Letter to the Editor
April 19, 2025
https://miamivalleytoday.com/democracy-begins-at-the-local-level/

To the editor:

Democracy begins at the local level. It’s where we discuss community problems and find solutions. It’s also where we explore questions of principle—in particular, principles that guide our country and affect each of us, regardless of our political affiliation. This has been true since our nation’s founding.

In Ohio, 26 communities have explored the question of corporate power and big money in politics. As a result, they have passed resolutions, ordinances, and/or citizen ballot initiatives supporting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that makes two things clear: (1) corporations and other artificial entities do not have constitutional rights and (2) money is not speech and campaign spending should be regulated.

Move to Amend Miami County asked the candidates in Troy’s upcoming primary and general elections whether they support amending the U.S. Constitution in this way. Here are the responses:

Responding “yes” were Jeffrey Whidden (Ward 1 Republican incumbent), Jeffrey Harris (Ward 1 Democratic challenger), Madison Hickman (Ward 3 Republican challenger), and William Rozell (Council President candidate).

Responding “no” were Samuel Pierce (Ward 3 Republican incumbent), Jeffrey Schilling (Ward 6 Republican incumbent) and three Republican candidates for At-Large council seats: challenger Kay Friedly and incumbents Lynne Snee and Todd Severt.

Susan Westfall (At-Large Republican incumbent) returned our survey, but respectfully declined to answer because she feels it doesn’t apply to decisions she’ll be making if elected.

To read the reason behind each candidate’s answer, go to https://tinyurl.com/4j3y3ckk.

Not responding (or unreachable) by our deadline were Republican incumbents Kristie Marshall (Ward 2), Bobby Phillips (Ward 4), and William Twiss (Ward 5). Also not responding were Republicans Sherrie Foster (Ward 6 challenger) and Bill Whidden (Troy City Treasurer candidate).

Move to Amend Miami County neither supports nor opposes candidates, regardless of their response to our survey. We are an affiliate of a national, nonpartisan coalition promoting the We the People Amendment. It was reintroduced this winter in the 119th Congress as House Joint Resolution 54. It affirms that constitutional rights belong to natural persons only and money spent on campaigns, at all levels of government, shall be regulated. You can check the status of the proposed amendment at https://tinyurl.com/bdf97ysv. We will continue to educate the public about the need for the amendment and what it will and will not do.

Thank you.

Paula Hemmerick