Six electors filed petition for writ of mandamus to compel members of county board of elections to place proposed city ordinance on general election ballot that would establish a “bill of rights” related to water, soil, and air protection and prohibit certain oil and gas extraction activities within the city.
The Supreme Court of Ohio held that:
- Proposed ordinance went beyond city’s power, and thus was properly excluded from ballot;
- City charter and statute did not conflict, and thus charter provision did not supersede statute as matter of local self-government; and
- Exclusion of initiative petition from ballot did not violate electors’ free-speech rights.