Pastor who voiced radio ads in support of Issue 1 now is a definite NO vote on Issue 1 - Report

Pastor Greg Delaney, who earlier this month was heard on radio ads in favor of State Ballot Issue 1 that was aired on hundreds of radio stations, a combination of talk, Christian, and sports stations, has now come out OPPOSED to State Ballot ISSUE 1.

OCA President Chris Long stood with Pastor Greg Delaney, who works with drug and alcohol and addiction treatment programs, and has been featured by the Health and Human Services Department in Washington, in a press conference in Columbus on Monday to oppose State Ballot Issue 1. Pastor Greg said the following:

"I am here today to urge you to do as I have done and vote "no" on State Issue One. I previously provided public support in favor of Issue 1. I had confidence that Issue One would generate much-needed funding so Ohioans could get access to treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. I wholeheartedly agree with the premise that Ohioans in need of treatment should get that support...

Yet after my support for Issue 1 became public, many long-time colleagues, other members of my faith community, friends from the mental health and recovery community began calling, writing, asking me to take a closer look at the measure. 

Out of respect, I did. After much prayer and conversation, I felt compelled to publicly change my position and put voice to my opposition to State Issue One." 

Here is the Ohio Christian Alliance press release from Monday:

(Columbus, OH) OCA President Chris Long today stood with faith leaders to oppose State Ballot Issue 1. Faith leaders have now joined the ranks of the Ohio Bar Association, the Ohio Municipal League, the Ohio Judicial Conference, State Sheriffs' Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Ohio State Coroners Association in their opposition to State Ballot Issue One.

Today’s press conference demonstrates that more Ohioans are turning against the proposed State Constitutional amendment.  Promoted as an effort for prison reform, in reality, the deceptive ballot measure would create conditions for more drug trafficking and opiate addiction, overdose, and death in Ohio communities. Ohio has already seen its share of grief and loss in its battle against drug addiction.  

The amendment as proposed would strip law enforcement of the ability to curb drug use and trafficking in local communities.  Judges would no longer have the ability to provide options to defendants in the courtroom of either incarcerated addiction recovery programs or paroled drug addiction recovery programs. The amendment as proposed is cloaked as an effort for prison reform but is, in reality, a proposed constitutional law that will make it nearly impossible for communities, law enforcement, and the judicial system to police and curb drug possession and drug trafficking on the streets of Ohio cities and communities.  

That is why the Ohio Christian Alliance is urging pastors, churches, and our fellow Ohioans to vote NO on State Ballot Issue 1.  Ohio is beginning to make some headway in our battle against drug overdoses and drug-related deaths. State Ballot Issue 1 would put a halt to the progress we have made and only make matters worse. That is why we are urging a NO Vote on Issue 1!

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