Remember Lebanon's abortion ban? Mason City Council is considering the same thing

Mason could be the next city in Ohio to ban abortion.

The same ordinance Lebanon City Council passed to declare itself a "sanctuary city for the unborn" on May 25 could be coming to Mason. It's unclear whether such an ordinance is legal. 

At Mason City Council's last meeting on July 12, Councilmember T.J. Honerlaw said the council is "anxious" to bring similar legislation to the city of 33,000.

Honerlaw added that he and Mayor Kathy Grossmann had already met with Mark Lee Dickson, the director of Right to Life of East Texas who has lobbied for abortion bans across Texas.

"I’m happy to be sponsoring (the ordinance) as we go forward here very soon," Honerlaw said at the meeting.

The ordinance Lebanon City Council passed makes it illegal to provide an abortion, aid an abortion, provide money or transportation for an abortion and provide instructions for an abortion within city limits. 

There are no abortion clinics in either Lebanon or Mason. 

Mason City Council's agenda for its next meeting on Aug. 9 does not include any reference to an abortion ban ordinance.

The council's policy and legislation committee discussed the possibility of an ordinance and questions about constitutionality on Wednesday, Grossmann told The Enquirer. She said she believes the ordinance will be discussed in committee again before it comes before council.

"There are going to be times when we make decisions some people from the public don't like, but I do sense there is support from the public for this. I also sense very strongly that there is opposition and so I'm doing my best to look at everything carefully and be really circumspect," Grossmann said.

Mason resident Margie Murray called for an abortion ban during public comment at Mason City Council's July 12 meeting.

Three Lebanon residents spoke during the meeting to offer warnings about how the abortion ban has impacted the city. 

Lebanon resident Samantha Davis said after passing the ordinance, boycotts have spread online and vendors have pulled out of festivals.

"I really love this town and I don’t want to see any negative publicity. I don’t want to see businesses hurt and I would hope that you guys would take a little bit of time to think over the consequences," she said. 

Some residents have speculated on Twitter about the impact a potential abortion ban could have on the Western & Southern Open, a tennis tournament held annually in Mason. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 14-22.

The Mason city charter requires an ordinance to be read at two meetings at least six days apart, meaning that if the abortion ban ordinance is introduced at the August 9 meeting, it would have to be read again at a special meeting or work session scheduled on or after August 16 to pass while the tennis tournament is taking place. 

Grossmann said the council will be "very transparent" when the ordinance is scheduled to come before it.

"I promise that as soon as we know, we'll be very forthcoming about it so that'll give the public plenty of opportunity to communicate with us about how they feel," she said.

Mason City Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9 at 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road. Videos of the council's meetings can be found here. 

Erin is the watchdog reporter for Butler, Warren and Clermont counties through the Report For America program. The Enquirer needs local donors to help fund her grant-funded position. If you want to support Erin's work, you can donate to her Report For America position at this website or email her editor Carl Weiser at cweiser@enquirer.com to find out how you can help fund her work. 

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