, Ohio â The following article was originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on News5Cleveland.com under a content-sharing agreement.
More Ohioans voted in the 2020 General Election than in any other election in state history.
Elections officials, voter rights advocates and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are still looking into ways to improve voting access for the years to come.
There were numerous legislative efforts to change Ohioâs elections system in big ways and small during the 133rd General Assembly, which began in 2019. Only a small few of these ideas were passed into law, meaning any attempts to enact changes will have to start over with the beginning of a new legislative term in January 2021.
Cera announces $892,500 in capital funds coming to local counties
Dec 19, 2020
COLUMBUS, Ohio State Rep. Jack Cera announced the approval of the $2.5 billion capital appropriations budget for fiscal years 2021-2022 will bring nearly $900,000 to the local area.
The appropriations proposal was added as an amendment to Senate Bill 310 in conference committee.
The capital appropriations budget has been on hold for months due to the financial crisis of the pandemic. However, the Ohio legislature moved quickly before year’s end in passing the bill to help spur the economy.
“Supporting brick and mortar projects through the capital bill is always important because it creates jobs and invests in local communities,” said Cera, D-Bellaire.