Mason City Council voted to introduce an abortion ban ordinance but did not vote to pass the ordinance as an emergency at its meeting Monday night.
The Mason City Charter requires five votes in favor to pass an ordinance as an emergency. Only four council members voted to suspend the rules and allow immediate adoption. The ordinance will now have a second reading at the next council meeting on Oct. 25 before the council votes.
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Council can vote again on whether to pass the ordinance as an emergency at the second reading. If the ordinance is not passed as an emergency, it would take effect in 30 days and be subject to a referendum.
Lebanon council OK'd abortion ban in May
Mason, the largest city in Warren County with a population of nearly 35,000, would be the second city in Ohio to ban abortion within its limits.
Lebanon City Council voted unanimously to ban abortion in May. Lebanon's ordinance makes it illegal to provide an abortion, aid an abortion, provide money or transportation for an abortion and provide instructions for an abortion within city limits.
There are no abortion clinics in Lebanon or Mason.
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The council received an ordinance draft from Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, an initiative by Right to Life of East Texas. Director Mark Lee Dickson attended the meeting and advocated for passing the ban during public comment.
The ordinance would add an abortion section to the Mason city code that would mean anyone who "aids or abets" an abortion in the city would be considered a criminal and felon. Violators could face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. There are no penalties for the person seeking an abortion.
The ordinance would also make it illegal for people to possess or distribute “abortion-inducing drugs” in the city of Mason, including misoprostol and mifepristone. Misoprostol and mifepristone require a prescription and are administered in some doctor's offices, abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers.
The ordinance includes exceptions for "accidental miscarriages," and ectopic pregnancies, in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus where it can't survive.
Protesters gather at Mason City Council chambers
Both pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion protesters were gathered outside the council chambers one hour before the meeting began. Lebanon City Councilmember Adam Mathews led a group praying the rosary outside the municipal center. Pro-abortion rights protestors collected menstruation products to be distributed to local food pantries and rape crisis centers.
Emotions ran high during the meeting. Protesters yelled over public comments and booed some speakers. Several speakers during public comment told personal stories about their own experiences with rape, abortions, miscarriages and raising children as a single mother.
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Councilmember Diana Nelson asked to send the ordinance back to the legislation committee, but that motion failed.
Councilmember Josh Styrcula motioned to put the ordinance on the ballot for a primary or general election.
"There are certain issues that rise to the level of letting voters decide. This is one of them," he said.
During the discussion, council members said that the issue could be subject to a referendum if the legislation is not passed as an emergency measure.
Grossmann disagreed with city council putting the ban on the ballot.
"It’s not that I don’t want the electorate to decide. think it would pass," she said.
"I am here as a representative of the public. I would much rather you take out this anger and this divisiveness on me than on each other."
The motion to put the abortion ban on the ballot failed.
Erin Glynn is the watchdog reporter for Butler, Warren and Clermont counties through the Report For America program. The Enquirer needs local donors to help fund her grant-funded position. If you want to support Glynn's work, you can donate to her Report For America position at this website or email her editor Carl Weiser at [email protected] to find out how you can help fund her work.
Do you know something she should know? Send her a note at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @ee_glynn.
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