Publisher’s Note: Become an informed voter!
By Ronda Barber
It’s that time of the year again. Candidates for public office are will asking for your vote. We are seeing those nagging political commercials encouraging viewers to support a bond or levy campaign. Some of us will receive robo-calls at inconvenient times seeking our support of a candidate or cause. Our vote is important! It matters. Lots of time and money is spent trying to gain it. I strongly encourage you to become an informed voter. Don’t throw your vote away.
I recently attended a candidate’s night. It was good to see fellow citizens out asking questions of those who will be making important decisions and spending our tax dollars. There appeared to be mutual respect between those seeking public office and those casting a ballot. Respect goes along way in public office. Often times it appears those running for office are more concerned with their personal political aspirations than the lives of those they swore to serve. As informed voters and responsible citizens, we are to hold elected office holders accountable. Did they make promises they didn’t keep? Did they actively advocate for small or minority-owned businesses? If not, why?
I recently asked all the candidates for Columbus City Schools one question:
1. The district is still constructing new school buildings. What policies can you strengthen or enact to ensure/mandate that more inner-city residents and/or minority owned business are participating in the construction projects?
To date, I have received one response.
I penned a letter to those running for Columbus City Council. I asked them to respond to the following:
1. What have you done for minority businesses during your career?
2. What do you promise to do for minority businesses if elected?
3. Why should minority owned business owners vote for you?
4. Why doesn’t the City of Columbus have purchasing goals?
5. Why have a certification program and the expenses of running a program if there aren’t any purchasing goals?
6. What is the benefit of a City of Columbus MBE or FBE certification?
7. Will you introduce legislation to include Black women in the FBE certification program?
8. What can the City do to improve its purchasing with MBE’s.
To date, I haven’t received any responses.
It is important to vote for those who are looking out for you, your family and your businesses best interests. If those seeking public office can’t or won’t answer the above MBE business questions, perhaps they don’t deserve your support in the November 5 election.
Just my thoughts…
P.S. We will publish the Columbus City Schools and Columbus City Council candidates’ responses in the next issue of OhioMBE.
