Norfolk Southern has spent record $4.2 million so far urging voters to sell railway
Norfolk Southern Corp. has spent more than $4.2 million so far trying to convince Cincinnati voters to sell it Cincinnati's city-owned railroad − believed to be the most any group or candidate has ever spent on a city election.
The spending through Oct. 18 is detailed in a campaign finance report filed Thursday afternoon by Build Cincinnati's Future, the campaign created to pass Issue 22 in Cincinnati.
Norfolk Southern Corp. is the only donor, the report shows.
The Cincinnati Southern Railway Board, which oversees the railroad, wants to sell the city-owned railroad to Norfolk Southern Corp. for $1.6 billion, instead of continuing to lease the railroad to Norfolk Southern. Under the proposal before voters, a trust would be created and investment money from the trust would be spent on current infrastructure needs, which city officials calculate to be roughly $400 million. The board estimates the trust would bring in at least twice what the lease does annually.
A final decision on the sale is up to Cincinnati voters Nov. 7.
For comparison, campaign finance reports show:
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval spent $1.1 million on his 2021 election campaign.
Former mayor John Cranley spent $2.4 million on his 2017 mayoral election.
Roughly $1.2 million was spent on the unsuccessful 2015 Cincinnati Parks levy campaign.
In all of Hamilton County, $2.1 million was spent on the 2020 transit levy campaign.
The pro-Issue 22 campaign spent almost $3.9 million on television commercials. The most aired commercial so far featured Pureval, who has touted the deal since it was first announced last November. The first donation from Norfolk Southern was July 21, 2023, eight days after the railroad board officially put the sale on the November ballot. The last Norfolk Southern donation was on Oct. 16.
Two groups formed political action committees to oppose the sale. Citizens for a Transparent Railroad Vote did not file a campaign finance report because fundraising did not meet the $1,000 threshold. The group Save Our Rail filed a report saying it had raised $4,859 from 17 donors and spent $1,493.
The next campaign finance reports aren't due to the Hamilton County Board of Elections until Dec. 15.
Jens Sutmoller, who is running the "yes" on 22 campaign, said that Norfolk Southern's funding the campaign should not be a surprise.
"Of course, Norfolk Southern, the longtime operator of this rail line and only viable buyer, would always pay for this voter education campaign," Sutmoller said.
Television advertising is expensive this election cycle, with the Kentucky governor's race and an Ohio abortion rights amendment also on ballots.
So far $5.7 million has been spent on the Kentucky governor's race commercials and $4.3 million on Issue 1 commercials.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Norfolk Southern spent $4.2 million urging voters to sell railroad
