Mason City Council could ban abortion at its meeting on Monday.
Mason would be the second city in Ohio to ban abortion within city limits, after Lebanon passed a similar ordinance in May.
There are no abortion clinics in Mason, the largest city in Warren County.
An Enquirer survey of the seven council members found few members willing to say how they'd vote on the measure. At least four need to vote in favor for the ordinance to pass.
Council first introduced the ordinance at a meeting two weeks ago, which prompted an emotional public comment session that lasted for three hours. Council has decided to limit the first round of public comment at Monday's meeting to 90 minutes.
What council members said:
- Mike Gilb said he is "certainly" going to vote in favor. "I think it’s important for government at whatever level to protect life. I think it’s our first duty to protect life," he said.
- Diana Nelson said she wants the vote to go on the ballot for voters to decide as Councilmember Josh Styrcula suggested at the Oct. 11 meeting. His motion for that failed with three votes for and three against. "It's such a divisive topic that it shouldn't be determined by the majority of council, it should be determined by the community," she said.
- Ashley Chance did not respond to The Enquirer's request for comment. When asked how he feels about the ordinance at a Mason-Deerfield Chamber of Commerce candidate forum on Thursday, Chance said he's pro-life but he's "not going to legislate morality." "I'm going to go to my community, to the foot of the cross or my pastor. I'm not going to go to a politician on some social issue."
- As the council member who brought the ordinance before council, T.J. Honerlaw will likely vote to pass it. When asked how he planned to vote, however, Honerlaw declined to comment on the record.
- Mayor Kathy Grossmann and council members Tony Bradburn and Josh Styrcula did not respond to The Enquirer's calls and emails requesting comment.
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