Ottawa County Commissioner Mark Stahl appointed to volunteer fire service task force
 
Citing growing personnel and funding challneges in volunteer fire departments, Governor Mike DeWine on Thursday announced the creation of the Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service.
 
Featuring state and local officials from across the state, the task force is responsible for compiling recommendations to strengthen volunteer fire service prior to the next state budget cycle. Ottawa County Commissioner Mark Stahl was appointed by Gov. DeWine to serve on the task force. Stahl brings 23 years of experience as a member of the Allen Clay Joint Fire District, where he held the rank of battalion chief.
 
During the Thursday announcement, the governor highlighted the challenges facing volunteer fire departments across the state. These challenges include volunteer recruitment, funding, training, equipment and long-term stability of operations.
 
“A good, reliable fire service is essential to the health and safety of every community,” stated DeWine. “We all want to be sure when we do need them, they’re there.”
 
Eighty-six counties in Ohio have either part-volunteer or all-volunteer fire departments.

The Ohio Supreme Court, for the fourth time, invalidated state legislative district maps this week. Once again, in a 4-3 decision, the Court cited constitutional violations in the latest redistricting plan approved by the State Redistricting Commission. The Court set a May 6 deadline for the commission to produce a new plan.
 
Attention turns now to federal court, where a three-judge panel will likely take action on Wednesday, April 20 to establish a primary date and set state legislative maps. The panel has considered implementing maps previously passed by the redistricting commission, reinstituting existing maps enacted in 2011, or appointing a special master to draw maps. August 2 appears to be the most likely primary date, should one be established by the panel. CCAO will follow developments on April 20 closely.
 
In other redistricting news, the federal three-judge panel this week declined to involve themselves in halting congressional elections. A group of Youngstown voters asked the panel to invalidate the current congressional district map, citing the lack of racial data used when drawing district lines, leading to discrimination against marginalized voters. Congressional races are included on the May 3^rd primary ballot. The panel declined to take up this issue, keeping the focus on their work on state legislative districts.
 
Any questions about redistricting and the primary election can be directed to CCAO policy analyst Adam Schwiebert.