Filing Day at OL&E

Cross posted at the Ohio Learn and Earn Blog

After months of enduring sweltering summer days petitioning throughout Ohio and late nights counting numerous signatures, the Ohio Learn and Earn petition drive came to a successful end on Tuesday, August 2.

All of the hard work and dedication paid off as the OL&E field crew filed into the Secretary of State’s office with 624,625 signatures in hand, nearly double the number needed to be placed on the ballot.

It was quite a day. Although the quality control crew had been at it for months, the whole Fieldworks staff had worked well into the twilight hours the night before, meticulously double-checking each petition, counting, validating, organizing, and making sure everything was set for the big day.

The crew rolled back in mid-morning, visibly bushed from lack of sleep, but excited to see their efforts bear fruit. A quick trip to Cup O’ Joe’s and they were ready to go.

With the heat index over 100 degrees, no elevator, and an office air conditioner that barely works on a good day, we carried 187 boxes out to a rental truck that we had decorated with an Ohio Learn and Earn banner.

Somehow, yours truly got nominated to drive the truck. I have a little experience driving these large moving trucks in my days caravanning to college and back, but not much. Unlike Will Ferrell’s “Ricky Bobby”, I am a thinker, NOT a driver. Some say I am not much of either. But nonetheless, I accepted the challenge.

Andy and I successfully navigated the streets of downtown Columbus and parked the truck affront of the Borden building, which hosts the office of the Ohio Secretary of State. We were welcomed by a plethora of Ohio Learn and Earn T-shirt clad workers, eager to file the 187 boxes, one by one, into the building.

Visibly shocked by the number of petitions being submitted, the media watched as the never-ending line of boxes marched in procession. Charles Ruma, chairman of the Ohio Learn and Earn Committee, addressed the media. "We think Ohioans are looking for change," said Ruma. The college tuition rates are skyrocketing, he explained, strapping Ohio students, parents and young adults with burgeoning student loan debts. He explained that the economic development funds would help boost job creation in Ohio. "People are fed up with nothing happening," Ruma said. "We've seen 16 years of stagnant growth in Ohio."

As the media finished their questions, the OL&E staff, sweaty and tired, carried the last of the boxes onto the building’s dock, up the elevator and into the J. Kenneth Blackwell’s office. The SOS staff started processing the petitions right away, preparing them to be sent to the local boards of elections where each signature will be checked and validated.

With the day’s task completed, the crew headed off for some much needed nourishment and rest. As I drove away in the truck, I reflected. One mission accomplished, but the battle for Ohio’s students’ future is just beginning.