Government change being promoted by Piqua resident

  • 2020-02-08
Signatures are being gathered by a Piqua resident in the hopes of giving voters the opportunity to switch the city’s charter government back to a general statutory city government as described in the Ohio Revised Code.

Bill Jaqua, manager of Piqua’s Heritage Event & Catering wants to do away with the current charter. It is his belief that by doing so there will be increased participation by residents as well as returning control of city officials’ selection back to the people.

A flyer printing service is often employed to relay a message to residents regarding changes to public policy, proposed ballot measures and tax issues.

Jaqua’s petition would place the issue of revoking the charter form of government in favor of a statutory form of government on the November 3 ballot. To find its way on the ballot, however, the petition will require 1,250 signatures of registered Piqua voters by August.

Jaqua’s problem with the city’s charter form of government is that, in his opinion, it has allowed a small group to have the Piqua city government in a stranglehold, leaving the general population on the outside looking in. Apathy has spread among residents and voters, according to Jaqua. He feels that participation is not part of the current system’s design and that people do not feel empowered.

By returning to a statutory system, the mayor would once again be elected instead of being appointed as is currently the case.