The League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown (LWVGY) was formed in 1933, with Mrs. Oscar Gayton serving as the first president.
1933-36
The League worked to protect wages of women and minors; locally, it supported county home rule and the Social Security Act which became law in 1936.
1937-41
The Youngstown League worked for qualified personnel in government service and for a state Board of Education.
1942-46
League worked for school levies, helped pass the amendment on defective delinquents, studied the relationship of local to state government and continued working for a state Board of Education.
1947-54
The League planned a public health survey, with smoke abatement as the continuing local project. League also studied the Youngstown comprehensive plan, world trade, slum clearance and urban development, and additional appropriations for public libraries. The Youngstown League was the first in Ohio to put a candidate's rally on television.
1955-62
Studies in these years included conservation of national resources, Ohio schools foundations laws, county government (with emphasis on the court burden), county home rule, the county jail, the city charter, the juvenile court and services to delinquent children. League supported the Board of Health Commission, worked for Washington, D.C. Home Rule, and helped initiate a citizens' committee survey which recommended the Lake-to- River Council.
1962-68
These years featured a study of foreign policy, an in-depth study of China, county government, air pollution, a local look into civil rights and community action centers.
1968-73
The League studied the electoral college; day care centers; legislation for fair housing; strip mining; zoning laws; environmental quality: air, water, solid waste; land use; juvenile justice; and the Ohio Constitution. League also surveyed metro services in Greater Youngstown with recommendations in the area of fire and police protection. Consensus was reached on the need for a county park commission.
1974-76
Activities included studies of the 648 Board and of education funding; TV interview with state candidates; reaching consensus on service agencies, on land use, and adult justice. Local League concurred in a national position on energy. LWVGY also sponsored a public meeting on open spaces, participated in a voter registration coalition (to set up permanent registration sites throughout Mahoning County), worked for juvenile justice expungement bill and raised funds by conducting EDATA interviews on area transportation.
1979-82
League engaged in fundraising activities for ERA, supported the Mahoning County piggyback tax, inquired into local forensic laboratory facilities, reached consensus on state apportionment and redistricting and lobbied on this position in the Youngstown ward redistricting decision. League also investigated and monitored hazardous waste management in Mahoning County, supported mass transit and began the tradition of annual luncheon meetings with state representatives and senators from local districts.
1983-87
Study and consensus on:
(1) state minimum standards for primary and secondary education,
(2) state financing of education,
(3) national security,
(4) increasing the jury pool by drawing from licensed drivers,
(5) meeting basic human needs.
Lobbied for stricter licensing standards for child care centers; advocated establishment of a Youngstown Charter Review Commission; adequate funding of summer programs by Park and Recreation; state legislation on hazardous materials management; and the restructuring of Mahoning County courts and the elimination of one Youngstown Municipal Judgeship. LWVGY was one of two Leagues in Ohio to participate in the LWV Education Fund Women's Vote Project, concentrating on registering low income women. 1986 was the year League began monitoring the elections process in primary and general elections, leading to a number or procedural improvements.
1988-90
Study and consensus on:
(1) supporting Mill Creek Park levy,
(2) National Agriculture policy,
(3) State Hazardous Waste Policy, and
(4) State Government Finance.
Participated in local emergency Planning Committee, observed Housing Court eviction proceedings and continued election monitoring and reporting.
1991-92
Study and consensus on Delivery and Financing of Health Care in the U.S.; update on local planning, development and housing; a presentation on Environmental Shopping; "adopted" a two mile stretch of Rte. 11; continued election monitoring; presented testimony to the Secretary of State on redistricting, reproductive rights, election reform and the Sunshine Law.
1993-94
Study and consensus to support local ballot issues for TB and the Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; initiated a local study of county government; reviewed the Mahoning County Transition Team report and began Phase III of continuing study of county government; reached consensus to support ballot issues on parks, the WRTA levy, the Children's Services levies, and the Youngstown Charter amendment to raise the limit of spending without bids. Lobbied in favor of two forms of the health care bills before Congress; lobbied for campaign finance reform; and supported the state ballot bond issue for Ohio's parks and natural resources. Continued election monitoring.
