Voinovich Endorses Issue 18

Thursday, October 26, 2006 Download  RSS  Short URL  Share

As Election Day draws near, backers of a Cuyahoga County cigarette tax to support arts & culture got a boost yesterday from the endorsement of Ohio Senator George Voinovich. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

The theme of the Issue 18 rally was the economic development potential of arts & culture. The setting was the new wing of the Ukrainian Museum in Tremont, a historically multi-ethnic enclave that had fallen on hard times when the inner belt divided the community and drove residents away in the 1960s. Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman noted how it was artists who moved in and helped make the neighborhood a destination spot once again. Voinovich said his support of the ballot measure is based on.

George Voinovich: As mayor, I really got to see the economic impact of the arts…

Opponents of Issue 18 claim the measure places the burden of arts and culture support on one segment of the community - smokers - as opposed to spreading support across a wider base of the Greater Cleveland population. David C. Barnett, 90.3.