GOLF MANOR (9/30/21) – Submitted by Golf Manor Mayor Stefan Densmore

I was honored as the Mayor of Golf Manor to moderate a panel including U.S. House Republican Jean Schmidt, and Ohio Senate Democrat Cecil Thomas, supporting bipartisan legislation to abolish the death penalty in Ohio. As the moderator I was afforded the opportunity to ask them questions about their opposition to the death penalty, and to field questions from the audience to them.

My work as moderator for the panel was in connection with the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, which I first joined as a college student in opposition to the war in Iraq. I’ve recently been participating on their Southern Ohio Organizing Team to abolish the death penalty, and am very proud of their work. The video is available here: Innocence and the Push for Abolishing Ohio’s Death Penalty, the panel discussion begins at minute 34.

The major arguments against the death penalty focus on its inhumaneness, lack of deterrent effect, continuing racial and economic biases, and irreversibility. There are numerous instances of people being executed in the U.S. who were later found to be innocent. There is also undeniable evidence that the death penalty is applied more to low income individuals and people of color than to others who have committed the same crime. The financial cost to the state of a capital trial and appeal procedures is higher than life imprisonment– so the state would also likely save money if it abolished the death penalty. I think all these reasons are each objectively good enough for ending the death penalty in Ohio, but ultimately I personally support ending the death penalty as a matter of my spiritual belief.

I mention this because, if we’re like-minded, you may want to join me at the Cincinnati Interfaith Vigil to End the Death Penalty. This interfaith vigil will be held Tuesday, October 12th, from 5:45pm to 6:30pm at the Xavier University’s North Yard Stage, near Bellarmine Chapel (3814 Ledgewood Drive, Cincinnati OH 45207). The event is supported by: The Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Offices of Catholic Social Action & Respect for Life, Bellarmine Chapel, The Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice at Xavier University, and the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center. Parking is available at the Cintas Lot. The event is part of “Death Penalty Abolition Week” in Ohio, which is less than two weeks away. If interested, you can find out more about events like this on the IJPC website at ijpccincinnati.org

This report is respectfully submitted to the residents of Golf Manor. Thank you for the honor of being your Mayor. To our staff and elected officials, thank you for your service to the community.

Stefan Densmore, Mayor, Village of Golf Manor