Mentor extends Democracy Day public hearings for 10 years with ordinance 25‑0‑023

Mentor City Council voted March 4, 2025 to approve Ordinance 25‑0‑023, extending the expiration date for Democracy Day public hearings in the city code for an additional 10 years.

Council members heard remarks from four residents during the public-comment portion of the ordinance debate. Barb Malan of Independence Drive told council she hopes the program will "save our democracy," linking the hearings to broader civic engagement. Patricia Durnine of Concord Township described family military service and said local efforts such as Democracy Day help protect democratic values. Dave Lima, who said Mentor’s Democracy Day began in February 2014 after a ballot measure, urged council to preserve the hearings and noted other Ohio cities have taken similar steps. Sue Stromberg of Cherry Blossom Drive said the volume of money in politics has grown and called the hearings a valuable public outreach tool.

The ordinance amends section 119.03 of Mentor’s codified ordinances to change the expiration date for hearings related to Democracy Day. Council moved to suspend the rules and approve the ordinance; the roll-call votes were recorded and the ordinance passed. Council did not place additional conditions on the program during the meeting.

Supporters during public comment characterized Democracy Day as a local forum for discussion about the role of money in elections and civic education. The measure places Mentor alongside other Ohio municipalities that have maintained similar hearings or ballot measures aimed at educating voters about money in politics.