Congressman Mike Turner visited Carillon Park today to deliver ballots collected by his office in the campaign to replace the statue of Governor Allen in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. With a little more than one week remaining until the June 12 deadline, Rep. Turner encouraged area residents to vote in support of installing a statue of the Wright Brothers in the Capitol.
While delivering the ballots, Turner said, “Over the past several weeks I have been encouraging schools, businesses, and local community organizations to participate in the vote. With my office receiving over two thousand ballots to date, the community is responding to the call for participation, and the ballots support having Dayton’s native brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, represent Ohio by a ratio of roughly 2:1.
“The likeness of Governor Allen was installed in the Capitol Building in 1887,” Rep. Turner added, “so the result of the votes Ohioans cast in this effort will likely endure for several generations to come.”
The State of Ohio created a National Statuary Collection Study Committee to replace the statue of Governor William Allen due to his pro-slavery views. The Committee created a list of 10 Ohioans for the residents of the state to cast their ballot. The nominated Ohioans are: James Ashley, Thomas Edison, Ulysses S. Grant, William McCulloch, Jesse Owens, Judith Resnick, Albert Sabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Taylor Upton, and Orville and Wilbur Wright. Ballots can be cast from March 20 to June 12 at Dayton’s Carillon Park, or at one of 36 historic sites and museums throughout Ohio.
Recently, the National Statuary Collection Study Committee debated whether both Wright Brothers could represent Ohio in the Capitol as policy permits each state to have only two statues. Congressman Turner obtained clarification on the policy, permitting a statue of both Wright Brothers could be placed in the Capitol Building to replace Governor Allen.
Organizations interested in participating are encouraged to contact Congressman Turner’s Dayton District Office at 937.225.2843.
For more information please visit www.legacyforohio.org.