Voters in Toledo, Ohio defeated Issue 19, a charter amendment that would have made the amendment process consistent with the process in the Ohio Constitution.

The Amendment would have also reduced the number of signatures required for an elector to initiate an ordinance or referendum from 12% to 7% of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for mayor at the most recent general municipal election.

The Amendment would have also increased the term limit for mayor from two to three consecutive terms.

The Amendment would have also increased the limit for contracts or purchases can be made without authorization by appropriate legislation from $10,000 to $25,000.

Toledo, Ohio Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has requested the resignation of four City Council members accused of encouraging and accepting bribes in exchange for votes.

Yvonne Harper (District 4), Tyrone Riley (District 1), Gary Johnson (At-large), and Larry Sykes (At-large), are named in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court at the conclusion of a two-year FBI investigation.

The court documents detail how each of the members allegedly accepted payments in the range of $500 to $5,000 for “yes” votes on zoning requests to internet cafes.

In an official statement, Kapszukiewicz explained these members are entitled to their day in court and should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

However, he is concerned about the cloud of doubt that would rest over city government if they continue to hold office.

The city of Toledo will hold a special election to maintain a jail in Lucas County.

The ballot initiative to keep the Lucas County jail in downtown Toledo will appear before voters in a special election on February 26, 2019.

The City Council unanimously voted in favor to place the issue of a proposed jail on the ballot.