The Kettering Republican said yesterday that he has begun crafting and seeking political support for a November ballot initiative that would remove the secretary of state's oversight of elections and implement a new system for drawing legislative boundaries every 10 years.

Husted, beginning his first Senate term after serving four years as House speaker, confirmed that he is interested in running in 2010 for secretary of state, the office held by Democrat Jennifer Brunner.

"I'm more interested in solving the problems we have in the way we operate state government," Husted said. "It's not about me, and it's not about Jennifer Brunner. It's about creating a new system that's not about hyperpartisanship."

Husted said he will gather ideas from Republicans, Democrats and good-government groups such as the League of Women Voters before preparing a plan, but his goal is to remove the secretary of state from the election process and place the responsibility in the hands of a bipartisan board that is either appointed or elected.

Ohio's importance in the past two presidential elections, Husted said, has exposed flaws in the process and caused voters to lose confidence in the system. Late-cycle directives by Brunner and her Republican predecessor, J. Kenneth Blackwell, have caused elections to be shrouded in partisanship and caused confusion for local boards of election, Husted said.

"It's led to lawsuits and a contentious environment that have overshadowed and even undermined conversations about the issues and people we are electing. Manipulation of the process essentially has become a campaign strategy, and this has occurred under both Republican and Democratic control of the office."

Husted said he also will craft a new proposal to end the gerrymandering of legislative districts. That would require, he said, reforming the five-member State Apportionment Board. For decades, Ohio has used a system that awards gerrymandering power every 10 years to the political party that wins two of three state offices that come with seats on the apportionment board: governor, secretary of state and auditor.

Husted said he will present a plan that creates more politically balanced districts and keeps communities intact.

"It would allow voters to pick their politicians, not the politicians to pick their voters."

If Husted can't get the legislature to approve plans in time for the November ballot, he will lead a voter-petition drive to place the reform measures on the statewide ballot in 2010, he said.

A number of proposals over the years have sought to change the gerrymandering process, including one that was widely viewed as well-intentioned but ill-conceived that was rejected by voters in 2005.

Deidra Reese, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, called Husted's proposals "intriguing" and said the organization is eager to work with him.

"The concepts are consistent with the concepts we have been advocating for many years," Reese said.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern praised Husted for contacting him about his proposals and said he looks forward to discussing them. Redfern said there is cause to question Husted's motive about wanting to change the apportionment process at a time when Democrats control the board, "but I'll take Jon at his word."

Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine said that "a fair process for redistricting and reapportionment is an important goal and one that is ultimately good for our democracy. For anyone who cares to listen to the electorate, one thing is clear: They are tired of the partisan sniping on important issues. This should be one of those issues where the two parties join together for the cause of better government."

jhallett@dispatch.com