1995-97
Lobbied for national health care reform, state funding of the Housing Trust. Opposed term limits; co-sponsored a candidates forum for all judicial candidates, studied the Youngstown Municipal Court System; studied and came to consensus that casino gambling would be detrimental to the Greater Youngstown area; initiated a clearinghouse for candidates forums; began Project Positive Campaigning which enlists candidates for public office to adhere to a Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Also studied and came to consensus on the statewide issue of Financing Higher Education.1998-99
Major accomplishments of the League this year include adoption of a diversity policy, development of a new membership recruitment brochure, continuation of our Voters Information Guide, election monitoring, and the project on Fair Campaign Practices. We participated in the national Medicare consensus and in the state land use consensus, the donation of clothing to help women make the transition into the workplace, and the collection of signatures on a redistricting petition. In coalition with a number of other groups we sponsored a forum for local candidates to the Ohio General Assembly.1999-2000
During this year we entered the electronic age with a fully developed Website and began using e-mail for much of our member communication. The FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES project asked candidates to sign a Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Hearings were held on complaints of candidates against opponents. Election Monitoring continued. We gave support to the goal of A.C.T.I.O.N. to bring positive changes to the greater metropolitan area. We had programs on ballot issues, campaign finance reform, proposed Mahoning County Charter, and the Mahoning River. Support was given to a ½% county sales tax. At the state and national levels we lobbied in the areas of school funding, campaign finance reform, farmland preservation, and managed health care.2000-01
As the 2000 Presidential Election focused the attention of the nation on the need for election reform, we encouraged candidates to run fair campaigns, monitored the election process, assisted with voter registration, provided a candidate forum clearinghouse, moderated candidate meetings, printed 15,000 copies of our Voters Information Guide and received two grants to encourage the registration and voting of youth and minorities. Programs were held on "fixing" public schools, ballot issues, downtown preservation, a UN-sponsored seminar on organized crime held in Italy, expansion of jury pool, and renovations done on local public housing. The League testified before representatives of the Auditor of State about the planned performance audit of some Mahoning County departments. We spoke to the need for reform of the local court system below the level of common pleas, discussed the need for new voting equipment and the importance of communicating with voters about proposed changes. We again lobbied for campaign finance reform.
2000-05
We encouraged candidates to run fair campaigns, monitored the election process, assisted with voter registration, provided a candidate forum clearinghouse, moderated candidate meetings, printed 15,000 copies of our Voters Information Guide annually and received two grants to encourage the registration and voting of youth and minorities. Programs were held on "fixing" public schools, ballot issues, downtown preservation, a UN-sponsored seminar on organized crime held in Italy, expansion of jury pool, and renovations done on local public housing. The League testified before representatives of the Auditor of State about the planned performance audit of some Mahoning County departments. We spoke to the need for reform of the local court system below the level of common pleas, discussed the need for new voting equipment and the importance of communicating with voters about proposed changes. We again lobbied for campaign finance reform.
2005-06
We studied the relationship between the local, State and National Leagues, and held programs on how these relationships impact us. Our annual Voters Information Guide was successfully published and distributed, with special assistance by United Way. The November 2005 Youngstown Mayor's Race was highly competitive, and the League joined other like-minded organizations in sponsoring a Candidate Night at Stambaugh Auditorium. We monitored the election process for the 20th year, and assisted with voter registration. The League completed "A Citizen's Guide to Youngstown" with the assistance of The Wean Foundation, The City of Youngstown and YSU, and it has become a premier document about the history of our area and our hopes for the future! We co-sponsored recognition of Women's Rights in March with the AAUW and UNA-USA, in April were honored to host Ohio's co-president Carol O'Brien, and in May participated in Voices and Choices, a regional planning initiative.
