Shake up: Marion redistricting moves 6th Ward councilman's residence to 5th Ward

Andrew Carter, Marion Star
·6 min read
This map shows the six wards in the City of Marion after redistricting was completed. The city had to make changes in three wards following the 2020 U.S. Census, which saw Marion's population decrease by 838 people from 36,837 to 35,999. Due to the changes made in the 6th Ward, the street where Councilman Mike Neff lives was transferred from the 6th to the 5th Ward. He was the only council member who was affected by the redistricting.

The 6th Ward seat on Marion City Council will be filled by a different person following the 2023 general election.

The City of Marion recently released the results of its redistricting process, which was required in the wake of the 2020 U.S. Census. Census results showed that the city lost 838 residents from the 2010 census. The current population of Marion is now 35,999, down from 36,837 in 2010.

According to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 731.06, the "legislative authority of the city" (in Marion it's the city council) has the responsibility of conducting redistricting following the "decennial census." City council has 90 days after the "first day of October of the year following the decennial census year" to complete the redistricting process. However, per ORC, "If the legislative authority fails to make such subdivision within the time required, it shall be made by the director of public service."

Marion City Council failed to undertake the task, which then left the job to the public service director's office to complete.

In a letter announcing the changes that resulted from redistricting, Marion Public Service Director Cathy Chaffin said that the 4th Ward, 5th Ward, and 6th Ward each underwent changes to even up the population. The most significant change occurred in the 6th Ward, where two blocks were transferred to the 5th Ward. One of the blocks that was moved to the 5th Ward included the 800 block of East Center Street where 6th Ward Councilman Mike Neff, a Republican, lives.

MIke Neff is the 6th Ward representative on Marion City Council.
MIke Neff is the 6th Ward representative on Marion City Council.

Prior to redistricting, the population of each ward post-census was as follows: 1st Ward, 6,156; 2nd Ward, 6,077; 3rd Ward, 5,836; 4th Ward, 5,633; 5th Ward, 6,133; 6th Ward, 6,164.

After redistricting was completed, the population of each ward is as follows: 1st Ward, 6,156; 2nd Ward, 6,077; 3rd Ward, 5,836; 4th Ward, 5,812; 5th Ward, 6,022; 6th Ward, 6,096.

Chaffin stated in the letter explaining redistricting that the 4th Ward was "out of balance plus or minus 5% of the median population or 300, by a negative 367, and needs to be adjusted."

"In making the correction, one block was removed from the 5th Ward and added to the 4th," Chaffin said. "The 5th Ward needed to add some population while the 6th Ward needed to be reduced. Two blocks were moved from the 6th Ward and added to the 5th Ward. The new ward boundaries are the least disruptive to the residents of the City of Marion, Ohio."

Chaffin also noted that two annexed properties have been added to the 1st Ward, but no additional population accompanied those annexations. A property on Victory Road and the property where National Lime and Stone is located were both annexed into the city as part of the 1st Ward. Property on Barks Road near Wilson Drive was annexed into the 6th Ward.

Neff will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2023. He was planning to seek reelection to the 6th Ward seat on city council in 2023. Fellow Republican Karen Fosnaugh is the 5th Ward council representative.

"I didn't see a whole lot of imbalance in (the population of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Wards) after I spent some researching it," Neff said. "It was my because (fellow council members) told me we had to do something. After the census, you have a certain amount of time once you get that census data to see where the population is and if you have to adjust the wards a little bit, you do that. If you don't meet the deadline, it falls back to (the public service director) to make those changes."

At the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, Marion City Council was comprised of Kai Meade, Democrat, 1st Ward; Ayers Ratliff, Democrat, 2nd Ward; Jason Schaber, Republican, 3rd Ward; Joshua Feliciano, Republican, 4th Ward; Karen Fosnaugh, Republican, 5th Ward; Kathy Swanger, Independent, 6th Ward; and At-large members Josh Daniels, Democrat; Mike Neff, Republican; and Mike Thomas, Democrat.

Fosnaugh was appointed to city council following the resignation of Leslie Cunningham in June 2020. Thomas was appointed to council in November 2019 after Rebecca Gustin resigned the day after the general election that year.

All nine seats on Marion City Council, city council president, mayor, city auditor, city law director, and Marion Municipal Court judge will be on the ballot in 2023. Republicans currently hold a 6-3 majority on Marion City Council.

In addition to Neff, Republicans currently serving on city council include Jason Schaber, 3rd Ward; Joshua Feliciano, 4th Ward; Karen Fosnaugh, 5th Ward; Brett Cornelius, At-large; and Aaron Rollins, At-large. The three Democrats on council are Jeff Gerritsen, 1st Ward; Ayers Ratliff, 2nd Ward; and Mike Thomas, At-large. Council President Todd Schneider is also a Democrat. Gerritsen was appointed to city council after former 1st Ward council member Kai Meade resigned in July.

Marion County Republican Party Central Committee Chairman Ken Stiverson said the campaign committee is currently seeking candidates to run for the 6th Ward seat on city council.

"The campaign committee is working on that right now. They should have a candidate before long," Stiverson said. "We've got quite a few of the slots (for the 2023 election cycle) filled so far, but (the change in the 6th Ward) threw us for a loop."

Stiverson said none of the Republicans currently on city council have indicated that they will not seek reelection in 2023.

Marion County Democratic Party Central Committee Chairperson Brandi Downs said the 2023 election cycle will be business as usual as the party will seek candidates to run not just for the 6th Ward seat on Marion City Council, but as many offices as possible.

"We’ll be recruiting candidates to run in the 6th (Ward), but we’d be recruiting those people whether Councilman Neff lives in the 6th or not," Downs said. "It’s important that all parties — and therefore, all citizens — are represented on the ballot at every election."

According to the Ohio Secretary of State's elections calendar for 2023, partisan candidates for elected office must file declarations of candidacy by 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2023. Primary election day in Ohio is May 2. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 7.

For information about elections in Marion County, go to the Board of Elections website www.boe.ohio.gov/marion. For information about elections in Ohio, go to the Ohio Secretary of State's website VoteOhio.gov.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Shake up: Marion redistricting moves 6th Ward councilman to 5th Ward