Columbus leadership is on a ballot hot streak
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The passage of $8 billion mobility plan LinkUS was vocally supported by local political leaders and continues a winning streak for Columbus' political establishment at the ballot box.
Why it matters: Officials aren't just achieving their own election successes. They're shaping and receiving public support in decisive votes affecting everything from housing and transportation to policing and city council structure.
Flashback: Mayor Andrew Ginther was first elected in 2015. Just a year later, voters approved a $950 million quartet of bond issues he promoted.
- Also in 2016, voters overwhelmingly rejected a citizen-led ballot issue to expand the City Council that was opposed by a political action committee managed by Ginther's chief policy adviser.
Catch up quick: Hardin has since become council president, Ginther has been re-elected twice, and Columbus voters have consistently voted in concert with their preferences:
- 2019: Voters approved a $1 billion bond issue that the two said was needed for neighborhood investments.
- 2020: Voters created a new Ginther-backed citizen police oversight panel and passed an electricity aggregation plan supported by city leaders.
- 2021: Voters rejected a "green energy" plan that Ginther called the "greatest scheme in city history."
- 2022: Voters passed a city charter amendment backed by Ginther and Hardin along with a multi-issue bond package requested by city leaders.
What they're saying: Hardin tells Axios that Columbus voters are "smart" and "thoughtful," and says the City Council makes an effort to back "initiatives that have a broad appeal and that are good for the city."
- "I wish there was a secret sauce or a secret person, but really more than anything, it's about building broad-based coalitions that are helping many people," he adds. "It's not rocket science when you're able to get support for that."