The fate of a Westerville City School District levy and November’s Republican Presidential nominee will be decided next week on Super Tuesday.
Issue 10, a $6.71 million emergency operating levy, would allow the school district to operate with a balanced budget through June 30, 2015.
The levy would cost property owners an additional $205.49 per year per $100,000 of home value, according to the Westerville City School District. It will raise $16.54 million annually and will expire at the end of 2017, unless voters renew it.
Vice president of the Westerville Board of Education Denise Pope said that if Issue 10 fails to pass, the district will suffer.
“Without voter approval, this will take our district to state minimums,” Pope said.
Pope said that local government, vibrant businesses and strong schools are key.
“If one of these is at risk, then the whole system is at risk,” she said. “Issue 10 is about … preserving our community, which is vital.”
Pope has the support of Westerville City Council after a resolution to support the levy was passed unanimously at last week’s council meeting.
While Westerville voters will have the chance to make change on a local level, the nation as a whole will be paying greater attention to the primary election for the Republican presidential nominee.
Candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have waged war in recent primaries and are currently head-to-head in Ohio, a state historically crucial in winning the nomination.
In a release last week, Romney announced the support of Congressman Steve LaTourette.
“His support will be crucial as we take our message to Ohio and the nation in the months to come,” Romney said.
LaTourette said that Romney is the only candidate who can defeat President Obama and create jobs for Ohioans.
At a Toledo rally on Tuesday, Santorum asked attendees to help him “score a decisive victory” in Ohio, according to an article published in the Toledo Blade.
According to a survey by the University of Cincinnati released on Tuesday, Santorum was ahead of Romney in Ohio by 11 points.
In a release from the Associated Press, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced his support of Santorum because he believes that Santorum can win the race.
“You have to give the American people a reason to vote for you, a reason to hope, a reason to believe that under your leadership, America will be better,” DeWine said. “Rick Santorum has done that.”
How do I vote absentee?
Visit the Secretary of State’s website, click on “Vote by mail” and submit a written request for an absentee ballot to your county board of elections. It must be submitted by noon on the Saturday before the election, and the ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before the election. The website is http://www.sos.state.oh.us/.
Where can I vote locally?
For a full list of poll locations, visit the website for the Franklin County Board of Elections at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/.
