An Informed Electorate Makes Everything Better
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
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- James Madison, Fourth U.S. President
Where Stow Sunshine Project Fits In
It doesn't matter what flavor of politics you prescribe to, any majority that is left unchecked by the counterbalance of competing ideas and the oversight of voters may succumb eventually to self-interested governance or corruption.
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​While Ohio's Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act, aka "Sunshine Laws," are intended to prevent that by enabling residents to access public records and monitor and participate in government meetings, staying abreast of everything that happens in your city is too much for any citizen to manage - particularly when there is no local press regularly covering the activities of our city government.
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​The Stow Sunshine Project was launched to help fill the gap of not having a newspaper dedicated to covering the actions of our local elected officials, with the intent of providing information that helps residents be more informed voters.
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This site was launched in October 2023 by Stow resident Angie Charles, a former business and high school sports journalist and retired owner of a website development and search engine optimization business, with 36 years combined experience.
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With this site, we strive to go beyond simple reporting of government meetings or events to also include context to those activities and events and analysis of topics discussed. We also intend to advocate on occasion for issues we feel are important to the Stow community or for political candidates who exemplify selfless public service. Because the site has and will advocate for specific candidates, we registered as a political action committee (Stow Sunshine Project Committee) so that any funds donated to the cause of operating or promoting this venture are legally documented and reported.
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We've named this site, our PAC, and club the Stow Sunshine Project because, like democracy, it is a work in progress. Our mission is to illuminate for Stow residents the inner workings of our local government; to promote civic engagement; and to encourage participation and pride in the election of political leaders who improve the quality of life in Stow.
What's Planned for 2024
The launch of our site and reporting of issues that occurred during the last term (2022-2023) of City Council received overwhelmingly positive response. As a result, we’ve decided to expand our scope and activities to further enhance voter engagement in our city.
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To that end, here’s what we’ve got planned for 2024:
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Editorial Board; More Reporting
Creation of an editorial board for the Stow Sunshine Project website and the addition of more citizen journalists who want to help fill the void of an independent press in our city. Details coming soon.
Want to Stay Informed?
If you haven’t yet filled out our form to get updates, please do so in the footer below. You’ll receive an email each time there’s a new article on the site or other pertinent information. Or, like us on Facebook to stay abreast of our reporting.