08/23/2026
Copy of Letter to Fairborn Council:
Mayor and Council:
It was my pleasure last December to bring to your attention the need for a recall amendment. But I had hoped you would simply affirm existing Ohio law, forever preserving the rights of Fairbornites on par with our fellow Ohioans. Instead, you opted for some sloppy, self-preserving rewrite that now poses substantial problems, such as:
1) Virtually forcing recall by Special Elections only. Ohio law allows for recall votes during ANY election. You limited it to municipal elections or special elections. Since municipal elections occur only once every two years, you basically force special elections. These cost taxpayers a minimum of $41k.
2) Ohio law has no minimum time of service by a bad official before recall is sought. You made it 180 days. Why? Why do we need to endure 6 months of a bad official?
3) You replaced the state law system which allows alternate candidates on the recall ballot for voters to choose in favor of...drumroll...YOU simply appointing a successor! Wow! What a power grab!
4) You limit the number of officials who can face recall in a single election to 3. Why? I know. You heard about that Maumee case which triggered our amendment need in the first place. You realized that Ohioans can vote to recall the WHOLE Council if the need arises. And you scrambled to take that right away from us.
Unfortunately, I was pretty ill at the time of this amendment campaign and couldn't really get the word out to my fellow citizens.
I was appalled that Jimmy Baker would promote this anti-citizen slop for you, while painting himself as some hero of the people. Granted, I doubt he even understands it.
Then the City Attorney tried to tell the Dayton Daily News your amendment was basically no different than state law. What utter dishonesty!
You did make one huge mistake in your attempt to promote your own interests:
5) You didn't include a time limit on petitions. Ohio law requires submission of petitions within 90 days of the first signature. Oopsie! You forgot that! So, in theory, on the 181st day of the term of a bad Council member, disgruntled citizens can float a recall petition for about 3 years!
In summary, your amendment is a trainwreck. Fix it. And, in the future, stick with state law over the far inferior option of your "in-house" advisors.
Sincerely,
Karen L. Combs
