(11-30-21) Recall petitions have been filed with the Mercer County Board of Elections to remove four Celina city council members who voted in opposition to legislation that would have declared Celina a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn.” The petition signatures are currently being verified, adding that a certification meeting will be called once that process is complete.
Four petitions with signatures of Celina residents was submitted to the board on Monday.
The four council members include two Republicans Mike Sovinski and Myron Buxton and two Democrats Eric Lochtefeld and June Scott, All four voted against the ordinance.
What the recall petition includes:
• Disregarding the stated will of the majority of the residents of the City of Celina.
• Sending the wrong message to the born children in Celina regarding the value of human life and the worthiness of the protection of life.
• Putting unborn children at risk of being murdered within the city limits.
• Putting businesses at risk of having an abortion facility located next door to their place of business.
According to Ohio law, if the petition is deemed sufficient, and if the person whose removal is sought does not resign within five days after the sufficiency of the petition has been determined, an election shall be held at the next primary or general election occurring more than 90 days from the date of the finding of the sufficiency of the petition.
Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel (R) continues to not answer the Outlook’s request on a comment or statement on the ordinance.
Mercer County Outlook 
These council members went against what the majority of people in Celina wanted time to get them out I will sign the petition gladly seems to me people are certainly being exposed for what they are
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These councilmen voted not for or against abortion rights, they voted as to what is the current LAW. If ever passed, it could open the city up to all kinds of legal troubles. Furthermore, what Dr in his right mind would spend the $$ to open a business where the major majority is against it? His building would probably get torched within a year. Have some sense people, this is not about abortion, it’s about the LAW. Quit wasting our time, many more important issues to tackle.
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In 2019, the Ohio legislature made any abortion after five weeks illegal. Subsequently, there is an injunction issued by a federal judge which makes that law unenforceable. For the time being, abortions are legal in Ohio up to twenty weeks.
Currently, the supreme court is ruling on the legality of banning abortions in Mississippi after 15 weeks. The end result may end up overturning both Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood vs Casey.
So when our small city of Celina thinks that completely banning abortions would not go unchallenged…when the conservative state government of Ohio can’t even get the heartbeat bill to stick (which is more liberal than Celina’s complete ban)…how do we think we have the legal ground or legal resources available to enforce our proposed legislation?
It’s the job of Celina city council to represent the citizens of Celina after weighing all elements of the issue before it. Since the proposed legislation would have been apparently unenforceable and there are current abortion-based cases currently being decided at the State and Federal level…I applaud the council for taking a measured approach and hopefully we all can wait to see how these other cases turn out.
Please stress to the young people you know that any pregnancy at a young age is a life-changer. Since condoms are only 98% effective and the pill is just 91% effective, relying on only one birth control method will typically end up with a pregnancy in a relatively short time period.
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