COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): Democratic U.S. Senate candidate P.G. Sittenfeld is backing an effort to restore control over guns to Ohio cities.

The Cincinnati councilman says he’s joining forces with gun control groups to push a fall ballot measure that would amend Ohio’s Constitution to restore home-rule rights to cities so they can pass and enforce their own gun laws.

The effort seeks to reverse the effects of a 2006 state law that pre-empted local gun laws, such as concealed-weapon or assault-rifle bans.

Sittenfeld has made gun safety a central issue of his campaign against Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland and their shared rival, incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

He says the ballot effort will go forward whether or not he wins the Democratic nomination in March.