As a mother and a former Mansfield City Council member, I’ve learned that the strongest communities are built on trust — trust in our neighbors to make thoughtful decisions about their own lives and their own land.
That’s why I’m voting “No” on the May 5th renewable energy ban referendum.
This referendum isn’t asking whether we want renewable energy in Richland County. It’s asking whether we’re willing to override our neighbors’ property rights based on assumptions about what they might want to do with their own land.
And as we have seen, most recently with the push for Mansfielders to have the rights to their own property extended to include backyard chickens, our community has come to the realization that we have become inured to the acceptance of blanket judgements that only serve to limit our decision making power.
No farmer or landowner in Richland County is going to make a decision about their property lightly. They will take a good hard look at their circumstances, what’s best for their families, and what’s best for the communities they have been a part of for generations.
Each situation needs to be evaluated on its own merit.
But this ban shuts down those kinds of conversations before they can even begin. It tells farmers and landowners in 11 of our 18 townships that certain decisions about their property are simply off the table, regardless of their family’s needs or their long-term plans.
My background in toxicological research has taught me to evaluate evidence carefully and avoid oversimplified solutions to complex problems. Good science requires asking questions, gathering data, and remaining open to what the evidence shows. Good governance requires the same approach, especially when it comes to our neighbors’ livelihoods.
As electricity demand grows across Ohio and energy costs continue climbing, our community needs the flexibility to respond thoughtfully. We need county government that sets reasonable standards and holds projects accountable, not one that decides in advance what our neighbors are forbidden from considering.
On May 5th, I’m voting “No” because I trust our neighbors to know what’s best for their families and their land.
I hope you’ll join me.
Laura Burns
Mansfield, Ohio