Referendum petition opposing nondiscrimination ordinance expansion certified

Springfield's city clerk has certified a referendum petition opposing City Council's October decision to expand the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, making it likely that the public will decide the future of the ordinance at the ballot box in April.

Council voted 6-3 Oct. 13 to make it illegal to discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity when it comes to employment, housing and public accommodations. Opponents of the law turned in the petition with more than 2,500 signatures last week; 1,144 — 10 percent of the votes cast in the last municipal election — needed to be verified as belonging to registered Springfield voters.

The issue now goes back to council; it will likely be on the Nov. 24 meeting agenda, according to the city. Council will have three options:

• Repeal the expansion of the ordinance. While possible, this would be unusual, given it was widely expected prior to the Oct. 13 vote that a referendum petition would be submitted if council added the protections.

• Send the issue to voters during the next general municipal election in April 2015. The ballot question would ask voters if they want to repeal the ordinance; in other words, opponents of the ordinance would vote yes, while supporters would vote no.

• Take no action. If no action is taken within 30 days, city charter dictates that the issue would automatically be sent to the voters.

The referendum process allows citizens to approve or reject at the polls any ordinance passed by council. Opponents of the ordinance have questioned whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity actually occurs in Springfield, and said the protections interfere with their religious freedom. Supporters of the protections assert that discrimination does occur and the expansion is simply a matter of giving equal rights to all.

Council members Jan Fisk, Cindy Rushefsky, Craig Hosmer, Doug Burlison, Jeff Seifried and Mike Carroll voted to approve the expansion at the Oct. 13 meeting. Council members Bob Stephens, Craig Fishel and Jerry Compton voted against it.

Adding the issue to the April ballot would mean that Springfield voters would weigh in at the same time they decide who should hold several City Council seats.

Mayor Bob Stephens and Zone 3 Councilman Jerry Compton — both of whom voted against expanding the nondiscrimination ordinance — plan to run for re-election.

The seats of council members Cindy Rushefsky (Zone 2), Mike Carroll (General Seat D) and Doug Burlison (General Seat C) — all of whom voted for the expansion — are on the ballot in April, but all said prior to the Oct. 13 vote that they don't plan to seek re-election. Council member Craig Fishel — who voted no — does not face re-election. Also not facing re-election this time around are Craig Hosmer, Jan Fisk and Jeff Seifried — all of whom voted yes.