January 1998
Election '97 Ballot Measures
Ohio: Libertarian stops zoning bill
An elected Libertarian in Ohio helped defeat a proposed zoning law that would have significantly boosted the town government's control over private property.
Thanks to the efforts of LP member Richard Shetler, voters in Bethlehem Township sent the measure to a "resounding defeat" on November 4th.
Even better: Shetler won re-election as Township Trustee the same day.
The zoning proposal included regulations that would have "brought all property in the township under control" of the Township Zoning Commission -- and given the town the power to enter private property at any time to inspect for violations.
"The proponents [claimed] that zoning would only allow the Trustees to keep out landfills and hazardous waste sites," said Shetler. "We decided that in order to defeat the issue, our campaign would have to make people realize that zoning was going to affect them as an individual."
So Shetler formed a committee to fight the plan -- and spread the word through signs and a mailing to town voters.
His most effective weapon: Quoting the exact wording of some of the regulations -- and showing how it would affect town residents.
"These mailings turned public opinion in our favor," he said.
Libertarian arguments
Shetler also used more explicitly Libertarian arguments, arguing that zoning violates "your Constitutionally guaranteed property rights," he said.Voters responded to such arguments -- and rejected the plan by an 80% to 20% margin.
"Our big victory came, I feel, because we showed the citizens that the emperor had no clothes," Shetler said. "These regulations affected them, their neighbors, and friends."
