Beginning in the year of 2015, the City Manager and City Council shall designate one day in the month of February following the November Federal elections, "Democracy Day." On this day, the City Manager and City Council shall sponsor a Public Hearing in a public space within the City. The City shall publicize the Public Hearing on its website and through area media at least one (1) month in advance of the Hearing. The Public Hearing will examine the impact of political contributions of corporations, unions, PACS and Super-PACS on the City. The City Manager and at least one (1) City Councilperson shall submit testimony at the Public Hearing. In addition, all citizens of Mentor will be permitted to submit oral testimony for a period of at least five (5) minutes per citizen.
(Ord. 15-O-07. Passed 1-20-15.)
Within one (1) week following the Public Hearing, the City Manager shall send a letter to the leaders of the Ohio House and Senate, and Mentor's US Congressional representative, and both Ohio US Senators stating that the citizens of Mentor in November 2014 voted in support of a Citizen's initiative calling for a constitutional amendment declaring:
(a) Only human beings, not corporations, are legal persons with constitutional rights;
(b) Money is not equivalent to speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
(Ord. 15-O-07. Passed 1-20-15.)
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